A new show at Dublin's Gaiety Theatre pays an all-singing, all-dancing tribute to the late Billie Barry, founder of the legendary Billie Barry Stage School, a training ground for generations of young Irish talent for over 50 years. Billie's daughter Lorraine, who took over the school in 1999 (her mother passed away in 2014) pens a tribute to this unique Irish showbiz institution.
The legacy of what Billie Barry created, and her daughter Lorraine has proudly continued, can be seen in the achievements of the school’s former pupils. Angeline Ball, Jacinta Whyte, Bryan and Susan McFadden, Lisa Lambe, Samantha Mumba... there most likely isn’t a stage in Ireland or Britain on which a Billie Barry student hasn’t graced at some point. What’s clear is one thing, Billie Barry had a keen eye for that most elusive of things – talent.
It is not surprising that Billie Barry would gravitate towards the spotlight of the performing arts. Indeed, she was born into a family steeped in theatrical tradition. Her father, John Clarke-Barry was a member of several orchestras and was a respected musician. Her mother was an amateur operatic singer.
Her own life on the stage began at an unsurprisingly early age – she was accompanying The Barry Sisters as they toured around Ireland when she was five, billed as 'The Wonder Kid', and went on to work on the popular variety show, Anything May Happen.
The Billie Barry School, the institution she established in Carleston Hall, Marino out of financial necessity in 1964, has now been giving children their first taste of the performing arts for over 50 years and shows no signs of stopping. But, from small acorns …From a humble first class of 32 eager youngsters, the BBS has gone on to see over 20,000 students pass across its stage.
The quality of the School and its students was recognised early on in its history, beginning a partnership with that grand old lady of South King Street, the Gaiety Theatre in the 1970s with annual pantomime productions. Today, the words 'Billie Barry' and 'The Gaiety' conjure up for countless families across the country the quintessential Dublin Christmas childhood experience.
An equally cherished memory of generations of Irish children can easily be linked to another partnership which the School began many years ago – that of the Billie Barry School’s involvement in the annual Late Late Toy Show. To evoke such warmness and nostalgia in generations of children is no small feat - it only shows to what a large extent, Billie Barry and her School have become embedded in the Irish psyche. In one sense, this is the essence of legacy – to be remembered and loved by generations.
Outside of the many former Billie Barry alumni who have gone on to make a career in this most glittery of professions, countless others who didn’t graduate to stages beyond that Marino nest, undoubtedly look back on their time with the Billie Barry School with fondness and took from their time there many skills. In the words of Angeline Ball, Billie Barry taught her "The importance of discipline, dedication and ambition but she taught me the true meaning of dignity and grace."
Indeed, beyond all the accolades and awards that the Billie Barry School garnered over its long history, and will undoubtedly continue to receive, these "ordinary" but precious gifts she instilled in thousands of Irish youngsters to bring with them into adulthood – discipline, dedication, and dignity – are arguably her greatest legacy.
The Billie Barry Stage School presents Her Stars Will Shine at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, from 17th to 21st October - featuring all 800 of its current pupils with guest stars June Rodgers, Samantha Mumba, Louise Bowden and Keith Hanna - more details here.
