WEXFORD PLAYWRIGHTS STUDIO 2020/2021
WORKS IN PROGRESS STAGE READINGS PROGRAMME P A G E 1
Wexford Arts Centre in association with County Wexford Arts Office is pleased to present WEXFORD PLAYWRIGHTS STUDIO 2021 WORKS IN PROGRESS STAGE READINGS DIRECTED BY BEN BARNES
In 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March, Wexford Arts Centre announced an open call in association with County Wexford Arts Office for playwrights in Wexford to apply for a mentorship programme titled Wexford Playwrights Studio.
The initiative was devised in association with Wexford Arts Centre's performance subcommittee member and local community theatre writer & director Carol Long and was supported by Liz Burns, Wexford County Council's Art Officer.
The initiative was developed to support professional theatre development for playwrights in County Wexford. There were over 20 applications, and 8 very talented playwrights were chosen to participate in the programme.
During the year the playwrights met by Zoom and in Wexford Arts Centre in compliance with COVID-19 H&S measures to work with lead mentor and renowned playwright Billy Roche and visiting acclaimed playwright and dramaturg mentors Deirdre Kinehan and Thomas Conway on the development of their proposed synopsis for plays into full production scripts.
Leading international theatre director Ben Barnes came on board to direct the work in progress stage readings with a very fine cast of local and national professional actors who all committed to delivering stellar stage reading performances for each of these new plays. P A G E 2
Though we had hoped to produce these stage readings for a live audience due to current COVID-19 restrictions, we had to resort to recording these readings behind closed doors in compliance with H&S requirements. We had a very talented company of actors performing roles across the eight plays over two weeks.
We give a virtual standing ovation to Ben Barnes, cast and crew and in particular videographer Ted Moran for making these recordings possible. Many thanks to Clayton Whites Hotel who supported our cast and production team with safe accommodation and meals. Also many thanks to Theatre Royal for their support with technical equipment. This initiative would not be possible as well without funding support from the Wexford County Council Arts Office, The Arts Council, and ongoing support from our sponsors, friends and donors.
Despite COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, each of these eight playwrights have done tremendous work developing their plays from script to stage and no doubt will be of significant interest for literary managers and producers nationally and internationally to consider further for full production development. We congratulate each of these Wexford based playwrights and look forward to following their ongoing developments with pride. We hope you enjoy viewing these productions and thank you for your support of professional theatre development at Wexford Arts Centre. P A G E 3
PLAYS IN ORDER OF RECORDING CAST IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
LIGHTS OUT
By Hannah McNiven
Sorensen - Gary Lydon Dawn - Katie McCann
Chosen for workshop development by Four Rivers Productions
LAST STAND
By Dominic Palmer
Tom Hooks - Gary Lydon Brendan - Naoise Dunbar Sarah - Heather Hadrill Carol - Katie McCann Brian - Cian Malin Keith - Tiernan Messitt Greene
FORGIVE ME FATHER
By Megan O'Malley
Peter - Tiernan Messitt Greene Michael - Naoise Dunbarr McDonagh - Gary Lydon Peggy - Elishka Lane Barnes P A G E 4
PIGS 3 WOLF 1
By Joe Brennan
Verri - Elishka Barnes Grandfather - Cian Malin Gerry - Tiernan Messitt Greene Terri - Katie McCann
THE HOUSEKEEPER
By Eoghan Rua Finn
Karl - Jamie Beamish Chris - Ronan Leahy Bushka - Ingrid Craigie
TEDDY
By Sheila Forsey
Rose - Sharon Clancy Jim - Mark Lambert Lily - Ingrid Craigie Teddy - Naoise Dunbar Bobby - Jamie Beamish P A G E 5
FORLORN POINT
By Imelda Carroll
The Ward - Mark Lambert Gráinne - Heather Hadrill Ruby - Ronan Leahy Dermot - Jamie Beamish
THE UNKILLABLE IRISHMAN
By Jack Matthews
Player A: Seamus/Tony Marino/Red Murphy - Jamie Beamish Mike Malloy - Ronan Leahy Player B: Hershey Green/Frankie Pasqua/Clerk 2 - Naoise Dunbar Player C: Nick Mellory/Lulu/Paperboy/Lawyer/Clerk - Sharon Clancy
STAGE DIRECTIONS FOR ALL PLAYS BY MEGAN O'MALLEY P A G E 6
PRODUCTION TEAM Ben Barnes Director Elizabeth Whyte Producer Ted Moran Videographer Colin Murphy Stage Manager Olchan Kirwan Light & Sound Operator Noel Quaid Video Assistant Pip Firman Front Of House Michael Duggan Photography Pauline Martin Company Manager Jackie Kilgannon Marketing & PR Kelly Roche Marketing & Social Media
MANY THANKS TO Carol Long (Wexford Playwrights Studio Support) Ben Barnes, Thomas Conway & Deirdre Kinehan (mentor supports for playwrights) Liz Burns (Arts Officer for Wexford County Council)
Joe O'Brien & Clayton Whites Hotel Team for accommodation & catering support
Dermot Quinn & Mary Boland of Theatre Royal for technical support
All the team at Wexford Arts Centre & all its supporters and funders
SPONSORS
SUPPORT FUNDED BY P A G E 7
PLAYWRIGHTS
Joe Brennan is a playwright, theatre maker, storyteller and facilitator from Wexford Town. He has travelled throughout Ireland and beyond performing, and delivering workshops, to people of all ages. He has shared his creative skills as far North as Iceland, Moscow in the East, Washington DC in the West, India in the South and many points in between.
Joe is the current Waterford Healing Arts Trust’s Artist in JOE Residence, at University Hospital Waterford. He recently BRENNAN delivered the ‘Tale-A-Phone’ Storytelling project to older people in County Wexford.
As a children’s playwright Joe has had a number of his plays produced, including the highly successful ‘The Witchin’ Well’ which toured nationally twice and was performed at the ‘100, 1,000, 1,000,000 Stories,’ Children’s Festival in Bucharest, Romania. He is the creator and performer of the magical ‘Star Boy’, an early years theatre show without words, which continues to tour. Star Boy also toured to Washington DC for ‘Euro Kids Festival’, with a performance at the Kennedy Centre. He was the Children’s Curator at Kilkenny Arts Festival and Director of Ramelton Storytelling Festival. He has received of a number of funding awards from Culture Ireland and the Arts Council including a YPCE Bursary. He is the author of Donegal Folk Tales, published by History Press Ireland.
Imelda Carroll is from Wexford town. Her plays and performance pieces have been produced locally and in the UK. She won Scripts and Write By The Sea story competitions in 2016. Her short screenplay, Chicken Out, to be produced by Outleft Productions, has been selected by the DLR First Frames Funding Scheme.
IMELDA CARROLL P A G E 8
Sheila Forsey is an Irish Times best-selling author of historical fiction and is represented by The Trace Literary Agency in the US and is published by Poolbeg Press. To date she has three novels published: Mending Lace, Kilbride House and The Secret of Eveline House. In 2012 she graduated with an honours certificate in creative writing through Maynooth University. In 2019 she was awarded a literary bursary from Wexford Arts Council and Artslink. SHEILA FORSEY Sheila has a background in drama through Kilmuckridge Drama Group and was part of the core acting group for Watergate Theatre Company during her years living in Kilkenny City. She has facilitated creative writing workshops in Wexford Arts Centre and The Presentation Arts Centre and in many festivals throughout the country. She was a committee member for Wexford Literary Festival for two years. Sheila is the tutor for creative writing for Adult Education in Gorey Community College.
Her book Kilbride House was selected as reading material as part of a transition year for its portrayal of 1950s Ireland. Her latest novel will be published in late 2021. Her writing has consistently received reviews describing it as deeply evocative and emotive. Being part of The Wexford Playwrights Studio has given her a huge passion to continue developing her playwriting skills. Sheila lives in her home village of Kilmuckridge. P A G E 9
Jack Matthews is a Wexford playwright, poet and actor who studied theatre at Inchicore College. His first one-act play ‘Cans’ was shortlisted for the Billy Roche International award in the Wexford Literary Festival 2020. He scripted The Heritage Park Digital series for the Irish National Heritage Park which was used on RTE.ie as well as the Viqueen Saga for Crinniu na nÓg. His poem ‘Bloody Sunday 1920’ in association with Crannog Media has been archived in the Croke Park Museum and was JACK read out on Mid-West Radio before the start of the Nicky MATTHEWS Rackard Cup Final to commemorate the centenary of Bloody Sunday. ‘The Battle of Corish Park’ was recorded and aired by South-East Radio and ‘You Nurses’ also went viral and was published by the Irish Mirror Online. ‘The Unkillable Irishman’ is his first full-length play. He is delighted to have been mentored by some of Ireland’s finest theatre practitioners and has garnered skills for life under their guidance. P A G E 1 0
Hanna McNiven graduated with an M.A. in Drama and Theatre Studies from N.U.I Galway in 2015. Her short film script The Lady on the Hill (2019) was the inaugural winner of the Wexford Film Fund (in conjunction with Bodecii Film) and has been selected for a number of film festivals both here and abroad, recently claiming the runner-up prize at the Jim Sheridan Short Film Competition 2021. Her play, Lights Out, written during the Wexford Playwrights' Workshop, has recently been optioned by HANNAH Four Rivers Theatre Company. She is also a novelist with her MCNIVEN first two books, The Loves of Mrs McAllister (2020) and The Birds of Bachelor Lane (2021), both published by Poolbeg Press.
Megan O'Malley is an actor and writer from Co. Wexford. Megan trained in the Gaiety School of Acting before going on to gain her masters degree in Theatre Practice from UCD. Megan wrote and staged her first play HOME in 2018. Since then she has worked on a number of productions including @CupánTaeBae which was staged as part of Smock Alley's Scene and Heard festival 2020. Megan was one of 80 women invited to speak at this year’s SHINE festival. She can currently MEGAN be seen in The Last Journey of The Vikings on Amazon Prime O'MALLEY Video. P A G E 1 1
Dominic Palmer is a writer, director, and award winning performer of traditional and street theatre who has been residing in Wexford since 2011. He wrote and performed in Taming of the Crew, a dark bromance Papa Bear Baby Bear and its cancer-themed follow up, Baby Bear Papa Bear, both of which were performed in the Wexford Arts Centre.
His 2014 satire on hot-button plays, Hot Topics was chosen in DOMINIC competition by Billy Roche, and produced and performed by PALMER Newline Theatre/Wordplay as part of a celebration of new writing.
Dominic was commissioned by Wexford Opera House, as part of Bang On Productions, to write, direct, and perform their Christmas shows, Rudey’s Christmas Adventure and A Quest Before Christmas. He also took part in the local arts showcase The Evo Festival, with his one-man dramedy piece A 41 Year Old Ex-Raver Who Will No Longer Do Slapstick, an exploration of slapstick, ageing and schadenfreude; and spent time exploring his own style of character-based stand-up.
He co-devised and directed the children’s play This Little Piggy with Limerick-based artists and his partner Caoimhe Dunn, which toured nationally; and devised and directed numerous street-theatre pieces for Bunclody Festivals.
In 2018, Dominic’s short play Twenty Years Later was shortlisted for the Wexford Literary Festival's Billy Roche Short Play Award. In 2019 he got the opportunity to direct and perform this as part of the festival’s ‘Plays in the Pub’. Dominic is currently working with Simon Thompson (Clown Noir) on ‘St Brendan’s Journey,’ a film and theatre scheme for young adults that will culminate in a recorded performance in Nenagh Arts Centre in 2021. P A G E 1 2
Eoghan Rua Finn is a playwright and poet from Wexford. His plays The Blackstairs Trilogy, Locomotive and The Kill God premiered in Wexford Arts Centre and the National Opera House. His radio play Sons of Thunder aired on South East Radio in 2016. Eoghan Rua was an Arts Council Theatre Bursary recipient in 2017. In 2019 Eoghan was awarded a Wexford County Council bursary for The Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Co. Monaghan. EOGHAN RUA FINN P A G E 1 3
CAST
Jamie Beamish's theatre work includes: The Beaux’ Stratagem (NT - Olivier), Othello (Shakespeare’s Globe), Merchant of Venice (Almeida), Trelawny of The Wells (Donmar), The Taming of The Shrew (Shakespeare's Globe), Stones in His Pockets (Tricycle Theatre), The Merchant of Venice (RSC), Macbeth (RSC), England People Very Nice (NT - Olivier), A Slight Ache (NT - Lyttleton), I, Keano (Olympia Theatre, Dublin), The Flags (Manchester Royal Exchange - MEN Theatre Award), Sacrifice JAMIE at Easter, The Tempest & The Last Beauty Spot (Corcadorca, BEAMISH Cork), The Winter’s Tale (Propeller - UK, Dublin, Spain, New York and China), Calico (West End), Much Ado About Nothing (Peter Hall Co. - Bath), Midsummer Night’s Dream, Two Gentlemen of Verona (Ian Charleson Award nomination), The Wind in the Willows, High Society, The Pirates of Penzance (all at The Open Air Theatre), The Beauty Queen of Leenane (York Theatre Royal), The Wizard of Oz (Birmingham Rep), Carousel (Perth Rep).
Film & TV work includes: Bridgerton (Netflix), HALO (Paramount), Derry Girls (Channel 4), Extra Ordinary (Blinder Films), WILL (TNT), The Commuter (StudioCanal), Love, Rosie (Constantin Film), Pan (Warner Bros.), London Irish (Channel 4), Pudsey The Movie (Syco), The Borgias (Showtime), Hanna (Focus Features), Anna Karenina, The Eagle, Atonement (Working Title), Robin Hood (Universal/Scott Free) P A G E 1 4
Sharon Clancy hails from Wexford where she began her career in the world of performing arts, actively participating in all the local drama and theatre companies on stage and behind the scenes from a young age.
She spent 4 years in Waterford performing, studying, and working for WLR FM. A magical memory she holds dear is when she played Luca in the musical Pentimenti by Bryan Flynn. SHARON CLANCY Sharon moved to London and studied at Guildford School of Acting. She spent 13 years in London playing leading roles in West End shows such as Mamma Mia, Jesus Christ Superstar, Million Dollar Quartet and Tonight’s The Night to name a few. She was also a TV presenter for Sky 1 and Channel 5, amongst many more TV shows. She was the lead vocalist on the Disney Cruise Line and The Queen Mary 2 world tours.
She returned to Ireland in 2012 where she starred in the Gaiety Panto, Shout the Mod Musical at the Tivoli Theatre, Perfida where she performed for President M. Higgins and played many lead roles in the National Opera House of Ireland. Sharon won Best Comedian for her role as Jane in The Witches of Eastwick for Wexford Light Opera Society. Sharon has also featured in many TV commercials in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Sharon was Irish TV’s Wexford County Matters Presenter for 2 years and is a voice over artist for South East Radio.
Currently Sharon is director of Superstars Stage Academy in County Wexford where she teaches weekly classes in the performing arts, and writes and directs 2 large scale musicals every year. Sharon also performs in The Ivy Sisters, a close harmony female trio singing the timeless classics of the silver screen with a modern twist. Sharon is Mum to six year old Zac and was delighted to be part of this project at the Wexford Arts Centre. P A G E 1 5
Ingrid Craigie is an award-winning stage, film and television actor who has worked extensively in Ireland and the UK, in the West End, and also on Broadway.
She has just completed filming the role of Rita in the feature film You Are Not My Mother directed by Kate Dolan. Ingrid’s other recent credits include the role of Eileen Pepper in BBC series Roadkill, Molly in television movie Forever In My Heart, Una in INGRID feature film Death Of A Ladies Man, Harding alongside Brendan, CRAIGIE Brian and Domhnall Gleeson in the short film Psychic for Sky Arts, and the IFTA-nominated performance as Mary in Season One of Virgin Media drama Blood.
On stage she was recently seen in the role of the Duchess of York in Druid’s critically acclaimed production of Richard III, directed by Garry Hynes at the Lincoln Center in 2019 and Aunt Nonnie in Sweet Bird Of Youth directed by Jonathan Kent at the Chicester Festival Theatre.
Naoise Dunbar is a native of Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. He trained as an actor at the Lir Academy of Dramatic Arts in Trinity College Dublin, on the BA in Acting Course. He recently graduated from The Lir Academy in 2020.
Recent credits include The Great Hunger for The Abbey Theatre in collaboration with IMMA for the Dublin Theatre Festival in 2020. NAOISE DUNBAR P A G E 1 6
Heather Hadrill is a Wexford based actor. Her credits include: Linda in a production of Billy Roche’s A Handful of Stars for South East Radio (which was nominated for a Broadcasting Award as the PPI Awards 2015), Eve in The Vagina Monologues (a touring production with Playtime Productions), Jessie in Night Mother with Riff Raff Theatre Company, Lordette in Eoin Colfer’s musical The Lords of Love, Narrator in Antigone with WAC Theatre Company and she has also performed with HEATHER Wexford Festival Opera in Therese/La Navarraise. HADRILL Heather was a participant on the Gaiety School of Acting Performance Theatre Company course, 2018/2019. She has also acted in numerous leading roles with Wexford theatre groups in drama, pantomime, musical theatre and short films. Heather is a qualified Speech and Drama teacher, Director, and Producer.
She has directed five Baroque Operas in the Czech Republic as part of a Summer Workshop series in Early Music and worked as Head of Drama in Chester International School in Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
She is also a co-founder/facilitator of a Wexford group for writers, actors & directors called Wordplay which provides theatre workshops, as well as feedback sessions for writers, and has produced seven new productions. Heather was recently awarded Artist in Residence at Wexford Arts Centre where she will develop her theatre practice and support community engagement with theatre in 2021/2022.
Mark Lambert was last seen on stage as Judge Turpin in Theater Orchester Biel Solothurn’s touring production of Sweeney Todd.
Mark's illustrious career includes the following performances: The Ferryman (Jacobs Theatre, Gielgud Theatre, Royal Court Theatre), The Phlebotomist (Hampstead Theatre), The Importance of Being Earnest, Romeo and Juliet (Gate Theatre), Heartbreak House, The Dead (Abbey Theatre), Dubliners (Dublin MARK Theatre Festival), Plaza Suite (Rough Magic), Those Sick and LAMBERT Indignant (Gaiety Theatre), 16 Possible Glimpses (Abbey Theatre), Brighton (Theatre Royal, Waterford) P A G E 1 7
Big Ole Piece of Cake (Fishamble), The Gigli Concert (Druid Theatre), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Project Theatre), The Weir, Festen (Gate Theatre), Enlightenment, Hamlet (Abbey Theatre), All’s Well That Ends Well (RSC), Ariel, Barbaric Comedies (An Irish Times Award Nomination Performance at Abbey Theatre), Memory of Water (Vaudeville Theatre), The Spirit of Annie Ross (Gate Theatre), Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Young Vic), Molly Sweeney (Almeida/Gate Theatre) & Juno & the Paycock (Albery Theatre, Olivier Award Nomination)
He will next be seen on screen in The South Westerlies for RTÉ One.
Mark's film and television credits include: Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar (Channel 5), The Bailout (TV3), Women on the Verge (Deadpan), Nowhere Fast, Fair City (RTÉ), The Journey (IFC Films), Rebellion, Roy (RTÉ), An Crisis (TG4), Raw (RTÉ), 13 Steps Down (ITV), Hidden (BBC One), The Last Templar (NBC), Heartbeat (ITV), Single-Handed (RTÉ), The Tudors (Showtime), Inspector George Gently (BBC), The Tiger’s Tail (Merlin Films), Breakfast on Pluto (Sony), Veronica Guerin (Touchstone Pictures), Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honour (A+E Networks), Evelyn (United Artists) & Borstal Boy (Dakota Films)
Elishka Lane Barnes is a final year Drama and Theatre Studies student at Trinity College Dublin. She is an actor, theatre maker and a founding member of Gift Horse theatre company.
Her recent credits include The Hamlet Review (Theatre Royal Waterford), CHARMS!, Supermoon, Spectres of Gorky (Samuel Beckett Theatre), Life is a Dream, As You Like It, What Every Girl Should Know (DU Players) and Tess (Gift Horse Theatre). Her ELISHKA recent tv credits include Vikings and FlyBoy. LANE BARNES P A G E 1 8
Ronan Leahy is an actor and director based in Meath. Recent theatre work includes The Spider’s House by Roderick Ford, directed by Maisie Lee; Hecuba by Marina Carr, directed by Lynne Parker and The Effect by Lucy Prebble, directed by Ronan Phelan, both for Rough Magic; Least Like The Other, composed by Brian Irvine and directed by Netia Jones for Galway International Arts Festival; Invitation to a Journey, a collaboration between Fishamble, CoisCéim, and Crash RONAN Ensemble, for Galway International Arts Festival; Waged LEAHY written by Frank McGuinness as part of Signatories, directed by Patrick Mason; Inside the GPO by Colin Murphy and Tiny Plays for Ireland and America (Washington, New York) both directed by Jim Culleton; Creditors by August Strindberg, directed by Aoife Spillane–Hinks; Oedipus, adapted and directed by Wayne Jordan for the Abbey; Wuthering Heights at the Gate, directed by Michael Barker–Caven; Borstal Boy at the Gaiety, directed by Conal Morrison and Drumbelly by Richard Dormer at the Abbey, directed by Sean Holmes.
Recent screen work includes The Flag, Pursuit, Out of Innocence, Gridlock, The Break, Jack Taylor, and Roy.
Gary Lydon is a native of Wexford and his association with Wexford Arts Centre stretches back to the very first production of Billy Roche's debut play, The Boker Poker Club, in the late 1980's, going on to perform in two more of Billy's plays Lay Me Down Softly and One is Not A Number.
Gary has worked extensively in Ireland and the UK in Film, Theatre and TV. His film and TV credits include : Broken Law, GARY Brooklyn, Warhorse, The Clinic, On Home Ground, Love/Hate, LYDON The Guard, Calvary, Country, Pure Mule, Sinners, Fergus Wedding, Amongst Women, Small Engine Repair, Ordinary Decent Criminal, The Last September.
He has also performed in all the major theatres including Dublin's The Abbey, The Gate, The Gaeity, The Olympia and London's The Royal Court, The Old Vic , Donmar Warehouse, The Royal National Theatre and The Bush Theatre. P A G E 1 9
Cian Malin is a recent graduate of Drama and History of Art from Trinity College Dublin in 2020. He has worked as an actor, deviser, composer, musician and set designer on theatre shows at venues including the Samuel Beckett Theatre (TCD); Players Theatre (TCD); Body & Soul at Electric Picnic; the Smock Alley Scene and Heard Festival; and with theatre companies such as Gift Horse Theatre and Improv, She Wrote.
CIAN His approach to performance is cross-disciplinary; his MALIN background in the visual arts and experience as a musician strongly inform his theatre practice. Most recently, he has worked on projects with SOFFT Productions (as dramaturg on the short film Celestial Bodies) and the Douglas Hyde Gallery (in creating the gallery’s inaugural NEW Realities Magazine)
Katie McCann is a freelance actor and writer. She studied English and Drama at UCD and is a graduate of the Gaiety School of Acting (Class of 2013). Recent acting credits include; Brontë (Illustrated Productions at Smock Alley and Mill Theatre Dundrum), TRYST (Sickle Moon Productions at VAULT Festival London, Lyric Theatre Belfast, Project Arts Centre Dublin & Tiger Dublin Fringe), Vikings (The History Channel), and Fallen (One City One Book at the Irish Writers Centre). KATIE MCCANN Writing credits include; The Grimm Tale of Cinderella (Smock Alley Theatre), Cirque des Rêves (published in Bewleys Cafe Theatre Freshly Brewed Vol 2 by Stinging Fly Press in 2019), Hollow Ground and Tales from Briar Hall (Illustrated Productions).
Recently Katie was accepted onto the Bewley’s Cafe Theatre New Writing Venture 2021 and wrote three episodes of the RTE and Tailored Films children's show Ace My Space which aired in November 2020. P A G E 2 0
Tiernan Messitt Greene completed his training at the LIR Academy, Dublin in 2019. He has played the role of Conor in Asking For It, directed by Annabelle Comyn for Landmark Productions, the Everyman Cork, and the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin.
Tiernan has been acting from a very young age including being former member of County Wexford Youth Theatre and has TIERNAN always been passionate about the industry. MESSITT GREENE Tiernan is a talented guitar player and singer who enjoys performing in pubs when he can. P A G E 2 1
B E N B A R N E S DIRECTOR
Ben Barnes is former Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre and the founding Artistic Director of the Opera Theatre Company, which became the national touring opera company in Ireland. He is an award winning theatre and opera director on both sides of the Atlantic.
His most recent productions include Fourteen Voices from the Bloodied Field for the Abbey Theatre, a new opera for the Opera Collective and the Crash Ensemble, Vagabones, an Irish National Opera production of Madama Butterfly which was also filmed by RTE and the six hour Eugene O' Neill epic, Strange Interlude for the Second Eugene O' Neill International Festival of Theatre. In the United States he most recently directed productions of Waiting for Godot, The Seafarer and The Crucible for Sandy Robbins at The Rep in Delaware and The Scourge at the Irish Repertory Theatre in association with Wexford Arts Centre as part of Origin 1st Irish Theatre Festival in New York .
Ben previously directed WexFour (short plays by John Banville, Eoin Colfer, Billy Roche and Colm Tóibin) for Wexford Arts Centre which toured to Centre Culturel Irlandais Paris and to Lincoln Centre as part of the Origin 1st Irish Festival in New York in 2016. Ben's book Plays And Controversies deals with his tenure as Artistic Director of the Abbey from 2000-2005. His new initiative, Four Rivers, providing theatre production for the south east region will be launched in 2021/2022 with productions of The Beauty Queen of Leenane and Blackbird by David Harrower. P A G E 2 2
ELIZABETH WHYTE PRODUCER
Elizabeth Whyte has been Executive Director of Wexford Arts Centre since 2006. She recently produced the award winning The Scourge by Michelle Dooley Mahon. This production went on a national tour, and was also performed at the Irish Repertory Theatre New York during the Origin 1st Irish Theatre Festival in 2020. The Scourge returned virtually for pandemic audiences in 2021.
Other producing credits include: The Irish tour of Holy Mary by Eoin Colfer; the Irish, Tricycle London, Centre Culturel Irelandais, Paris, and Origin 1st Irish Festival in New York tour of Lay Me Down Softly by WexFour –short plays by John Banville, Eoin Colfer, Billy Roche, Colm Tóibín in 2016; as well as Tales From Rain Water Pond in 2011 along with its national and New York tour at Irish Repertory Theatre as part of Origin 1st Irish Theatre Festival.
Elizabeth was previously Company Manager at Rough Magic Theatre; Director, actor and producer in New York with roles in Irish Arts Center, Irish Repertory Theatre and Súgan Theatre Boston as well as a role in The City, ABC and independent films.
Elizabeth has an MBA in Professional Arts Management from IT Carlow Wexford Campus, studied Arts & Literature BA at Harvard Extension, and Film Production in The School of Visual Arts in New York. P A G E 2 3
T E D M O R A N VIDEOGRAPHER
Ted Moran has been working as a Video Director and Producer across the many facets of the commercial and artistic sectors for the past 15 years.
They have worked extensively on a wide spectrum of projects, ranging from marketing content for some of Ireland’s best known brands, to international award winning tourism focused projects and attractions. They have worked extensively within the operatic world as part of its creative and marketing teams - producing an array of event and promotional content for Wexford Festival Opera, RTÉ Lyric FM, and Dublin Institute of Technology Conservatory of Music and Drama.
Working with local, Wexford-based writers, artists and musicians, Ted has also produced award winning feature films, documentaries, short films and music videos. Outside the realm of video, Ted is an accomplished copy and scriptwriter and podcast producer.
OLCHÁN KIRWAN SOUND & LIGHTS DESIGN AND OPERATOR
Olchán Kirwan graduated from Pulse Recording College Dublin in 2008 and was awarded student of the year in 2007, gaining knowledge in live/studio sound work and trained on Digidesign Pro Tools software.
He was the Sound and Audio Visual Technician for the Wexford Opera Festival for 6 years and has worked for Electric Picnic, Body and Soul, Other Voices, Spiegeltent Festival and numerous other Festivals. He has worked with Local band Corner Boy for many years and travelled the country with them.
Olchán has a passion for music and plays the guitar. His former band Hostile won the Battle of The Bands in 2003. Olchán is currently Wexford Arts Centre's Technician. P A G E 2 4
COLIN MURPHY STAGE MANAGER
Colin has been the stage manager with Wexford Light Opera Society (W.L.O.S.), since 2011. In 2014 he won an A.I.M.S award for best stage management with W.L.O.S.’s production of Sister Act, having previously been nominated in 2011 for The Mikado.
Other credits include Orpheus in the Underworld with D.I.T. Conservatory, Rusalka (Gaiety), Tosca (N.C.H.) Madame Butterfly (N.C.H.) with Lyric Opera Productions and Assassins (The Helix) with E.S.B.
In Canada he worked on the Banff Centre’s Don Giovanni, a co-production with Vancouver Opera. Colin's productions with Wexford Festival Opera (W.F.O.) includes Hubicka (2010), Maria (2011) and Le Roi Malgre Lui (2012) as assistant stage manager. In 2014 he was Stage Manager for the main stage production of Salome by Mariotte. Other W.F.O. credits include: Koanga (2015) by Delius, Barber’s Vanessa (2016) and Risurrezione by Alfano (2017), a double bill of L’Oracolo and Mala Vita (2018), another double bill of La Cucina & Adina (2019) and Falstaff in 2020. In 2019 he stage managed Susanna, by Handel at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.
Colin is currently working on Alice in the Underground by Gerald Barry for Irish National Opera.
BROCHURE DESIGNED, ILLUSTRATED & EDITED BY LARRY DUNNE