radio rosario rehearsals begin!

_29A8619Tomorrow on bank-holiday Monday 7th August we begin rehearsals for Radio Rosario at The Mick Lally Theatre. We couldn’t wait till Tuesday…can’t wait till tomorrow. Pure happy.

 

the road to galway…

The Apocalypse came on a Friday and other good news!

cover copypngMost profound apologies to those who might have come looking for news recently…I’ve been off gallivanting with shows…but i have plenty news now to make up for it. In May I was elected to Aosdána. http://aosdana.artscouncil.ie/ . In July my book of haiku “The Apocalypse came on a Friday” arrived from the printers. It can be purchased online from Kennys  http://www.kennys.ie/the-apocalypse-came-on-a-friday.html  and will be launched in Dublin at The Ark on 28th September. The show “Ribbons with Laura Sheeran sold out at the Galway Theatre Festival and we hope to bring it back in 2017.

Summer gallivanting included an exotic odyssey up the Barrow River over three days on a barge as Sparkplug Callaghan and the Spanners of Good Fortune as part of Carlow Arts Festival

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I also had the great honour in July to perform for academics from eighty-four countries at the International Society of Humour Studies Conference in Trinity College Dublin, I was more than chuffed that the 2016 conference week events had the title “The World Brings Fools Together” named after my song from the show commissioned and produced by Barabbas Theatre Co.”Johnny Patterson The Singing Irish Clown”    IMG_7690

I had some especially magical shows with “Small Halls and Potholes” at The Town Hall Studio Galway and at Ennis Arts Festival; this has me hankering for more of the same.

Carlow Arts Festival 2016 photo by Glenn Lucas

Carlow Arts Festival 2016 photo by Glenn Lucas

 

Ribbons

12494915_1075482355807212_3438139662123632225_nThe sun is shining in the West of Ireland and I’m busy working with Laura Sheeran on our new show “Ribbons” which will premiere at the Town Hall Theatre 28th-30th April as part of the Galway Theatre Festival. It is beyond a privilege; it’s pure good fun and creative delight. The show takes as it’s starting point some events from my memoir series and is  supported by an Arts Council Project Award. I hope to post some updates here and share the rehearsal process as we progress, i am full of notions and working with one of the most inspiring artists I know I feel a great show coming on,12814467_1075491745806273_1328078248034254047_n

 

 

on the road 2016

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In the interests of the nation I have decided to make myself available for collaborations, commissions, bookings, gigs, theatre shows, storytelling, spoken word, songwriting, and sound designs, all the time dreaming and working in my own modest way towards making things better.

(photo James Cronin)

summer

lorna knit the roofSummer was busy. My highlights were two projects at the Earagail Arts Festival. “She Knit the Roof” was  a site specific theatre show brainchild of Producer/Dramaturg Róise Goan, directed by Caitríona McLaughlin. I designed the sound and composed five new songs for the show that truth be told I am very fond of, this is in no small part due to the fact that they were performed beautifully by Lorna Mc Laughlin (The Henry Girls) & Megan Mhic Ruaurí ( Clann Mhic Ruaurí).It was also a delight to spend time working with the designer Lian Bell and lighting designer Sarah Jane Sheils and to meet and work with playwright Darren Murphy who created video sequences and sound clips.  http://www.eaf.ie/events/she-knit-the-roof/

The other highlight was a series of shows with The Caledonia Highly Strung Orchestra “Highly Strung Around The Delta”  where in all humility I have to say we tore it up, it was the greatest fun and left me rearing to go at it. I promise you this band is incredibly good, and our shows are turning out to be very special so if you ever get a chance come along..

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emporium of everyday magic

arus emporiumOn Sunday 15th June I had the honour and indeed pure delight to perform at Áras an Uachtaráin when the President hosted a Bloomsday Garden Party. I was set up at the door to the Walled Garden and the most magical musical improvisations occurred. So wide was my smile that my face nearly cracked entirely when Liam Ó Maonlaí joined in and brought the music to a whole other place. I am still feeling the good of it. arus liamSo good was the time I had that I have decided to include this show in my touring repertoire under the title “emporium of everyday magic” 

arus wagonI also had the privilege of reading a Louis de Paor poem and you can read about it on the link below

http://www.hotpress.com/Rory-Gallagher/news/Rory-Gallagher-Celebrated-By-President-Higgins/14393622.html

 

 

The Dublin Years

ronnie drewThe memoir series @ the Town Hall Studio comes to an end with two shows this Friday and Saturday 15th/16th May. Chronologically “The Galway Years” comes after this but we chose to start with “The Galway Years”  in February hoping that the local interest would carry through to the subsequent shows. Indeed the shows gathered momentum and the same audience returned to follow the adventure resulting in sell out shows and many being turned away. I am going to be sad to finish this series but plans are afoot and I will keep you updated here. Thanks to everyone who made this possible.