UPDATE: THEATRE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROJECT 2011/2012

We hoped to get 20 people involved. But we got 60! Draíocht is delighted with the wonderful response to this community theatre project. Our Artist in Residence, theatre director Liam Halligan, is very excited about the possibilities that are arising from working with such a large, varied and smashing group of people. We are currently working through the second stage of the process. Stage 3 will take place in July. The objective is to build a group dynamic, to build confidence, to have fun, to collaborate, to share stories, to inspire each other and to create something that matters. The themes and content of the final piece are emerging … themes of faith, belonging, mistrust of our political, financial and religious institutions … what does the future hold? The project will culminate in a number of public performances in Draíocht taking place at the end of November 2012. Stay tuned for more info or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) 

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By Draíocht. Tags: Theatre, Workshops, Liam Halligan

Free Rehearsal Space 2012

Draíocht is offering rehearsal space from 07 August to 01 September 2012 FREE of charge to professional artists/performance companies participating in the Absolut Dublin Fringe Festival 2012. There will be 3 spaces available (Main Auditorium, Draíocht Studio and Rehearsal Room). Spaces can be viewed on our virtual tour facility here ...





As interest may outweigh availability, please write to or e-mail: Emer McGowan, Director, Draíocht. The Blanchardstown Centre, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 / Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) / Direct Line Tel: 01-809 8027.

With the following information (no more than 2 A4 sheets double spaced)
- Name of company and/or artists involved
- Concise details of the project to be rehearsed and if there is/are performance(s) scheduled
- Dates that the rehearsal space is required and if there is flexibility within those dates
- Which space you are interested in using
- How the piece is being funded
- Benefit of free rehearsal space to the success of the project

Closing date for receipt of information is: 08 June 2012
Offers of space will be made at the end of June 2012.

Draíocht is generously funded by Fingal County Council with additional funding provided by the Arts Council.

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By Draíocht. Tags: Arts in Ireland, Theatre

Family Day: NOT making valentine cards!

We had 69 children and their families join us to NOT make Valentine cards for this Family Day. While everyone else was busy creating cards for those they love, we created works of art like an artist we love. After the great work that was produced during our Giacometti family Day, we decided to concentrate on another famous artist and his Starry Night and Sunflowers....

As we work in the gallery space, we usually use dry materials, so we attempted to recreate Van Gogh's painting techniques and brush strokes using some lovely quality oil pastels, instead of oil paint. 

Our trusty team of artists prepared plenty of coloured paper, putting masking tape around the edge of the paper- this is a great technique for giving an art work a clean finish and border...

The whole page was then covered in lots of bright oil pastels...

  ....before being completely covered over again using black or dark oil pastels. Some of the top layer of black oil pastel was then scratched off using small strokes with a safety match (or paperclip). This action mimicked Van Gogh's brush strokes and revealed the colour underneath and produce some beautiful pieces of art work.

We also had some great direct reproductions of Van Gogh's work, again using small movements, creating texture and movement as this great artist did.

Next family day will run on Sat 24th of March 2012, we'll be making Rain Sticks, So I am busy collecting toilet rolls from everyone here in Draíocht at the moment. I reckon I have collected about 200 so far.....

 ...just about another 200 to go. So, if you are at a loose end come on in and try your hand at turning a toilet roll into a musical instrument. We hope to be very successful at creating some great sounds and hopefully not so successful at creating any great rains!

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By Draíocht. Tags: Youth Arts