What a Week ... 7 Days in Draíocht ... Let's Go!

WHAT A WEEK! … 7 Days in Draíocht! … Let’s go …

Live:Theatre Tour: ‘Yellow’ by Jody O’Neil finished its tour to D15 primary & secondary schools (15 performances in 8 schools over 2 weeks);

Clonee Women’s Shed finished their drama sessions with our Theatre Artist in Residence, Kunle Animashaun, working together since March 2023, ending with a 2-night sold-out performance of a show written by the group ‘Crazy World’;

Winter Youth Dance Sessions continued on Tuesday night with Dublin Youth Dance Company's teacher and choreographer Mariela Mira - now in week 3, the group are working towards a final group performance in 2 weeks;

D15 Youth Theatre continued on Tuesday night with an amazing movement session with dancer Kevin Murphy;

Create Dance members danced their socks off with Mark Rogers on Saturday including the all important ‘solo’ dance;

Phil Coulter played to a packed Sold Out Main Auditorium on Tuesday night;

Our ‘Theatre Craft Project’ with Hartstown Community School & Rath Dara Community College continued for Week 3 of their 5 Week Project, with Sarah Beirne and Eimear Morrissey;

Our Visual Artist in Residence Justine McDonnell was interviewed for a media piece along with her Grandad Brian, a member of the Percy French Troubadours about how they inspire each other; Justine also met with our part-time Curator Sharon Murphy about future projects;

Draíocht’s 29 piece Playground Orchestra was reunited once again for 4 Family Christmas Singalong Concerts with MC Extraordinaire Mark Rogers and Singers Susan McFadden and 10 year old rising Dublin 15 star Sean O’Callaghan singing ‘The Snowman’;

Dave McGauren finished our 6 week ‘A Song Project’ in association with The Mobile Music School in 4 schools in D15, culminating in 500 children singing their newly learned songs live with Draíocht’s Playground Orchestra accompanying them in our Main Auditorium;

Our D15 Community Choir Project finishes this week, after 8 weeks in 3 D15 Community Centre locations on Fridays evenings and Saturdays, with choir master Debra Salem (flying in from Glasgow each week!) and accompanist Jack White – the 60 members combined will next meet up in January for THE BIG SING;

Writer Lianne O’Hara joined us for her second GAP Day, part of Draíocht’s Artist Support Scheme in association with Mermaid Arts Centre and Lian Bell;

Our next exciting participation project NEST, with Artistic Director Veronica Coburn, visited some D15 secondary schools this week for workshops, before we invite some of our 24 Hosts to Draíocht this weekend for more fun theatre workshops;

Installation of our forthcoming Gallery Exhibition ‘The ladder is always there’ was completed, featuring works by the 5 member Shell/ter Collective and 10 emerging artists, opening on 8th December in the Ground & First Galleries, all are welcome;

We launched YOUR WALLS, a brand new Art Sharing Project in Scoil Mhurie Senior National School, Blakestown, as Draíocht begins to lend its art collection out into the community, collaborating with Dr Annie McKeown O’Donovan and Dr. Lucy Elvis, two philosophers who will provide teacher training that will support schools and teachers to think carefully, creatively and critically together about the art works;

There were 3 Photoshoots and 3 Film Documentaries created; a Board Meeting, 2 Room Hires, a new Season Brochure of Events signed off and a Christmas Tree lit & decorated! We celebrated a 50th Birthday with Cake (Happy Birthday Paula!);

And our Box Office team sold almost 2,000 items this week, from Show Tickets, to Gift Vouchers, to Friends Memberships!

PHEW … And next week … we’ll do it all again!