Drama

Laois Youth Theatre was formally established in 1996 by the Arts Office and we now have five youth theatres running in the county. Youth Theatre is a good introduction for young people interested in developing drama skills or with an interest in all aspects of live performance.  Together with the weekly workshops, members will have the opportunity to meet with other Youth Theatre groups countrywide, through exchanges and festivals.

Family fun day at the Dunamaise  Laois Youth Theatre

Over 60 members of Laois Youth Theatre aged between 7 and 17, in a spirit of energy and enthusiasm, participated in the Open House Day at the Dunamaise Arts Centre on Saturday 6th June.  The day was supported and funded by the Arts Office, Laois County Council.  The family fun day celebrated and showcased the work of Laois Youth Theatre and was part of the Dunamaise Arts Centres’ 10th Birthday celebrations.

The day was family oriented and set out to showcase the Youth Theatres’ work as well as a means of encouraging young people to join any one of Laois’ Youth Theatres, based in Rathdowney, Mountrath, Portlaoise, Stradbally and Portarlington.  

The all-day event included stunning end of year performances from Rathdowney, Portarlington, Mountrath and Stradbally Youth Theatres. Audiences in the auditorium were treated to four varied devised pieces.  These pieces included a wacky play based on songs by Tom Chapin; a play about the precious gift of friendship; a spooky piece about the Spiddal Gaeltacht and a fishy tale about changing your luck.

The Youth Theatre co-ordinators in between producing live theatre shows, entertained families with their storytelling skills in the Gallery space, while members of Portlaoise Youth Theatre busied themselves face-painting in the Dunamaise foyer.  The Arts Office co-ordinate and fund the Laois Youth Theatre countywide as part of the arts service.  The Arts Office consider youth theatre  vital in nurturing and supporting drama and theatre for young people in the county.  It is hoped that the high profile of the Family Fun day encourages more young people to join Youth theatre groups in County Laois. They provide fundamental artistic stepping stones in learning the craft of becoming professional directors, producers, actors, stage technicians.
The shows and events were very well received. Many people came into the theatre to attend storytelling or workshops and then stayed to enjoy a show or two. In between shows families attended storytelling sessions and had their faces painted Staff from the Arts Office were on hand to tell people about the days’ events and to answer any queries from the public on Laois Youth Theatre.

Louise Donlon, manager of the Dunamaise Arts Centre presented Achievement Certificates and a t-shirt to each of the Youth Theatre members.  She congratulated them on their work and told them that the skills they acquired in Youth Theatre will stay with them for life.  She encouraged them to remain involved in Youth Theatre as they were the theatre audiences and possibly stars of the future.  Assistant Arts Officer Bridie Keenan made a presentation to Louise on behalf of the Arts Office and the Youth Theatres to mark the Dunamaise’s 10th Birthday.

Youth Theatre in County Laois has an important role and value in that it provides young people opportunities to develop holistically in a fun environment. Social and personal life skills and positive self-esteem are achieved by participating in a variety of theatre strategies such as Voice and Movement, Theatre Exercises, Improvisation, Role-Play and Characterisation.  Youth Theatre groups in County Laois provide a creative environment where the basic building blocks of acting and performance skills and stagecraft are nurtured.  Youth Theatre has an ethos of placing more emphasis on Process than Product.

Muireann Ni Chonaill, Arts Officer, Laois County Council said, “We are very proud of the 5 Laois Youth Theatre groups based around the county.  The members together with their co-ordinators and assistants are a valuable resource within the county and their enthusiasm and passion for drama is something to behold.”

For more information on Laois Youth Theatre contact the Arts Office, Laois County Council.  Telephone 057 8674342/41.

Drama events and Opportunities

The Arts Office, assist amateur drama groups within the county in a variety of ways, by direct funding through Arts Act Grants or by helping to promote activities or events throughout the year.  Information and contact details for the variety of different drama groups in the county are available from the office on request.

Office :  057 8674342/3 or e-mail: artsoff@laoiscoco.ie

The Arts Office also provide a scholarship to enable a drama enthusiast in county Laois to attend The Drama League of Ireland Annual Residential Summer School every year. Full details of courses have yet to be announced and information will follow or can be found on the Drama League of Ireland website