Belltable:Connect Theatre Makers 2017 participants:
Ann Blake, Caoimhe Dunn, Eadaoin O’Donoghue, Fionnuala Gygax, Henry Martin, Joan Somers Donnelly, Joanne Ryan, John Galvin, Liam McCarthy, Maeve Stone, Mags O’Donoghue and Rob Moloney.
Belltable:Connect Theatre Makers was a 6-months theatre development programme responding to the identified need to create with guidance and support from mentors, giving participants an impetus to develop new works. The programme facilitated artists to stretch their creative comfort zone and to explore in a safe and stimulating environment.
Theatre Makers encouraged collaborations with others, within the framework of a programme of talks, workshops, masterclasses and demonstration-performances. These took place over two days once a month from January to June 2017, in Belltable, 69 O’Connell Street, Limerick City. The programme facilitated engagement with a variety of styles, approaches and viewpoints in contemporary theatre from Ireland, Europe and beyond. The creative ensemble of participants showcased their ideas to the public in July 2017.
Belltable:Connect Theatre Makers 2017 was led by two main mentors – playwright Deirdre Kinahan and director Lynne Parker. Visiting mentors included Tim Crouch (UK), Théâtre de la Pire Espèce (Canada), Rebecca Perry (Canada), David Bolger (Ireland), Mikel Murfi (Ireland) and Wayne Jordan (Ireland).
Theatre Makers was also set up as a research project. The research focused on the experiences of the participants and was conducted by Dr Dorothy Morrissey, Mary Immaculate College. The research paper is available to download here: A Review of BelltableConnect Theatre Makers, 11 Oct 17
Belltable:Connect Theatre Makers 2017 was supported by the Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon under the Theatre Artist Development Scheme.