!!!! An Cumann Scoildrámaíochta: Irish medium drama festivals for primary and post-primary schools
An Cumann Scoildrámaíochta
Dates: February – March 2024
An Cumann Scoildrámaíochta, which is under the patronage of the Department of Gaeltacht and Rural Affairs, organises schools drama festivals on a countrywide basis to promote Irish medium drama in schools at both primary and post-primary level.
The festivals are organised on a local, provincial and national basis. These festivals give young people from every part of the country the opportunity to be directly involved in all aspects of drama production. As well as being a hugely enjoyable experience, participation also helps to build self-confidence, self-esteem and an overall fluency in the Irish language. Part of the fun is the competition element with the standard rising year after year.
The programme begins with the local festivals which are usually held in February and early March each year, provincial festivals follow in March and the national festival is held in April.
There are separate competitions and divisions based on school level, the size of school, age groups, operas/musicals and for primary schools that are not Irish-medium or Gaeltacht schools.
A repository of scripts translated into Irish are available in pdf format to download from An Cumann Scoildrámaíochta website.
If you are a drama producer involved with primary or post-primary students or if you are a teacher who would like to try producing a play for the first time ever, this is your chance to take part.
Further information is available on An Cumann Scoildrámaíochta website, please see the relevant sections:
Local festivals dates & venues: https://www.scoildramaiocht.ie/feilte-aitiula-2024/
Competition categories: https://www.scoildramaiocht.ie/na-comortais/
If you are interested in taking part, contact the representative listed for the festival nearest you or send an e-mail to eolas@scoildramaiocht.ie.
!!!! Graffiti Theatre Company & The Cork Midsummer Festival Present Seoid: An Opera for Babies
Graffiti Theatre Company & The Cork Midsummer Festival
Dates: 15th-17th June & 22nd-24th June at 11am & 2pm
Seoid/Jewel will be Graffiti’s first Opera for Babies devised by the team who brought you Blátha Bána/ White Blossoms and Gile na Gealaí/ Melody of the Moon. Seoid promises a musical and visual treat for an important audience.
Seoid will have its world premiere at the Cork Midsummer Festival and will be the first baby opera commissioned and performed in the Republic of Ireland. Performed in Irish and English it is a treasure not to be missed.
Seoid is a gentle musical journey though the seasons and through love.
Seoidín is looking through a box of memories (her baby clothes, a much loved toy), when she comes across her own childhood drawing of her Mother and Father. Memories stir and she sings. As she sings, she recalls her parents’ voices. They join her on an adventure through the seasons as Seoidín searches for the bright jewels of memories.
Starring: Linda Kenny (Soprano), Chloe Kiely (Soprano), Damian Smith (Baritone) and Chris Schmidt Martin (Cellist)
Composer: Fiona Kelleher
Director: Emelie FitzGibbon
Assistant Director: Síle Ní Bhroin
Set Designer: Deirdre Dwyer
Lighting Designer: Aoife Cahill
Production Manager/Set Construction: Olan Wrynn
Venue: Graffiti Theatre, Blackpool, Cork
Tickets: €8 per baby/child/adult
From:15th-17th June and 22nd-24th June at 11am & 2pm
To book go to: www.corkmidsummerfestival.com