Amassador attends play
THE Russian ambassador to Ireland, Maxim Peshkov, was the guest of honour at last Tuesday’s production of ‘ Three Sisters’ by Anton Chekov.
The play was on at Mermaid Arts Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of the continuing Bray Institute of Further Education arts festival.
The festival includes performances from dance, theatre, film and music.
Set in a remote Russian town, three sisters – Olga, Masha and Irina – yearn for the adrenaline rush of life in Moscow; but their plans go nowhere. Disaster, deception, meaningless self-sacrifice – each new twist of fate sees the sisters’ control over their destiny slip away.
This was followed by ‘BIFE Music Goes Live’ last Thursday at Mermaid. The performance night showcased this year’s work by BIFE College of Music senior students and teachers, and introduced BIFE’s latest course, the Music Performance diploma.
A new initiative from the music department, the students have had great fun and worked hard to entertain their audience with a selection of popular styles. This group have been performing live in the college at various events over recent months before bringing their repertoire to the Mermaid.
‘Shortcuts’ is a collection of short films made by the graduating students of Bray Institute of Further Education. Each graduating student writes and directs a short film as part of their final year.
The audience got to see the series of films last night (Tuesday) at Mermaid, with comedy, horror and everything in between.
‘Always Dancing’ will be the final event at the Mermaid and may be the most breathtaking. The diverse programme of 23 different pieces includes original choreography by both tutors and students.
Also included in the programme are repertoire pieces from the ballet ‘A Simple Man’ originally choreographed by Gillian Lynne, based on the Life of L.S. Lowry and adapted by Emma Hayward; ‘Orfeu e Euridice” choreographed by Pina Bausch; and ‘Dancing Bartok, Beethoven and Schonberg’ choreographed by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, both adapted by Eimear Byrne.
Stunning sequences and costumes are a feature of this show and it is recommended viewing for lovers of dance. Always Dancing will be in the Mermaid on Thursday and Friday, March 23 and 24.
To finish off the festival there will be a final event in BIFE on Thursday and Friday, March 30 and 31.
A sound installation entitled ‘Sonic Chambers’ is an interactive sound experience that puts you in control, without any need for musical background required.
Have you ever wondered how the worlds of music and technology combine? Come along and find out.
To find out more about the college and its courses, go to bife.ie.