WITH funding for arts bodies and projects cut across the city and hinterland, it begs the question as to what is possible. Belltable, our municipal arts centre, which functions as venue, sponsor and occasional producer, has its work cut out.
The burden of duty falls to recent appointee Joanne Beirne as artistic director to provide a programme that both entertains the public, the consumer that enjoys the subsidised access to the arts possible, and to the makers of same.
A crisis meeting organised by Theatre Forum Ireland in National Concert Hall this Wednesday 14 was attended by Beirne, quick to respond to “this call to action. It’s about looking at what is possible for theatre with diminished resources, and what to do. Co-producing is an option being looked at by venues such as ourselves”.
Have no fear that the Belltable’s temporary relocation to 36 Cecil Street Street will see a lull in validity until restored to 69 O’Connell Street in November 2009. (Reader, you are tired of being told that Belltable @O’Connell Street has closed for renovations, other than the box office and Chimes Restaurant, each continuing there until February 2009).
Yes, there are bookings in music, comedy and theatre ahead but visual arts exhibitions will cease for a few months due to lack of ideal space.
Arts page was delighted to realise that UnFringed Festival will charge into that good morrow. Scheduled for Friday January 30 until Saturday February 7, Beirne has plenty in the pipeline.
“We are going to open the festival with John Breen’s new play, The Magic Boy, on Friday 7 at 36 Cecil Street. There’s a new dramatic work to stage by Bottom Dog, which is comprised of Myles Breen, Mike Finn and Liam O’Brien. Celine Natasha Murphy will join them in staging four individual pieces, each written in response to an item in Limerick City Gallery of Art’s permanent collection. Their work is called Off The Wall.
“We have Redmond O’Toole, named by National Concert Orchestra as their Rising Star for 2009, giving a guitar performance and Guy Masterson’s American Poodle looks at the relationship between Bush and Blair. Performance Lab will stage two new plays, each written individually by Billie Traynor and her daughter Jessica”.
Phew. Anything else new? Well,Priscilla Robinson, who did a show that was well received in Dublin Fringe Festival, will do an original theatre piece with her mother with themes of religiosity – Priscilla grew up a Baptist in Presbyterian Belfast, and her mother used to be a Quaker. Anticipate some rehearsed readings of other new writing, much of it local, and laughs by Choked Comedy and others.
A revised budget sees unFringed Festival 2009 pared down to two venues, LCGA in Pery Square and of course, 36 Cecil Street. Neither will there be a festival club running in Dolan’s as in previous years, but still, much to look forward to in art not platformed here previously, nor indeed anywhere else. More anon.
Meanwhile, Youth Arts Activity week hosts a wealth of events citywide at various venues, all Belltable and Arts Council supported. T: 061-319866 / 061-310633.
