Belltable:Connect has supported a range of theatre makers through mentorship, residencies, commissions, professional development programmes, masterclasses, space, time and production since its inception in 2016. We have become a performing arts hub in Limerick’s city centre and a space where artists and the public come together to develop and explore new work and new ideas.

In these uncertain and troubling times, when many artists are faced with loss of bookings and financial income, Belltable:Connect wants to play its part to help local theatre makers make it just a little easier to dream and research. We’re aware that when creative plans were disrupted, some of our colleagues may have more time on their hands, while others have taken on caring responsibilities. With this in mind, we have €10,000 in bursaries, thanks to Belltable:Connect’s principal funder, the Arts Council, and our partners. Ten bursaries of €1,000 each are offered for local theatre artists to explore a new idea for about five days throughout the month of May. A further €2,500 was made available by Limerick Culture and Arts Office via Creative Ireland: Made in Limerick funding strand for one Stage 1 bursary recipients to take their idea further.

Stage 1

  • 10x bursaries of €1,000 for local theatre artists to explore a new idea in May (applications open at 12 noon on Friday, 24 April 2020) 

Stage 2

  • 1x Creative Ireland: Made in Limerick Belltable:Connect research and development bursary of €2,500, which Stage 1 successful applicants will be eligible to apply for to take their idea further (applications will open in the second half of 2020)
Recipents of Belltable:Connect Stage 1 bursary scheme to facilitate creative thinking time for local theatre makers:

Ann Blake – to start work on adaptation of Ariadne by Gabriel Marcel.

Ella Daly – to explore the theory of ambiguous loss through theatre.

Emma Fisher – to start development of a new work, The Other Limb.

Conor Madden – to explore the commonalities and contrasts between our divided past, socially distant present and uncertain future though investigating a historic figure, a Clare priest Canon William Kennedy.

Maeve McGrath – to explore the memories of The Gaeltacht for a new work Back Again! The Gaeltacht Experience.

Marie Boylan – developing a new on-line short play where the communication between characters and audience is through emoji.

Pius McGrath – to explore an idea for a new theatrical work, a comedy in three acts with technical trickery peppered throughout.

Georgina Miller-Herring – to start writing a one woman show about events I survived eleven years ago that I shouldn’t have.

Liam O’Brien – to research the possibility of a new work in the ‘theatre for one’ genre in Limerick.

Joanne Ryan – to consider ways that theatre, especially participatory work, might take place in a future where social distancing rules must be observed.

Click any of the names linked above to read their blogs.

Belltable:Connect is supported by The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, Limerick Culture and Arts Office, Limerick City and County Council and Mary Immaculate College. The Research and Development Bursary of €2,500 is supported by Creative Ireland and Limerick City and County Council through a Creative Ireland: Made