Youth Theatre’s Across Country to Celebrate with Open Week from 13 February
On Wednesday February 15, the National Association for Youth Drama will after nearly 40 years re-launch as Youth Theatre Ireland. To mark this exciting new era and change, Youth Theatre Ireland will be promoting an Open Week showcasing the work of its members. Guests are invited to experience firsthand the diversity of work supported by Youth Theatre Ireland with 2,700 young people and over 4,000 hours of drama activities per year.
Youth Theatre Ireland is the national development organisation for youth theatre. With 55 affiliated youth theatres in 24 counties, they support an incredible network of youth theatres offering year-round drama workshops and performance opportunities to young people aged 12 – 21 from cities, towns and villages across Ireland.
Starting on February 13, Youth Theatre Ireland is excited to share the unique experience of youth theatre, promoting a variety of Open Week events including taster workshops, presentations and performances. Details for local events will be available online from www.youththeatre.ie and through individual youth theatres.
Youth Theatres affiliated to Youth Theatre Ireland are open to everyone, and each is unique to its community and the young people in its membership. With 70% of all youth theatres existing outside of cities, they are the creative lifeblood for the youth in many communities, helping to develop their artistic, personal and social dimensions. As well as gaining increased theatre skills and appreciation of theatre and the arts, young people who participate in youth theatre report wider benefits for their overall well-being, including increased levels of happiness, confidence and self-esteem, a sense of belonging and improved abilities to articulate and express feelings and opinions.
Youth theatre Ireland helps organisers with all aspects of running a youth theatre – from the artistic programme to child protection – and delivers a calendar full of national-level events across the year. Highlights include the National Festival of Youth Theatres and “Leading On…” drama facilitation training for leaders. Young members can audition to be part of the National Youth Theatre, or deepen their understanding of contemporary theatre as a ‘Young Critic’. Youth Theatre Ireland opens up a a world of opportunity for everyone involved.
As Youth Theatre Ireland re-launch they ask that you join them, whether as a young person who would like to join a local youth theatre; or as a volunteer who wishes to set up a youth theatre; an existing drama group for young people that would benefit from affiliation to Youth Theatre Ireland; or a funder who can play a part in making more youth theatre opportunities available across Ireland; they want to hear from you.
The full list of Open Day events is as follows:
Monday 13th February – CORK
Rusty Frog Youth Theatre Open Day
6pm, Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre, Skibbereen, Co.Cork
Come experience a free and fun theatre workshop with Rusty Frog Youth Theatre
Find out more about Rusty Frog Youth Theatre
Tuesday 14th February – LIMERICK
Co. Limerick Youth Theatre Open Day
5pm – 6.30pm, Friars Gate Theatre, Sarsfield St, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, Ireland
The launch of Youth Theatre Ireland will be celebrated by having a celebration of film evening. This will showcase four of County Limerick Youth Theatre’s short films followed
by a Q&A. Find out more about Co. Limerick Youth Theatre
Wednesday 15th February – DUBLIN LAUNCH EVENT
Youth Theatre Ireland Launch
4pm – 5.30pm, The Cobalt Café, 16 North Great Georges St, Dublin 1
The official launch of Youth Theatre Ireland. Looking to the future, celebrating the past, with contributions by Paddy O’Dwyer, Stefanie Preissner and Louis Flanagan. http://www.youththeatre.ie
Thursday 16th February – WEXFORD / LOUTH
WACT in Action
3pm – 6pm, St. Michaels Theatre, New Ross, Co. Wexford
Wexford Artists Community Theatre invite you to come along and see what youth theatre is all about. Chat to members, watch our plays in progress and cut the ribbon with us to celebrate the launch of Youth Theatre Ireland. Find out more about WACT Youth Theatre
M.A.D. About Youth Theatre
5pm – 7.30pm, Hagan House, Ramparts Lane, Dundalk, Co Louth
M.A.D Youth Theatre Host an Open Day for all. Come see why we are Mad about Youth Theatre. Join along or just watch how a drama workshop is conducted and see a variety of performances inspired from the process. Some of the members will talk about their engagement in youth theatre. Find out more about M.A.D. Youth Theatre
Friday 17th February – DONEGAL / KILDARE
Donegal Youth Theatre Open Day
6.30pm – 8pm, Balor Arts Centre, Main St, Stranorlar, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal
Come and join the Youth Theatre for the Hatters Tea Party! A free event for all to enjoy. You might even get some cake! Find out more about Donegal Youth Theatre
Griese Youth Theatre Open Night
6pm – 9pm, The Meeting House, Ballitore, Co.Kildare
Griese Youth Theatre host ‘Make time for your imagination and drop into Griese Youth Theatre’ Open Night. Find out more about Griese Youth Theatre
Saturday 18th February – ROSCOMMON / GALWAY / DUBLIN, TALLAGHT / TIPPERARY
Roscommon County Youth Theatre Open Day
10am – 12pm, Roscommon Arts Centre, Circular Road, Roscommon
Come see what we get up to at Roscommon County Youth Theatre. Free event for all the family. Find out more about Roscommon County Youth Theatre
Galway Community Circus Open Day
12.45pm – 3pm, St Joseph’s Community Centre, Ashe Road, Shantalla, Galway, Ireland
On Saturday 18th February Galway Community Circus will open its doors to all young people aged 12-20years. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about what we do in our youth circus or learn some circus skills yourself, join in for an open workshop facilitated by Galway Community Circus tutors and youth members. Free event and no registration needed. Please wear comfortable training clothes. All welcome!Find out more about Galway Community Circus
Tallaght Youth Theatre Open Day
1.30pm – 3.30pm, RUA RED, South Dublin Arts Centre, Blessington Rd, Tallaght, Dublin 24
Discover what Tallaght Youth Theatre is all about. Free event for all the family.
Find out more about Tallaght Youth Theatre
Fracture Youth Theatre Open Day
7pm – 9pm, The Gallery Space, Source Arts Centre, Thurles, Co. Tipperary
Theatre and Treats with Fracture Youth Theatre
Celebrating 18 years at the heart of the Thurles community, Fracture Youth Theatre invites you to their showcase. There will be performances from past members and current members and the token trip down memory lane, with some stories, experiences and short performances from past productions. Free event for all the family.
Find out more about Fracture Youth Theatre
Wednesday 22nd February – MONAGHAN
Monaghan Youth Theatre Open Day
6.30pm – 8pm, The New Garage Theatre, Monaghan Education Campus,
Old Armagh Road, Monaghan
Monaghan Youth Theatre celebrates Youth Theatre Ireland Open Week with an evening of performances from upcoming shows and a panel discussion with past and current members.
Find out more about Monaghan Youth Theatre
Thursday 23rd February – TIPPERARY
Play Youth Theatre Open Day
Nenagh Arts Centre, Banba Square, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
Find out more about Play Youth Theatre
Friday 24th February – TIPPERARY
Stagecraft Open Day
The Hub, 49 Albert Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Find out more about Stagecraft Youth Theatre
Saturday 25th February – DUBLIN 7 / DUBLIN 2
Complex Youth Theatre Open Day & Play
11am – 1pm, Complex Youth Theatre, The Complex, 16 Little Green Street, Dublin 7
Complex Youth Theatre would like to invite friends and peers to join us and learn about projects past, present and future. Meet existing members and have some fun at our open day.
Find out more about Complex Youth Theatre
Dublin Youth Theatre Information Day
1.30pm – 3.30pm, Dublin Fringe Festival, Sycamore Building, Sycamore Street,
Temple Bar, Dublin 2
Come find out what’s happening in Dublin Youth Theatre
Find out more about Dublin Youth Theatre
About Youth Theatre Ireland
Youth Theatre Ireland is the national development organisation for youth theatre. We support a network of youth theatres who deliver year-round programmes of drama workshops and performance opportunities to young people aged 12 – 21 from cities, towns and villages across Ireland.
Established for almost 40 years, Youth Theatre Ireland is unique in its commitment to youth-centered drama practice. At Youth Theatre Ireland, we know that youth theatre is a place to develop young artists and young citizens and we promote youth drama opportunities that focus on the artistic, personal and social development of young people.
What we do:
- We deliver national-level artistic programmes including festivals and the National Youth Theatre.
- We provide training for youth theatre leaders and directors
- We develop new youth theatres in partnership with local groups and agencies
- We provide advice, guidance and support to existing youth theatres.
- We advocate for youth theatres and champion the benefits of youth drama for all young people.
- We operate a Garda Vetting Consortium for youth theatres
- We push forward youth theatre practice through research and debate
- We provide a range of practical and artistic resources for Youth Theatres