Tallaght Youth Theatre
Tallaght Youth Theatre was founded in 1994 by a joint committee of members from Tallaght Artsquad, St. Kevin's Drama Workshop and Tallaght Youth Service. The organisation is run primarily by former members and is always looking for volunteers. The theatre has had a 14 year relationship with Tallaght Youth Service and has added a partnership with Tallaght Community Arts in recent times. It is a member of the NAYD, and the members have been involved in many national and international festivals and events over the years.
Recent Projects
On April 17 and 18 2009, Tallaght Youth Theatre produced Tallavision 3K, a "contingent performance" of "The D'No Project" at the new County Arts Centre, Rua|Red, in Tallaght, as part of a project funded by Léargas Youth In Action. The performance was in an installation format, involving the histories, myths, stories and physical recreations of Tallaght, past and future1. To deliver this project, TYT teamed up with the renowned actor, director and dramatist Jenny MacDonald.
Aims and activities
Tallaght Youth Theatre works to create an environment where young people can learn to express themselves through the arts and holds weekly workshops throughout the year to achieve this end. They also produce one annual production, usually directed by a professional and a member’s one-act festival, where members can take on various theatre tasks from directing and acting to technical aspects of theatre as well as writing.
The group hosts a 6-week Training Programme in the Autumn in the Tallaght Youth Service building in Tallaght village. Successful trainees become full members in the New Year. The age range is 13-18 and it is open to non-residents of Tallaght.
Part of TYT’s philosophy is that talent cannot be taught, but skills inevitably can.
History
Tallaght Youth Theatre was established in 1994 to provide an outlet for performance arts to young people in greater Tallaght and has a colourful 14-year history, in which it has brought numerous plays, both original and classics to stages across Tallaght, taken part in national events organised by the National Association for Youth Drama (of which it is a member organisation), and has also been involved in international exchanges where members have travelled to Italy, England, Scotland and the USA.
Chronology of Performances
1995 - Stepping Stones by Macdara Mac Uibh Aille: 29 April; South Dublin County Offices, Civic Square, Tallaght.
1995 - On Famine Road by Jack Bradley: ?; County Library, Civic Square, Tallaght.
1996 - Sulk by Mark O'Rowe, directed by Terry O'Hagan: 5 - 9 November; Andrews Lane Studio, Dublin city.
1996 - The Specialists devised by the cast, directed by Terry O'Hagan: Summer; Virginia House, Belgard Square East, Tallaght.
1997 - 2 devised by the cast, directed by Ciaran Garvey: Summer; Virginia House, Belgard Square East, Tallaght.
1998 - A Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare, directed by Jim Rymer: February 3 - 7; Tallaght Theatre, Greenhills Road, Kilnamanagh, Tallaght.
1998 - Unfinished devised by the cast, directed by John Conroy: 11 July; Virginia House, Belgard Square East, Tallaght.
1998 - The Hot House by Harrold Pinter, directed by Jim Rymer: 1 - 5 December; Tallaght Theatre, Greenhills Road, Kilnamanagh, Tallaght.
1999 - Faint Voices by John McKenna, directed by John Conroy: 8th, 9, 10 July; Tallaght Theatre, Greenhills Road, Kilnamanagh, Tallaght and ? August; Irish Fest, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
1999 - Off The Wall by Meave Ingoldsby, directed by Rebecca Bartlett 7 - 11 December; Civic Theatre, Civic Square, Tallaght.
2000 - Greenspacers written and directed by Margaret Callon: 28 December - 2 December; Tallaght Theatre, Greenhills Road, Kilnamanagh, Tallaght.
2001 - Members One Act Festival: 3 plays; The Wailing Ones written by Joseph Cully and Brian Merriman directed by Joseph Cully, Bugaboo written and Directed by Emma Grainger and ? written and directed by Ray Quinn: 8 - 11 July; Tallaght Theatre, Greenhills Road, Kilnamanagh, Tallaght.
2002 - Private Lives by Noel Coward, directed by Yvonne Ussher: 19 - 23 March; Tallaght Theatre, Greenhills Road, Kilnamanagh, Tallaght.
2003 - Members One Act Festival: 2 plays; Up by Brian Merriman and Joseph Cully directed by Joseph Cully; An Explanation of Marrage in the Modern Times written and directed by Katie Martin: 1 and 2 August; Tallaght Theatre, Greenhills Road, Kilnamanagh, Tallaght.
2003 - Da by Hugh Leonard directed, by Ray Quinn: 20 - 22 February; Tallaght Theatre, Greenhills Road, Kilnamanagh, Tallaght.
2004 - Members One Act Festival: 3 plays; Darling You Were Marvellous by Stephen Berkoff directed by Diane O'Connor; Dead On Time by Rhold Dhal directed by Adam Shanley; The Death of Thomas Confrey by Donal Dillane directed by Mark Hanratty: 11 - 13 November; Tallaght Theatre, Greenhills Road, Kilnamanagh, Tallaght.
2004 - The Lost Forest devised by the cast, directed by Valerie Coyne; 13 and 14 May: Kiltalown House, Jobstown, Tallaght.
2005 - Members One Act Festival: 4 radio plays; Metamorphasis by Aengus Cooke; A Memoir of the O Gang by Aengus Cooke; The Honest Mexican Shopkeeper by Daniel Hanratty; Angels by Daniel Hanratty all directed by Mark Hanratty; 18 - 23 April; Tallaght 99 FM.
2007 - Sugar Suit devised by the cast, directed by Valerie Coyne: ?; The Loose End Studio, Civic Theatre, Civic Square, Tallaght.
2009 - Tallavision 3K (part of the Leargas funded D'No Project) devised by the cast, directed by Jenny McDonald and Tony Fegan: 17 and 18 April; Rua|Red, Civic Square, Tallaght.
Base
Tallaght Youth Theatre has been based at Tallaght Youth Service in Tallaght Village, St. Kevins School, Kilnamanagh and more recently at the new County Arts Centre, Rua Red, at Tallaght Cross in partnership with Tallaght Community Arts.