Everything and the kitchen sink in Dublin 15 dramas
From the groundbreaking 1956 play Look Back in Anger to top TV soaps like Coronation
Street andourown Fair City, kitchen sink drama has long been a mainstay of popular modern culture.
But tonight, a new drama project will redefine the genre by literally putting the community centre stage at pop-up theatres in homes throughout Dublin 15. Instead of bringing an audience to the theatre, Draíocht Arts Centre’s ‘Home Theatre’ initiative is turning things around by bringing the theatre to the audience.
With curtain-up times at 5, 7 and 9pm, intimate gatherings of family, friends and neighbours can look forward to a unique theatrical experience when they take their seats in 30 host homes for 90 performances. Featuring no fewer than 47 professional artists, all the productions are original plays by professional writers inspired by the hosts’ life stories.
It’s a novel new approach that perfectly encapsulates the second pillar of the Creative Ireland programme, ‘Enabling Creativity in Every Community.’
“This is about bringing people together from all walks of life and giving them access to an amazing artistic experience,” says Draíocht director Emer McGowan. “We address age-old questions around access by breaking down all barriers – no ticket price, no travel to an unknown venue and no apprehension.”
Richard Dixon, director of public affairs with Concern Worldwide, can’t wait to see what unfolds when actor Philip Judge socks it to him and guests in his living room in Tyrellstown.
Throughout tonight’s performance, titled ‘The World According to Richard,’ actor Philip will be pairing socks, a nod to the collection of over 100 pairs gifted to
Richard by his triplet daughters over the years on Christmas and other special occasions.
“I didn’t attend the advance readings, because I want it to be a surprise,” says Richard, whose story is based on conversations he had with playwright Sonya Kelly.
“Richard and his wife Maura are raising their daughters to understand human rights, equal rights, and respect for different cultures,” says Sonya. “He reads them feminist books as bedtime stories. By the age of nine, these girls were well equipped with all the skills required to overthrow the system, reasonably and respectfully. So when they set about negotiating with their parents to get a dog last year, Richard said that he and Maura were powerless to resist.”
“In their determined efforts, Ellie, Molly and Mia treated Maura and myself to the nine-year-old equivalent of a PowerPoint presentation, followed by a song,” he recalls. “Suffice it to say that Teddy, the Bichon Frise, is now at the heart of our family life.”
Barking up a different tree, theatre maker Little John Nee will perform his own creation, ‘Linnets and Phibbles,’ inspired by one of the youngest hosts, 10-year-old Oscar Geran.
“It’s a lovely, playful piece about growing up in this area, where the child owns the streets, the woods and the playground,” says Emer McGowan. “Another play tells the story of a girl whose family travelled from South Africa to different countries before settling here.
“It was hugely important to us that this project would reflect the diverse age, gender, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds of the population of Dublin 15. This is inclusive theatre at its best and most original, with old and new voices bearing witness to people’s lives.” A selection of the short plays will move to the Draíocht’s Main Stage as part of Dublin Theatre Festival from October 10-13th.
Home Theatre (Ireland) is one of a number of projects and initiatives which are supported as part of Fingal County Council’s Creative Ireland Programme