Jack B Yeats Series

Rebecca Bartlett's two-part series, based on paintings by Jack B. Yeats, offers the listener an insight into the subjects and the landscapes which inspired this world famous artist.

Each play will be broadcast on Sunday Playhouse on RTÉ Radio 1.

Click here to visit the Sunday Playhouse website.

Seals at Tawin by Rebecca Bartlett

Sunday 20th September 2009

Sunday Playhouse on RTÉ Radio 1, 8pm

In 1920 Jack Yeats lived for three months on Tawin Island, off the west coast of Ireland, drawing and painting.

The Island had a one-teacher school, some 15 families and a seal colony which is still there today. Yeats's painting, Seals at Tawin Bay is the inspiration for this play, which juxtaposes the seeming sterility of one boy's island life with the memories, imagination and creativity of the artist who befriends him.

Starring Eamon Draper, Sam Ford, Bosco Hogan, Ann Marie Horan, Enda Oates and Don Wycherley,

With a companion feature, The View (following at 8.30pm) focusing on Jack B. Yeats approach to painting the Irish landscape with guests including artist Seán McSweeney, Yeats's biographer, Dr Hilary Pyle, Dr Sighle Bhreathnach-Lynch, former Irish curator, National Gallery of Ireland, and Professor Calvin Bedient, author of The Yeats Brothers and Modernism's Love of Motion.

Producer: Kevin Brew

Click here to view Seals at Tawin Bay by Jack B.Yeats

The Singing Clown by Rebecca Bartlett

Sunday 27th September 2009

Sunday Playhouse on RTÉ Radio 1, 8pm

Throughout his life Jack Yeats had a fascination for the colour and the people of the circus.

His vibrant picture "The Singing Clown" depicts the internationally famous Irish clown, Johnny Patterson, and is the inspiration for the second play.

Starring John Olohan, Fiona Bell, Joe Taylor and Gerry Walshe, with accordion music by Martin Tourish.

With a companion feature, Before The Start (following at 8.30pm) focusing on Jack B. Yeats's interest in circus and the spectacle, with contributions from playwright Rebecca Bartlett, Sighle Bhreathnach Lynch and Producer Harry Bradshaw whose authoritative account of the life and songs of Johnny Patterson first appeared in 1982.

Producer: Kevin Brew

Click here to read Johnny Patterson, The Rambler from Clare by Harry Bradshaw.

Click here to view The Singing Clown by Jack B Yeats.

Image Credit:
Jack B Yeats
Johnny Paterson Singing Bridget Donoghue (The Singing Clown), 1928
oil on canvas
Courtesy of The Model, Home of The Niland Collection, Sligo.
Photography by Denis Mortell.
© Estate of Jack B Yeats. All rights reserved, DACS 2009