Live theatre and performance will return to Waterford's long-running Imagine Arts Festival when it gets under way next week across the city.
Last year's event took place online due to Covid-19 restrictions, but organisers have put together a mixed programme of "live" and online offerings this year, marking the 20th running of the annual arts festival.
It starts on Friday 15 October and runs until 24 October.
Among the venues used will be the woods at Carriganore on the edge of Waterford city, which will host the premiere of Jonathan M Daley's new play, performed by Northern Irish theatre company Tinderbox.
Titled 'Sylvan', it is described as "a visual feast" and is also due to be put on in forests around Enniskillen, Coleraine and Belfast.
At Ballygunner GAA Club, Timmy Creed will contemplate his 21 years playing GAA. 'Spliced' is said to be "a visceral account of his struggle to become an individual outside of the sporting institution that raised him". He will talk about identity, masculinity and mental health in a sports club.
A new short film by historian James Doherty, 'Letter from a Rebel', will be unveiled online on 20 October.
Set in Waterford in 1921, it involves a young reporter who is dispatched from a leading English newspaper to find out what's happening in Ireland by meeting with an IRA commander.
"This short film offers a fascinating insight into the troubles of the time and what motivated people to take up arms," festival organisers say.
In addition, some new works that have been commissioned under "Imaginings" will be unveiled.
Earlier this year, Imagine Arts Festival issued a call-out for three artists to present some of their work in progress at this year's event.
Three works have been selected and will be showcased at Garter Lane Arts Centre – Catalan Butterflies, Covid Closing Ceremony and L219 Collective.
There will be three 20-minute showcases followed by a Q&A with Ronan Fitzgibbon of A Little Room Theatre Development Centre.
The overall winner of the 2020 Imaginings open call, Yasmin Mello Da Cruz Cabrera, will showcase her work at the festival.
Since winning last year, she has been offered a residency programme around Ireland to develop her dance performance work 'Marbleface', which was first performed at the Imagine Arts Festival in 2020, and she is back to host Marbleface for live audiences in 2021.
The Imagine Arts Festival also offers an opportunity to enjoy literature events involving Megan Nolan, Sophie White, Séamas O'Reilly, Paul Rónán Hession and more, as well as live music with Aoife Nessa Frances, Junior Brother, Rapper Nealo, Carrie Baxter, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin and Tonos.
Live comedy will feature Colm O'Regan and Sean Murphy, and there will be a Diverse Creatives showcase, art exhibitions, an arts trail, art shop and more.
