Here is another bulletin with some interesting events from the world of theatre in Cork and Ireland. I hope you find it useful. For those of you thinking of training seriously in theatre pay special attention to the first entry, the Kinsale Full-time Drama Course. They are accepting submissions at the moment and its a wonderful course.

Best wishes,

Marcus

Drama Courses & Workshops

THEATRE COURSE
Inspiring…Innovative…Accessible…Great fun.

2 YEAR FULL TIME PROFESSIONAL THEATRE TRAINING.

Now enrolling for SEPTEMBER 2008

Kinsale Further Education College
Tel: 021 4772275
email; kinsalefurthered@eircom.net
www.kinsalefurthered.ie

Unique Purpose Built Amphitheatre.

Improvisation, Characterisation, Physical Theatre,
Masks, Voice, Stage Combat,
Shakespearean Performance,
Audition Technique, Acting for Camera,
Script Study and Script Devising,
Production skills.
Master classes with visiting professionals.

Performance experience all year with public performance in May.

Course Leader: BELINDA WILD.

As well as being an experienced teacher Belinda is a Freelance Theatre
Director, Artistic Director of Janus Theatre Company, an Associate
Director at Cork Opera House and Education Consultant for Opera 2005.

Course graduates have followed careers in Acting, Theatre Production,
Film, Arts Administration, Community Arts, Teaching and Writing.

Quotes from past students;

The best fun you’ll ever have…changed my life…developed my
confidence and creativity… You get right inside of what acting is
about…I couldn’t recommend the course highly enough!

Qualification; FETAC Level 5 Theatre Performance.

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Go on - I dare you! Write that book you’ve been wanting to write!
And to give you that jump start, a Creative Writing Workshop will take place
in Kinsale, during the Arts Week,
from Monday 14th to Friday 18th July,
from 10am to 1pm each day.

The focus will be on writing fiction and also
how memory and imagination can be interwoven to
fictionalise your autobiography/memoirs.
During the workshops, you will be given exercises with a specific purpose:
to identify what makes the character individual;
to recognise the fundamentals of vivid writing.
to blossom in you, your own creative expression.

In contemporary fiction, the reader is more interested in character development
than in plot driven stories, although plot is crucial too, and we will
also be looking at how to pace the stucture of a novel. We will look
at how to create
a believable world by having the characters intereact with their environment.

If you’re interested in signing up for the workshop, please call the
Kinsale Arts Week office on 021 4700010. The cost is €120. Hope to
see you there!

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Malin Öhrn, a Swede who trained at the Dell’Art School of Physical
Drama in Blue Lake, USA is coming to Dublin! Malin is heavily involved
with Circus Cirkör (www.cirkor.se) & Clowns without Borders
(www.skratt.nu). She have been holding workshops in most corners of
the world!

There is a week long workshop at the TEAM venue planned for the week
starting 21st of July. Clown, physical theatre, mask… to mention but
a little of what the week will have to offer.

To let her know that you are interested email Petra at petraglad@hotmail.com

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Castings and Auditions

- Irish looking Villian needed for film. If you have the look and
talent, email CV & Headshot to: manager@thugs4tvfilms.co.uk

- Oscar Wilde drama opportunity at Fringe Festival! Auditions in
Nov/Dec in Dublin. Email CV at editionamelie@oPérelachaise.com

- Talent needed for movie production in Ireland this summer. Break
through with this great opportunity. Email CV and headshot to
debrunfilm@gmail.com

- Synergy Magazine are looking for all types of people to be filmed as
part of an exciting new project. Email CV and headshot to:
editor@synergy-magazine.com

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Plays and Events

‘Dancing Thru the Ages’ – the spectacular Irish Music Song and Dance
Show celebrates another successful run with the announcement that the
Show will move venue toThe Firkin Crane , in Cork City.

The impressive venue will become home to some of Ireland’s world
class musicians and dancers throughout July and August 2008.

Paula Goulding, recent winner of ‘Celebrity Jigs n’ Reels’ and former
Riverdance Lead, is looking forward to moving to the new venue.
“As Choreographer and Director of the show I am thrilled with the
opportunity to showcase our performances to a wider audience at the
Firkin Crane . The extra capacity of this venue has allowed us to
produce an even bigger and more spectacular show than any we’ve done
in previous years”.

Debuting in 2004 in Youghal, Co. Cork, the show offers a fresh
approach to the historical evolution of Irish Music and Dance -
powerfully fusing the traditional legacy of Irish culture with
today’s contemporary style and vision.

Dancing Thru the Ages consists of a 10-strong dance troupe, backed by
‘Dearga’ a 7-piece mix of talented musicians led by Richard Foley on
mandolin and bouzouki. One of the true legends of Irish music, Steve
Cooney, has been enlisted to take their interpretation of Irish music
to a whole new level, ensuring an inimitable exhibition of energy and
enjoyment in every performance.

Dancing Thru the Ages has received rave reviews for its performances
including that of Irish Music Magazine who recently stated:
“This could have been Broadway or Covent Garden, as it was a
five-star performance from start to finish that left the audience
cheering wildly”.

The Firkin Crane in Shandon in the historical quarter of Cork City
provides the perfect backdrop for this spine-tingling show.

Dancing Thru the Ages will perform weeknights throughout July and
August at The Firkin Crane . For further details contact Marketing
Manager Phyllis Foley by email: info@dancingthrutheages.com
or log onto
www.dancingthrutheages.com or
Phone 00353-(0)24-92571 / 086-1280151

Information also available from: The Firkin Crane on: 021-4507487
or email info@firkincrane.ie

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Storytelling Notice:

The Cork Yarn spinners Group is taking a break for the summer. They
will be back at their usual venue (Spailpin Fanach) on the last
Tuesday of every month (as usual) from Tuesday 30th of September,
starting at their usual time (8.45ish).

See you then!

Philipp Degen

25 year old Degen, was signed on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund. He signed a 4 year deal. Before Dortmund he played for FC Basel where he won 2 domestic league titles and gained Champion’s League experience. He is an attacking full-back with pace and strength.

Andrea Dossena

26 year old Dossena signs for £7m from Udinese. He too has signed a 4 year deal and is also described as a strong attacking full-back.

The signing of two attacking full backs leads me to believe Liverpool are going to continue with the 4-2-3-1 formation that brought them their best football last season. Right back was an area Liverpool struggled last season and Riise’s departure means there is a vacancy at left-back. Liverpool now have 3 capable options in each position.

At right-back Finnan, Arbeloa and Degen will fight it out and I can’t say right now who I believe will win. Finnan looked like he was nearing the exit door at times this summer but now seems happy to stay and fight for his place. He has been an excellent full-back all his career so if Degen ousts him he will be a success at Liverpool. Finnan isn’t getting any younger though and struggled to fend off the competition from Arbeloa at times last season. Arbeloa always strikes me as a squad player rather than a first team player and as that he is better than most out there. Don’t see him being first choice though. Right-back is up for grabs and hopefully Degen will prove a better free transfer than Aurelio and Voronin.

Left-back is between Aurelio, Insua and Dossena. I like the look of Insua but he is yet to fully graduate from the reserves and will probably be on International duty for the star of the season. I would sell Aurelio if anyone showed any interest. If Dossena doesn’t quickly establish himself as first choice left-back I’ll be disappointed. The real question will be is Dossena an upgrade on Riise who was sold to Roma for £4m? I’m hoping he will and am expecting big things from Andrea Dossena.

The centre-back position is well and truly covered by Carragher, Hyypia, Skertel and the returning Agger. Having Agger back will be like a new signing that you are guaranteed will fit in and work out. It will be hard to keep these 4 players happy and Rafa has given himself a bit of a headache for the season. Hyypia is likely to leave next summer and Carragher is the wrong side of 30 now. I expect Carragher to play for Liverpool until he is about 35 but it’s good to know that Agger and Skertel are in their early 20’s and there are a few good defenders coming up from the reserves.

The defence is well covered, but 3 players for the full back positions, and 4 top class centre-backs is too much. That will be wittled down to 2 full-backs for each side and 3 centre-backs during the season I’d say. My money is on Hyypia, Aurelio and one other to depart. It will be interesting and it’s nice to know Liverpool have good options at the back.

The goalkeeping situation should be sorted fairly quickly with Brazilian Diego Cavalieri probably signing for £3m soon. Reina will obviously continue as first choice with Resevre keeper David Martin as 3rd choice.

Now for the midfield…

Check this out:

This coming Saturday, a friend of mine is organising a Charity Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament in the Bank Casino on Father Mathew street to raise money for the Zimbabwean branch of Serve (serve.ie).

Should be great fun… I’ll be there, and we need to spread the word for a last push to get a few more bodies involved, so if you could let people know any way you can that would be great!

Full details on the Facebook event page or you can email charitypokerevent@gmail.com to register your interest, or to get more details.

Please spread the word!

Harry and Sally gave the 80’s their best rom-com, Sleepless takes the 90’s gong, but the naughties are still waiting for a rom-com worthy of repeat viewings. 2000’s What Women Want had it’s moments, but the fact that a film like Love Actually is held in such high esteem these days how far away from Harry and Sally we are.

Enter Cameron Crowe. Yes, Elizabethtown wasn’t great (although I still found it watchable), but Jerry Maguire was close to greatness. Crowe is to start filming a yet untitled movie with Ben Stiller and Reese Witherspoon in January.

I have a good feeling about this one. Witherspoon is made for rom-com, so teaming her up with Crowe is an obvious move. Stiller could go either way, but after making Orlando Bloom as close to watchable as is humanly possible I have faith in Crowe’s handling.

Anyone think of a leading man who would have been a better choice than Stiller. There aren’t many out there who fit rom-com these days.

Went to see End of the Line in the Granary the other evening, it’s an excellent show. Since it’s friends of mine, you might think I’m biased and not believe me, in which case maybe the great Irish Times review it got might sway you

Showing in the Granary tonight and tomorrow night. Last chances to see it!

From the Irish Times

End of the Line

Cork Midsummer Festival: Granary

A crisp directorial style from Donal Gallagher makes the very most of End of the Line , one of the first theatrical events of the Cork Midsummer Festival. The play by Romanian actor and author Paul Ioachim is set on a railway track selected as the ideal suicide method and location by three otherwise unconnected characters.

Ioachim has a light touch, or at least in this translation by Cristina Catalina and adaptation by Jody O’Neill his writing is undecorated. The jokes come without embellishment, but they come and they are so good as to make anyone wonder why this piece is only an hour long and what more Ioachim might do if the plot were darkened even a little or weighted with something more than the skilful inconsequentiality of this work.

Although the players have worked to match and convey the writer’s skill, there is a sense of a gleeful seizure of the nonsense as the balding meteorologist, the failed (or at least failing) actress and the man fromGod-knows- where realise they have been waiting at the wrong side of the station, possibly all their lives.

Jody O’Neill, Carl Kennedy and Dan Tudor give performances as precise as the writing and as pleasurable. Lighting and sound design (Adam McElderry and Carl Kennedy) , set and costumes by Medb Lambert and a shared comic accomplishment all add to the distinction of this presentation. Until Saturday

Mary Leland

Q1. Where did the idea for the project come from?
The festival director, William Galinsky, really liked last year’s Threat of Humour, and met us to discuss working on a project for this year. He encouraged us to read the works of Philip K. Dick, feeling we’d riff off them well, and we did, and ran with it for the last six months.

Q2. What was the inspiration for the marketing campaign?
The poster picks up on the 50s comic book feel of the show, the blurb eggs up the classic sci-fi tone to the script, and the flyer (attached) is basically a cheap pun which allows us to advertise the show and feel better than normal people.

Q3. How much did the venue influence your ideas?
Massively. It is such a great space that we had to work with it, rather than against it, using the warehouse as a set, rather than trying to turn it into a theatre space. A lot of the show will take place in daylight, which streaks in the high windows and casts an eery glow over proceddings. The script was largely finished when we got in there but the way scenes unfolded and connected only came together when we got into the warehouse. It changed some big ideas in the script, in a good way.

[Ed - You can see a sneak preview of the set here.]

Q4. How does it relate to previous Hammergrin productions/events?
It taps into that 50s Americana which so informed The Threat of Humour and Trying Jokes - that ultra-serious masculine world which takes itself so seriosly it is actually funny.

Q5. Why did you choose the Midsummer Festival for this project?
Without the clout of the Midsummer behind this we wouldn’t have the budget, the pr, or a name sufficient to get the venue for the show. And the inspiration of Philip K.Dick wouldn’t have been there without William’s interest in Hammergrin.

The Old Distillery, North Mall
Sunday 22 – Saturday 28 June, 9pm
Tickets €15/€12

The people who brought you Trying Jokes and The Threat of Humour are back!

That’s right, Hammergrin return to the Midsummer Festival once more, with what has been hailed as “their most adventurous project to date” by festival director William Galinsky.

From the blackness of a hundred million nights and through the depths of the psyche emerges the noble fight of four US government agents, Team Alpha, and their bid to give a great nation its own great literary giant. Their subject: Philip K. Dick!

Using a mysterious new technology - H.A.C.K. - the world’s first mind reading machine — Team Alpha will probe beyond space, into the unknown and beyond the mysteries of the sixth sense, in an attempt to crack a literary code that counterspies of every nation would risk their lives to get!

Join Mitch, Douglas, Nathan and Ava as they enter a world where there is no why…

You can read Hammergrin producer John McCarthy answer 5 of our questions here, and check out a sneaky-peak of their set here.

The Old Distillery, North Mall
Sunday 22 – Saturday 28 June, 9pm
Tickets €15/€12