Gaiety School of Acting showcase 2001

The Space Upstairs at Project

This year, the Gaiety School of Acting's annual showcase for graduates of their two-year actor training programme takes the form of a pair of new plays by Gavin Kostick - 'Aoife' and 'Isabel'. The first is set around 1169, the Normans have invaded and Ireland is in turmoil. It has been arranged that Aoife, daughter of Diarmait, will marry Strongbow, the Norman leader in the hope of ensuring peace through a pragmatic alliance. Hidden at the magical St Brigid's Well, with the aid of witchcraft, she watches the progress of those who have come to take her to her fate. Accompanied by her assistant Sive and slave Sifre, the provider of the magical expertise, her every move is watched by the 'Goddess' in human form, a sort of celtic Greek chorus.

The second piece, 'Isabel' is a rollicking, fun-size Shakespeare and what it lacks in originality, it makes up in spirit and body-count! It is 'King Lear' transferred to Ireland with Isabel in place of that aged monarch, dealing with the triple threat of her power-hungry children on the death of her husband, William Marshall. The two plays are linked by the fact that Isabel is Aoife's daughter by Strongbow and explicitly on stage by a blind monk appearing in both pieces and acting as a narrator and framing device.

It is refreshing to be able to thoroughly recommend a showcase both as entertaining professional theatre and a chance to see emergent talent. As with most professional productions, the standard of acting is not uniform, nor would I expect it to be, but it is a massive improvement on previous Gaiety showcases and absolutely demonstrates the level of commitment staff and students have put into the work over the last two years. There are many faces here that will go on to be stalwarts in the Irish theatre/film scene and I'm very surprised to be able to say that.

Gavin Kostick must be congratulated on the practical patronage that he has given to the school in the form of these two tight pieces that are designed to give as many meaty roles to as many of the class as possible. The actors who stand out in 'Aoife' are Jillian Bradbury as a self-assured Helen, Charlie Hughes as the Monk and in 'Isabel', Louise Kiely as the vixenish daughter, Catherine Farrell as Isabel, Keth Nile Kjoelby as a sensual mistress and Ewan Downie as an ambitious pretender to the throne.

'Aoife' is ably directed by Jimmy Fay and 'Isabel' is given a wonderful pace by director Eric Weitz, while both are well lit by Paul Keogan. My only quibble with both productions is the choice of music - contemporary melodies, such as 'Black is the Colour' (even when sung in Irish) and 'Hallelujah', jar. Also, the big brassy orchestral stuff sounded like the music that Connery's Bond might have blown up an oil-rig to. Go and you'll see what I mean, but you should go.

Nick McGinley

'Aoife' and 'Isabel' run until Saturday 23 June in The Space Upstairs at Project, Temple Bar, Dublin, at 8.00pm nightly.