An Grianán Theatre Café will reopen on on Monday 10th August and we would like to hire the following experienced staff for daytime work:
Chéf – 30 hours per week.
Waiting Staff – 20 hours per week.
Experience necessary, please apply with your c.v, before Wednesday 29th July, to Lena Duddy, Manager, An Grianán Café eMail
A bohemian party in Magilligan. An Grianán Theatre and Parrabbola’s Creative Europe funded production The Winter’s Tale, part of the Shaking the Walls project. July 2019. Photo by David Faughnan. All rights reserved.
Due of the effects of worldwide pandemic the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre has decided to change the long planned International Conference Shaking the Walls to an ONLINE meeting. The conference will take place on 25-27.09.2020. Moreover, recording/streaming presentations of performances by project partners are also planned as a part of the conference programme. Accordingly, we are pleased to prolong an open call for papers until 20th August 2020.
The Conference is the event of 2-year artistic project by the same name: Shaking the Walls, that brings together organisations from five European countries operating in the scope of performing arts. The Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre from Poland is the leader of the project, the partners are as follows: Cooltour – Kulturní centrum Cooltour Ostrava z.ú., from Czech Republic, RaTaTam – Reykjavik Art Group from Iceland, Parrabbola – community theatre collective from London, Great Britain and An Grianán Theatre from Letterkenny, Ireland.
Conference will take place at the Faculty of Law and Administration (University of Gdańsk)
The conference’s aim is to explore the theme of walls between people using various methodological approaches, including the following:
– sociology
– philosophy
– linguistic studies
– arts engaged in social interventions
– theatre, performing arts, literature (including Shakespeare) studies
The conference aims to address specifically the metaphor of the wall of indifference, which is perhaps the most blurred and undefined boundary separating humans in today’s world, both as individuals and social or ethnic groups. We would like to talk about ways of identifying “walls” (barriers, boundaries, problems) in different countries and subsequently, through inter-cultural creative dialog, art and education find ways of raising public awareness of the issues tackled, and reach solutions.
The range of considered issues varies from political problems, immigration, domestic violence, isolation in the society and many more, including the following:
– What types of walls have been diagnosed in different social and cultural contexts?
– How can art talk about these walls? What artistic tools may be used to tackle the issues concerned?
– What makes us choose a particular side of the wall?
– In what, socially accepted, ways can one particular point of view be supported?
– Are there any real solutions? Can “shaking the walls” be effective?
– Who should feel responsible to “shake the wall”? Academics? Artists? Politicians? Media?
– Who are the people who actually make a difference in the world-wide context?
– What are the dangers and ethical dilemmas that might be faced, when trying to shake most important walls?
– What barriers can be identified and modified by the particular works of art or theatre?
– How the divisions influence the language and social/political discourse?
– To what extent is it possible to heal the divisions through education?
– What educational tools proved to be more effective?
First day (September 25th): Shaking the walls – project introduction and results.
Welcome lecture by Guy Le Jeune (Ireland)
Presentation of Shaking the Walls project (multiple speakers – project partners)
“SUSS!” by RaTaTam, from Reykjavik, Iceland – performance presentation (recording/streaming)
Second day (September 26th): Barriers in wide social and cultural contexts.
Key note speaker: Mary Ann DeVlieg (Italy)
Presentation of papers
Third day (September 27th): Arts (theatre, performance, literature).
Key note speaker: Prof. Małgorzata Grzegorzewska (Poland)
Presentation of papers
“Brave New Life” by Cooltour, from Ostrava, Czech Republic – performance presentation (recording/streaming)
Please note that we support cooperation between scholars and artists. Therefore – you can prepare your presentation in a tandem of trio with an artist or a scholar. The point is to use his/ her art to raise awareness about the walls between people, in practice. We would promote the proposals including practical rather than strictly academic approach.
Conference organisers:
Marta Nowicka
Anna Ratkiewicz
Anna Szynkaruk-Zgirska
Anna Nadrowska
Contact: shakingthewalls@gmail.com
Shaking the Tale is part of Shaking the Walls, a project co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. The project is led by Gdański Teatr Szekspirowski (Poland), the other partners are Parrabbola (UK), Cooltour Ostrava (Czech Republic) and Ratatam (Iceland). As well as Creative Europe, our co-funders for Shaking the Tale include the Donegal County Council, Arts Council of Ireland and the Earagail Arts Festival.
At An Grianan Theatre we are currently working away to reschedule events in our programme as well as ensuring that the theatre is ready to reopen as a safe environment for all our customers, staff, artists and performing groups. The Government’s announcement of a five-stage plan towards the gradual opening up of the economy advised 10 August as the date when theatres and cinemas would be allowed reopen – subject to social distancing measures being in place for staff, audiences and performers.
We are actively working to wards this deadline while awaiting the Government to issue a national protocol, currently being developed for businesses reopening, and we understand this will be published in the coming weeks. In the interim, we are actively working with other venues on an initiative led by Theatre Forum to address the issues specific to the protocols necessary for our venue.
We will keep you, our valued customers informed as we progress to reopening An Grianan Theatre and we look forward to welcoming you all back here soon.
If you have any queries about rescheduled events or refunds please contact us at marketing@angrianan.com
We are very sad to have our doors closed on World Theatre Day so we asked our good friend, actor and writer Seamus O Rourke to send a short message to our audience.
The building is now closed for the foreseeable future. This is in the interest of health and safety.
We are currently rescheduling as many of the shows we had scheduled to take place in this period for later in 2020, and in some cases early 2021. As soon as we have their new dates we will contact everyone who has booked for those shows and let them know. Anyone who is unable to attend the new dates will be offered a refund.
If you have any queries about refunds please contact us at marketing@angrianan.com
Please be patient. Everyone who has booked a ticket for a show during this period will be contacted as soon as we possibly can.
Youth Theatre and Children’s Drama classes are also postponed during this period.
Please follow us on social media or check our website for updates, and for fun things to do and watch.
This is a fast moving situation and things change quickly so please keep yourself informed.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank all our customers for their co-operation during this time.
Following today’s announcement by An Taoiseach that all cultural institutions will close and all indoor mass gatherings of 100 people should be cancelled until 29 March, we regret to inform you that all performances at An Grianán Theatre from today 12th March until 29th March are postponed and the building will be closed to the public. This is in the interest of health and safety.
We are currently rescheduling both the Letterkenny Musical Society’s The Addams Family shows, and The Lost Brothers concert, and as soon as we have their new dates we will contact everyone who has booked for those shows and let them know. Anyone who is unable to attend the new dates will be offered a refund.
The Youth Theatre and Children’s Drama classes are also postponed during this period.
It’s likely that it’ll be next week before we’ve worked things out properly, so please be patient. Everyone who has booked a ticket for a show during this period will be contacted as soon as we possibly can.
Please follow us on social media or check our website at angrianan.com for updates.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank all our customers for their co-operation during this time.
For more information and updates,
see www.hse.ie
and
www.gov.ie/health-covid-19
An Grianán Theatre is monitoring the situation regarding COVID-19 and will continue to do so. We will follow the advice and direction of relevant authorities in all matters of public safety.
All events are currently scheduled to proceed, unless otherwise notified.
For more information and updates,
see www.hse.ie
and
www.gov.ie/health-covid-19
An architectural installation which will bring arts and culture onto the street is set to improve Letterkenny’s pedestrian connections in 2020. The new ‘cultural district’ will open up previously underutilised land to connect High Road and Port Road as part of the Irish Architecture Foundation’s Reimagine… project to enhance the local built environment of six towns across Ireland.
Led by Rathmullan-based Architects Pasparakis Friel, the IAF-commissioned Reimagine Letterkenny project will improve connections between The Donegal County Museum, An Grianán Theatre and The Regional Cultural Centre, with completion of phase one on schedule for May 2020.
Spectators enjoying an outdoor aerial dance performance by Fidget Feet at An Grianán Theatre.
The architectural studio is working closely with the local community and Donegal County Council to develop a concept which they hope ‘will act as a catalyst for the growth of culture and arts in the wider region’.
Ronan Friel of Pasparakis Friel said: “A key component of our proposal is the adoption of the gables of existing buildings as ‘canvasses’ which will guide you through the Letterkenny Cultural District whilst celebrating and showcasing works of art and culture. The new Cultural District destination holds immense potential for arts and culture in Letterkenny and the wider region. Our studio is excited about driving forward such an ambitious project.”
Commenting on the Donegal project, Nathalie Weadick, Director of the IAF, said: “We’re delighted to have architects Pasparakis Friel working with the local community in Letterkenny to develop an architectural solution which will better connect the town’s new Cultural District.
“This project will open up physical connections between Letterkenny’s cultural hubs. It’s an exciting opportunity for the local community to have their voices heard and to work with the architects to create an exciting new space in their town.”
The public are invited to attend either of the following workshops to give their views and collaborate with the team in developing ideas for the project:
You can also fill in the online survey here
For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/LKCD-Letterkenny-Cultural-District-102305154719376/
The ‘Reimagine…’ project is supported by the Creative Ireland Programme’s National Creativity Fund.
For further information on Reimagine…, visit: https://architecturefoundation.ie/news/reimagine/.
Established in 2005, the IAF is an independent organisation dedicated to the promotion of architecture as culture. The IAF seeks to champion the power of architecture to transform lives and improve the places where we live, learn, work and play. For further information on the IAF, visit: https://architecturefoundation.ie.
Follow the IAF on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
The Creative Ireland Programme is guided by a vision that every person in Ireland will have the opportunity to realise their full crea ve potential. It is an all-of-government initiative, from 2017 to 2022, to place creativity at the centre of public policy. Further information is available here: https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en
The National Creativity Fund enables the Creative Ireland Programme to activate, enable and support genuinely ground-breaking and innovative initiatives, research projects and community programmes, which have creativity and wellbeing at their centre. Through a series of strategic partnerships with cultural organisations, education and academic institutions and healthcare specialists, the selected projects are ambitious, innovative and inclusive and will help inform and implement the vision of the Creative Ireland Programme right across Government. Over €1.2m will have been invested in the 30 initiatives over the duration of the Fund in 2018 and 2019.
Presented by Earagail Arts Festival in association with Paradigm, John Grant will close this year’s Donegal International Folk & Roots Weekend during the festival.
Grant will perform solo playing songs from across his celebrated career in a rare stripped–back live show at An Grianán Theatre on Sunday, 19th July at 8pm.
A former member of the Denver-based alternative rock band The Czars, the American singer songwriter embarked on a solo career in 2010 with his debut solo album (Queen of Denmark) being named Best Album of the Year by Mojo.
With his fourth solo album Love Is Magic, Grant continues to evolve, creating his most electronic record yet, in collaboration with Benge (Ben Edwards), analogue synth expert/collector and a member of electronic trio Wrangler, Grant’s collaborators earlier this year under the collective name of Creep Show on the album Mr Dynamite.
Tickets go on sale at 10am on Fri 28 February. Booking info here.
Grant joins hit musical Good Vibrations as part of a very strong programme for this year’s festival. More events to be announced.
“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!”
★★★★ ‘The full-throated spirit of punk is alive and roaring in the auditorium.’ The Irish Times
Good Vibrations tells the story of Terri Hooley, a radical, rebel and music-lover in 1970s Belfast. When the conflict shuts down his city, and all his friends take sides and take up arms, Terri opens a record shop on ‘the most bombed half-mile in Europe’ and calls it Good Vibrations. Through it he discovers a compelling voice of resistance in the city’s underground punk scene. Galvanising the young musicians into action, he becomes the unlikely leader of a motley band of kids and punks who join him in his mission to create a new community, an alternative Ulster, and to bring his city back to life.
‘Good Vibrations is as intense and big-hearted as Terri Hooley himself.’ The Irish News
It has been adapted for the stage by the same writing team behind the film biopic – Colin Carberry and Glenn Patterson – for which the pair were nominated for Outstanding Debut at the 2014 BAFTA Film awards.
Please note this performance contains strong language and some references to violence. Age recommendation 15+
Thurs 23rd July at 8pm
Fri 24th July at 8pm
Sat 25th July at 8pm
Sun 26th July at 3pm
Evenings: €25, 4 for €90, groups of 10 or more €20 each.
Matinee: €20, 4 for €70, groups of 10 or more €15 each.
★★★★★ ‘Sometimes you watch a piece of theatre and you just know you are witnessing something special, something everyone should see, and Good Vibrations is just that. A show good for the soul.’ Belfast Live
Fáilte go dtí Amharclann An Ghrianán! Located in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, An Grianán Theatre is an integral part of the county’s thriving cultural life and a flagship venue in the North West of Ireland.
Box Office: 353 74 91 20777
