FESTABIT is a three-day festival of events, comprising of keynote lectures on the history and current state of African/Irish theatre.
The line-up will include a performance of a rehearsed reading of The Other War by Eritrean Tesfai Alemseged with an all-white cast directed by Cathy Leeney; a panel discussion with, among others, Sinéad O’Reilly, Katrina Goldstone, Yemi Adenuga on the development, future and sustainability of African Irish theatre; intercultural dialogue; acting workshop by Terry McMahon; playwriting workshop by Gavin Kostick and much more.
See the full programme of events below
FESTIBIT PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
Day 1 – Friday, 17th November
11:00 am –1:00pm: Seminar -The history, current state and future of African and Black Irish Theatre in Ireland
Keynote addresses from – Willie White, the Artistic Director and CEO of the Dublin Theatre, Professor Jane Plastow, Professor of African Theatre at the Leeds University, UK, Dr Jason King – Lecturer and Scholar of Intercultural Performance Studies NUI Galway. Chaired by Chrissie Poulter, Head of Department of Drama, Trinity College, Dublin.
2:45pm – 5:00 pm: Play reading and discussion
A performance of a rehearsed reading of The Other War, directed by Dr Cathy Leeney. Followed by a discussion with Dr. Cathy Leeney and Eritrean author Alemseged Tesfai,
Day 2 Saturday, 18th November 2017
11:00am – 12:30pm: Panel discussion – The current state, development and future sustainability of African and Black Irish Theatre in Ireland
With panellists Sinead O’Reilly (Head of Local Arts and Arts Participation at The Arts Council), Kwaku Fortune (Actor), Yemi Adenuga (Actress/broadcaster/business strategist), Adekunle Gomez (Researcher/Writer/Commentator on African Affairs), Donna Nikolaisen (Actress), Katrina Goldstone (Independent researcher and writer in media and communications).
Moderated by Katherine Atkinson (Arts Consultant/Artist/Performer)
12:40pm – 1:30pm Interactive group discussion
Day 3 Sunday, 19th November 2017
11:00am – 1:00pm: Playwriting and devising workshop
Facilitated by Gavin Kostick, playwright, dramaturge and the literary manager of Fishamble Theatre
2:00pm – 5:00pm: Storytelling Workshop
The craft of storytelling for writers, actors and directors facilitated by Terry McMahon, writer, director and filmmaker.
