Underneath by Pat Kinevane, a Young Critic video review
Maryanne Brasil from Free Radicals Youth Theatre in Tralee offers another Young Critic video review.
Here Maryanne reviews Fishamble’s production of Underneath by Pat Kinevane, following it’s performance at St. John’s Theatre in Listowel,Co.Kerry.
Underneath is currently at the the Edinburgh Fringe at Dance Base until Aug 30th.
Maryanne Brasil is a member of NAYD Young Critics for 2015
After Sarah Miles – A Vlog Review from Aisling Clark
Following up from our Summer of Shows we have the latest video blog from Aisling Clark.
Here Aisling reviews After Sarah Miles by Michael Hillard Mulcahy.
Anyone share her view of this piece?
Aisling is a member of Duisigh Youth Theatre and an NAYD Young Critic 2015
A Summer of Shows with The Shadow Of A Gunman
It’s been a fabulously productive summer for this year’s Young Critics.
As part of our summer initiative, and with the support of their local arts centres and venues, they have been seeing productions the length and breath of the country.
They selected a show and planned a theatre trip for their youth theatre friends. Their own curatorial skills were being put to the test as they selected a show that would hold the interest of their peers.
The range of productions they have managed to see has been truly impressive. There was lots of New Irish Writing on display with many shows touring to local arts centres. The One Man Show is a staple of the touring circuits and there was no shortage of these on offer.
Several Young Critics went to see Mikel Murfi’s sublime The Man In The Woman’s Shoes, and Pat Kinevane’s equally sublime Underneath.
Michael Hillard Mulcahy’s After Sarah Miles, set in Dingle, was attend by Dusigh’s Young Critic from Tralee.
The two Young Critics from Footsteps Youth Theatre attended Seamus Moran’s Have a Heart at the Friars Gate Theatre Kilmallock, Co.Limerick.
There were also plenty of full productions on offer including An Grianan’s touring production of Frank Pig Says Hello by Pat McCabe and Martin Lynch’s My English Tongue, My Irish Heart.
There were World Premieres aplenty with Co. Carlow Youth Theatre members being treated to Jockey by Willfredd Theatre Co at Visual, Carlow.
Before Monsters Were Made by Ross Dungan was another World Premiere at Project Arts Centre as was My Second Self at the Civic Theatre and The Ballad of Charlie & Cate at the Cork Midsummer Festival.
Our Young Critic from Donegal Youth Theatre attended Annie The Musical at The Balor Theatre.
Finally Niamh Murphy, one of our Young Critics from County Wexford Youth Theatre attended Sean O’Casey’s The Shadow of A Gunman at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
Here is her very fine video blog review of the production.
Have you seen the show?
Would you agree with Niamh?
Young Critics with NAYD
NAYD Young Critic and Droichead YT member Thomas Caffrey gives us his insight to his first weekend with Young Critics
This week we have guest writer Thomas Caffrey, regaling his experiences as part of NAYD’s Young Critics programme!
When I first heard about the Young Critics earlier this year, I must say that i was intrigued to say the least. Free tickets to major productions and free accommodation in Dublin? Count me in! An important question I sook the answer to was; “what is a critic?” Not a miserable pile of secrets surely? Surely there is more to the tradition than simple miserablism?
We as a group met on the Friday by the GPO and absconded hastily to the Marino Institute(nowhere near as sinister as it sounds) where we participated in a workshop outlining the basics of “criticism” and what exactly it means. Is criticism just spewing hatred indiscriminately? Is it simply the dissection of a piece of art? The second definition may be a little more correct- it is…
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Local Arts Centres and Venues Support NAYD’s Young Critics
Hello Venue Managers,
As you probably know the Young Critics is one of NAYD’s most popular programmes. Every year sixteen young people from across Ireland are selected to take part in the programme. Typically this involves two residential weekends each year in which the Young Critics get to see up to five professional theatre productions, participate in many workshops around the art of criticism and then take part in a public panel discussion as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival. NAYD fully subsidises all costs for the participants.
Last year we piloted some new and exciting angles to the Young Critics Programme and were able to expand the Young Critics programme beyond those lucky sixteen that get to take part.
Through a partnership approach we are involving more young people in their local communities, developing stronger relationships between venues and youth theatres and helping to build and sustain local audiences for theatre in that community.
NAYD Young Critics 2014
We are approaching local Arts Centres and venues to come on board to help support the development of the Young Critics.
Between now and the end of May we are asking the Young Critics to become programmers and select one professional production that they feel they and their fellow youth theatre members might enjoy. With the support of their youth theatre leader they will then organize a theatre trip to a professional production in their local Arts Centre or venue.
We are asking venues to include their local Young Critics on their mailing lists and also offer them two complimentary tickets to a suitable professional production in their venue between now and then.
It is also hoped that the venue could offer each youth theatre a Special Youth Theatre Group Rate to that performance. You probably already have this in place anyway it is the perfect opportunity to introduce one.
The Young Critics will then do a short video blog on the piece they saw and submit it to NAYD. From here, four of them will be invited to write reviews for the Young Critics Blog.
These reviews will then be published and freely available to all.
The benefits are huge for all involved. The venues will be building new audiences and all the young people will get to see even more quality theatre at discount prices. This should encourage them to go and see more theatre and broaden their love and knowledge of the art form. As cost is one of the biggest factors in not attending theatre we believe that once the spark is ignited, and there is an added incentive to attend, they will choose to go to more and more performances over the coming years. This will also have a very a major positive impact on how they make their own theatre.
All partner venues will be fully credited on the NAYD website and will be thanked in person on the day of the Young Critics Panel during the Dublin Theatre Festival.
If you had any insights on how we could make this offer more attractive or any other insights you might have we would welcome your input.
This has already proven to be a really worthwhile departure for the programme and one that we would hope to develop and establish over the coming years.
We look forward to working with you this year.
Update
The response from venues has been amazing. We are adding to it daily. So far the venues that have come on board to support the initiative are:
The Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, Co. Kildare
Project Arts Centre, Dublin
The Dock, Carrick On Shannon, Co. Leitrim
Civic Theatre Tallaght, Dublin
Backstage Theatre, Longford
Axis Ballymun, Dublin
Friars’ Gate Theatre & Arts, Kilmallock, Co.Limerick
The New Theatre, Dublin
Visual Centre For Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre, Carlow
NAYD Young Critics Announced for 2015
Following our call out for applications at the end of January, we are delighted to announce that the Young Critics have been selected for 2015. We received a huge amount of applications for the 16 places from across the country and we were able to offer places to a broad selection of youth theatres nationwide.
The Young Critics for 2015 are:
Thomas Caffrey – Droichead Youth Theatre
Dara Eaton – Co.Carlow Youth Theatre
Somhairle Brennan – Letterkenny Youth Theatre
David Ronan – Co. Wexford Youth Theatre
Ryan Doherty – Donegal Youth Theatre
Vinnie McBrien – LYTC Carrigallen
Maeve Doyle – Footsteps Youth Theatre
Christine McNamara- Footsteps Youth Theatre
Aisling Clark – Duisigh Youth Theatre
Marie Lynch – Backstage Youth Theatre
Niamh Elliott Sheridan – Dublin Youth Theatre
Niamh Murphy – Co.Wexford Youth Theatre
Maryanne Brassil – Free Radicals Youth Theatre
Aisling Sargent – Dublin Youth Theatre
The first weekend of Young Critics will be happening from April 10-12 and promises to be an action packed weekend of shows, workshops, discussions and fun.
The two productions we will be going to see are:
Pals – The Irish at Gallipoli by ANU productions, at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks. Directed by Louise Lowe.
And
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, at the Gate Theatre. Directed by Wayne Jordan.
Under the watchful eye of Dr. Karen Fricker and NAYD’s Alan King, the Young Critics will be guided through the elements of theatre and the art of criticism.
We will be keeping you posted about this year’s Young Critics as it happens.
NAYD Young Critics 2015 – Applications
‘Young critics was an amazing experience and it was one of the best things I’ve done in youth theatre.’ Young Critic 2014
WHAT IS THE YOUNG CRITICS?
Returning for a twelfth year, The Young Critics is one of NAYD’s most popular programmes.
It is open to NAYD affiliated youth theatre members who are interested in watching theatre, discovering how and why theatre is made, and learning how to critically discuss, analyse, and review theatre.
Over a six-month period they will see some incredible shows, make new friends and learn about the art of theatre criticism.
This is a very exciting programme and one where young people are given an opportunity to see quality productions, while developing their critical skills in a safe and encouraging atmosphere. This will allow them to develop their own critical voice and express their views in a confident and knowledgeable way.
There are only sixteen places available to youth theatre members from affiliated youth theatres around Ireland. If you are in any way interested, we would encourage you to apply.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE YOUNG CRITICS?
The Young Critics will meet in Dublin from Friday April 10th to Sunday 12th for the first time and again in October. Over the two weekends the Young Critics will attend at least four theatre productions, and participate in workshops and discussions with leading international theatre critic and academic, Dr Karen Fricker and Alan King, NAYD Youth Theatre Officer.
In October, the group will meet up in Dublin again to see further productions, take part in more workshops and participate in a public panel discussion.
In between the two residential weekends, the Young Critics will be encouraged and supported to go and see other local productions, write some reviews and contribute to the Young Critics blog.
HOW DO I APPLY TO TAKE PART IN YOUNG CRITICS?
Participation in the programme is free: accommodation, food, theatre tickets and travel costs are covered by NAYD.
It is open to youth theatre members who will be aged 16 – 20 by April 1st 2015. We are looking for young people who are comfortable meeting new people, working in a highly focused way and are not afraid to share their thoughts and opinions with each other.
To be a Young Critic you must be fully available for both weekends. You must also be available to take part online and organise a theatre trip in your own area in between the two residential weekends.
NAYD will have welfare leaders in place on both weekends to ensure the wellbeing and safety of all participants.
Applications for 2015 are now closed.
2014 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,100 times in 2014. If it were a cable car, it would take about 18 trips to carry that many people.
The buzz is electric – NAYD Young Critics Programme was an enlightening experience.
NAYD Young Critics 2014
As the Young Critics programme draws to a close for 2014, Emma Gallagher from Greise Youth Theatre reflects on her experiences as a Young Critic.
‘The buzz is electric’ Dublin Theatre Festival director Willie White told the Irish Independent, and I could say the same for our experience in The Young Critics Programme. It is frightening to think it was around Easter time that I set out for my very first Young Critics weekend.
Oscar Wilde, Anton Chekhov and Owen McCafferty were names I knew a little about. That was until we started the workshops. Working with Alan King and Karen Fricker was like working with two theatre knowledge generators and I mean that in the best way possible.
I was so surprised to how in depth we actually we went into critiquing a play. In only two weekends our knowledge of theatre and all its aspects had expanded immensely. It was a real eye opener, exploring each element that can make a production special. From lighting to sound, music, and set to costume design, performers, writers and directors, the collaborative work put into productions is truly unique.
I became aware of the different types of theatre, from classic and contemporary to immersive, all of which we got the pleasure to experience. These were fantastical productions that had my mind blooming with new ideas.
An Ideal Husband at The Gate Theatre was a real treat. I was astonished by the intricate detail and energy that had been put into this one show. It was a wondrous romantic comedy enriched in Wilde’s dark and delightful witticisms.
Being involved in The Young Critics Programme really opened my eyes to the different professions within the world of the creative arts. From listening to director Gavin Quinn speak about Pan Pan’s colourful and playground like production, The Seagull and Other Birds to the ever so sweet Marty Rae speak as openly and answer our questions about his experiences working as an actor.
Over the summer we were allocated the activity to bring each of our Youth Theatre’s to a new production in our own local venues.
Swing written by Steve Blount, Peter Daly, Gavin Kostick and Janet Moran, also directed by Peter Daly and starring Steve Blount and Janet Moran was a popular choice between The Young Critics participants. It received very positive feedback from a lot of the young people.
The Arts Centres kindly offered our Youth Theatre discounted tickets and NAYD organised a post-show chat with the cast of the production.
It was really interesting to hear how the show came into development and hear the actors speak about their character work in preparation for their roles.
Next was the video blog review of the play we chose to see. For the technophobes- I include myself in this category, this was a tricky challenge in which a few awkward techie problems occurred.
However, once I did manage to record a decent vlog, I actually felt I had really achieved something and it wasn’t half bad either. Having said that I won’t be the next Quentin Tarintino by any means but it was a very beneficial task and I think it will be of use in the future.
Spending two weekends with the young people from other Youth Theatres was splendid to say the very least. It was interesting to hear how different Youth Theatres’ work. We shared a lot of laughter and a couple of the members even shared a few tears during Ganesh Versus The Third Reich. It was a very touching production for a lot of people, so much so it received a standing ovation.
NAYD Young Critic Emma Gallagher Photo credit: Allen Kiely
On the 5th of October The Young Critic’s Panel was held in The Project Arts Centre in Dublin. We had butterflies as people working in the shows, theatre folk and even Willie White attended. At first it was scary speaking about our honest opinions as a critic of the productions but also liberating too. I find public speaking a struggle, but this experience of sharing your thoughts openly about something you genuinely love and interests you was a real stepping-stone for me.
The buzz is electric – in the presence of people who are passionate about their work, their energy radiates. As Anton Chekhov said ‘knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice’.
Young Critics inspires to create action in the world of the arts.
The Young Critics say goodbye for another year
Photo credit: Allen Kiely
