Wexford Opera House launches

architects' rendering of opera house

architects' rendering of opera house

It would have been tough to miss all the coverage over the weekend of the fabulous new Wexford Opera House opening! First there was Pat Kenny & the Late Late crew broadcasting live from the new venue on Friday, then a feature by Irish Times architecture critic Frank McDonald:

The new opera house, with 7,235sq m of floor space, is three times larger than the old theatre, but although its flytower rises to the equivalent of eight storeys, it is barely visible above the ridge-line of High Street. Thus, the “surprise and delight of discovery”, as McGahon puts it, is still there.

The smart-looking foyer leads up to a much larger atrium that links the three levels of the auditorium. Box-balustered staircases in dark Canadian walnut are offset against white walls, creating a great space for people-watching – a stage set for the flâneur before and after performances.

[…]

THE NEW THREE-TIERED auditorium is a revelation. With its walls, ceiling, floors and bow-shaped balconies entirely clad in dark walnut (from sustainably managed forests), it almost seems to be hewn out of a huge block of timber. It has a cave-like quality, which is slightly off-putting until you get used to it.

Keith Williams likens this extraordinary interior to a stringed instrument.

“We echoed the sensuous curves of a cello to make this room,” he says. “Even the curved steel lighting bridges are analogous to the technical bits of the cello.

The new space looks set to be a triumph for the architects and the OPW involved on the project, and will set off the Wexford Opera festival in style when it launches on 16 October with the opeara ‘Snehurochka, The Snow Maiden‘ (already fully sold out!)

Getting your Fringe on

My highlight of the autumn kicks off with the Fringe Festival launching this Saturday! Over the years I’ve seen lots of productions, from brilliant to disastrous (more of the former and less of the latter), but I’m really excited this year about the staging of events in the Iveagh Gardens and the programme of street theatre (especially the opera Bastien and Bastienne). It’s Wolfgang Hoffman’s swan song after four years of running the festival, and the lineup looks like another stellar mix of theatre, dance, visual art and music.

MA programme alumnae Jenny Jennings is Programme Director for the Fringe and was interviewed in Saturday’s Irish Times about the upcoming festival and its drive to highlight new Irish talent:

Programme director Jennifer Jennings says that the strength of this year’s Irish element of the programme is more than accidental. It is a strategic part of Dublin Fringe Festival’s development over the past few years, and one that both Jennings and the festival’s outgoing artistic director, Wolfgang Hoffman, have been committed to fostering.

“We work as a platform for new artists,” Jennings explains. “I suppose you could say we are a producing partner, giving support ‘in lieu’ to emerging artists – from inviting them to use office facilities to giving them a place in the festival programme to, more recently, providing workshops for developing work.”

(yay Jenny!)

The Fringe website looks great too, with blogs and reviews (although it’d be great if they’d add an rss feed). This year tickets can be purchased from Filmbase and the Iveagh Gardens box office located on Hatch Street– the full programme pdf can be downloaded here.

New publication: State on Stage

A new book from the Boekman Foundation may be of interest:

State on Stage: The impact of public policies on the performing arts in Europe

[from press release]
State on Stage tunes in on the relationship between governments and performing arts in European countries over the past fifteen years. In order to survive, performing arts organizations in Europe must adapt to ongoing changes in the artistic, commercial and political climate. Although maximizing market revenues has become business as usual for companies and venues, most still require substantial involvement from the government.

Governments, at their turn, expect more economic, educational or social tasks next to the artistic occupations before funding. This book shows how performing arts professionals manage to combine commercial entrepreneurship with the political skills needed to operate in a government environment.

State on stage offers both a pan-European overview and national portraits of fifteen EU member states, depicting a lively, dynamic performing arts scene, prospering in the new millennium. It also reveals what’s happening behind the scenes: oversupply, with thousands of performing artists unable to find proper jobs, seeking additional income elsewhere. Despite the generosity of governments at all levels, public money comes either in insufficient quantities, or is spent inefficiently.

This book describes the hopes and dreams that keep performing artists motivated under these difficult conditions. It contains inspiring literature, essential recommendations and new perspectives for everyone involved in this field: artists, managers, scholars, policy makers and politicians active in Europe and across its borders.

Sign me up for the ‘duelling harps’ session

With a name like Termonfeckin, how could you not go? Thanks to alumna Nonie Gaynor for passing this on.

———————————————————

An Chúirt Chruitireachta
Cairde na Cruite Harp Festival
Termonfeckin, Co. Louth

12th June 2008

Download full programme (pdf)

The Cairde na Cruite annual Harp Festival, An Chúirt Chruitireachta will take place from 29 June to 4 July 2008 at An Grianán, Termonfeckin, Co. Louth.

This residential harp festival has been running for 26 years to date and we are looking forward to yet another world class event in 2008. The festival is a celebration of the tradition of the Irish Harp and the harping tradition in Ireland. It also provides links with other harping traditions, specifically the Breton tradition in 2008.

The festival consists of tuition sessions for the harpers with internationally renowned harpers and a Sean Nós singer-in-residence Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich, who will incorporate workshops with the harpers. The event also features a series of evening concerts featuring musicians / ensembles including amongst others: Siobhán Armstrong, Liadán, Dordán, Cormac de Barra, Noel Hill and Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich.

The opening concert on 29th June will take place in Beaulieu House, Termonfeckin, Co. Louth. All other concerts will be held in An Grianán, Arts Centre, Termonfeckin, Co. Louth.

For further information or tickets please contact:
Áibhlín McCrann – Festival Director (087) 2800390
Email: mccranna@eircom.net
Karan Thompson – PR & Marketing (086) 2550291
Email: harpfestival@ktcl.ie

Dublin Fringe Festival seeks Volunteers

I’m happy to pass on this announcement from the Fringe:

Dublin Fringe Festival Seeks Volunteers

The 2008 Dublin Fringe Festival takes place from the 6th until the 21st September and we are on the look-out for volunteers to help us to run Ireland’s most dynamic, exciting and rewarding festival.

You don’t need to love theatre or the arts to volunteer, but if you do all the better. Once you have plenty of positive energy, a willingness to get stuck in and some free time, come join us! Whether you have a few hours, a day, a week or a month, we want to hear from you. Apart from a valuable experience and an insight into festival management, we reward our volunteers with complimentary entries to shows, volunteer packs, references and a volunteer party to celebrate the occasion.

Details on the Roles and Application Form can be found on: http://www.drop.io/Dublin_Fringe_Volunteer

Password to enter site: Fringe (please note this is case sensitive)

Completed Application Form can be e-mailed to: volunteers@fringefest.com

Next step – Fringe Volunteer Coordinator will be in touch with you in the summer to let you know about our Volunteer Information/Recruitment event.

N.B. Volunteers need to be 18 years of age or older – Fringe terms & conditions apply for show tickets.