Birr’s ready for biggest Scripts festival yet
This year's Scripts Ireland's Playwriting Festival takes place in Birr next week and promises to be the biggest festival to date with stellar performances, wonderful workshops, site-specific theatre, a brand new youth performance, pop-up plays and lots, lots more!
Birr will play host to an ensemble of playwrights, actors, producers, directors for four fun filled days from Thursday, June 14 and Sunday, June 17.
This year’s programme is jam-packed with something for all theatre lovers including top quality theatrical productions including Pilgrim and Mary & Me, children’s theatre (Tom Thumb and The Little Prince), a site-specific performance at Tom’s Barbers, workshops with leading Irish theatre practitioners Deirdre Kinahan, Rex Ryan and Jim Culleton, Pop-Up Plays and more.
For budding or established writers, there are three top class workshops on offer. Creating Character with Deirdre Kinahan, The Creation of a One Person Show with Rex Ryan and Beginning Your Play with Fishamble Artistic Director, Jim Culleton. These can all be booked online from www.scripstireland.com (Full fee is required at the time of booking)
Birr Theatre & Arts Centre will play host to some thrilling productions across the weekend. On Friday, it’s Pilgrim by Scripts 2017 winner Philip Doherty and starring Rex Ryan, 8pm. While, on Saturday morning, it’s children’s theatre with The Little Prince, 11am. Suitable for 4+
The venue will then host one of the weekend’s headline events on Saturday night when the highly acclaimed Mary & Me will be performed. Inspired by the true story of Ann Lovett, a 15-year-old girl who died giving birth at a grotto in Ireland in 1984, it is a compelling imagining of a young woman’s search for understanding and meaning when at a milestone in her life.
The performance will be followed by a talkback chaired by Claire O’Brien of Midlands 103 on the theme The Age of Consent - Writing Provocative Drama. Taking the themes raised in Mary & Me as a starting place, Claire will explore with panelists Irene Kelleher, Rex Ryan and Eugene O’Brien, the place of new drama in addressing timely social issues.
The festival will culminate on Sunday, June 17, with ‘Nurtured New Works’, a special performance of the three brand new Irish plays, specially selected to be part of the festival. After a week of mentoring, editing and directing with playwright Eugene O’Brien, the winning play will be selected by Eugene, Fishamble’s Jim Culleton and New Work Associate at The Abbey Theatre, Jesse Weaver.
For the full SCRIPTS 2018 programme & to book your tickets: www.scriptsireland.com