Six productions of new work by some of the best-known Irish theatre companies on either side of the Atlantic are being presented during this year's all-virtual 13th annual Origin 1st Irish Theatre Festival, which runs from January 11 to 31 - find out more here.
Participating theatre companies include Fishamble: The New Play Company and About Face Ireland in Dublin; the Irish Repertory Theatre and Origin Theatre Company in New York; The Wexford Art Center in Wexford, and The Lyric in Belfast. The programme also features a number of screenings and panel discussions.
Origin 1st Irish is co-curated this year by two of New York's leading Irish theatre figures, the actors Michael Mellamphy and Sarah Street, both from Cork. They discuss the event below...
CAN YOU COMPARE THE IRISH THEATRE COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK AND IN IRELAND AND TELL US HOW THEY OVERLAP?
MICHAEL: In my experience, there is very little difference in how theatre companies operate on both sides of the Atlantic. Universally people who work in theatre are extremely driven and passionate. The main difference in terms of the theatre communities for me is probably the audiences, and how they react and consume theatre.
SARAH: I would say that having worked with various Irish theatre companies through the curation of the 1st Irish Festival -- including Fishamble, Wexford Arts Center, The Lyric, and AboutFace - that they, like the theatres I've worked for in New York, are fierce advocates for their artists, and are passionately committed to storytelling, even in the middle of a global pandemic.
which features at this year's Origin 1st Irish Festival
DO EITHER OF YOU MISS BEING BASED IN IRELAND?
MICHAEL: I don't miss being based in Ireland but I do love the opportunity to work there when it presents itself. Most of all I feel very lucky to be part of a very close-knit community of Irish-immigrant actors here in The Big Apple. We have a very supportive network thanks to a long history of artists that came before us and blazed a trail. Going to auditions for Irish roles is always a treat; even if I don’t land the part I know I’m going to bump into one friend or another.
SARAH: For me, missing Ireland never really goes away, it's home after all. The New York theatre scene in general is very welcoming to Irish ex-pats. They know great talent when they see it! I tend to work a lot in American and British roles as well as Irish, I think that is something Irish actors tend to be very adept with, because we grow up being exposed to TV and film from different parts of the world, so it's no big deal for us to work with accents.
With the rise in Domestic Violence throughout the Pandemic we have commissioned 4 new plays that looks to tackle what is for many a bleak and terrifying reality in the age of Covid. #1stIrish2021 info and registration in bio @IrelandinNY @IrelandEmbUSA @TourismIreland @DanMulhall pic.twitter.com/GH1gTpW6sP
— Origin Theatre (@OriginTheatre1) January 9, 2021
WHAT ARE THE THEMES OF THE 2021 FESTIVAL?
MICHAEL: Although we didn’t formally announce a theme, this year's festival is very much a celebration of hope and rebuilding. This is reflected in many of the projects. Obviously the theatre productions utilize technology such as Zoom in new ways, which is really interesting to see. We also have a number of panel discussions that will interest people on both sides of the ocean. Our "Producing in a Pandemic" event takes a look at the new projects of a number of Irish and Irish-American artists, showing how they are persevering through the challenges of Covid 19 lockdowns, shutdowns and flattening of curves.
SARAH: There are a few events I am especially proud --Stay Home and Stay Safe, which is a brand new series of short plays that shine a light on the rise of domestic violence during the pandemic, as well as a panel discussion with the founders of Black and Irish, where they talk with some black and mixed-race Irish artists and the need to diversify Irish arts and culture. That will be aired for the first time on Martin Luther King Day in the US, which is January 18.
HOW WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF PROGRAMMING A VIRTUAL FESTIVAL?
MICHAEL: Normally I focus on one project at a time so curating a festival of 20 plus projects all at once was a new challenge. Also, I’m more accustomed to working in closer quarters in theatre, where there is a very strong sense of teamwork. We pretty much put all this together remotely and I must say that the amount of emails we have had to keep track of was certainly mind-blowing and a shock for my hard drive!
SARAH: Mick and I have worked together as actors several times, so it was pretty seamless. I will second Mick by saying that the emails had me going a bit contrary at times! Ultimately though, it has been incredibly fulfilling to be giving artists a platform to showcase and celebrate their work in a year that has been so inhospitable, and devastating to those of us who make a living in the arts.
DO YOU SEE THE ADVANTAGE OF KEEPING SOME OF THE VIRTUAL ELEMENTS IN FUTURE FESTIVALS THAT MAY RETURN TO THE NORMAL FESTIVAL PARADIGM?
MICHAEL: To be honest, like many I have been a bit reticent embracing the virtual/online theatre model. But the more we work on it, the more advantages I realize this medium truly has. There is such a fantastic opportunity to reach audiences that theatre previously couldn’t for many reasons. Students in Ballincollig, Cork or anywhere in the world now have the chance to enjoy theatre from here, on or Off-Broadway. I think that's one positive from this tragedy we’ve experienced with Coronavirus.
SARAH: Absolutely! I think we are all very eager to get back into the theatre space and perform live, doing what we do best, but I think there will always be a virtual element going forward. It just expands what we can do, and who can access it.
The Origin 1st Irish Festival runs from January 11 – 31, 2021 - find out more here.
