SOMETIMES YOU enjoy and admire a play, a dance show, or a painting or sculpture, so much that you become fascinated by the story behind it.
What were the ideas behind the piece? What were the challenges of putting the show together? Why did the director set the play in such a period? Why did this actor do this action? What is the symbolism of the pairing? How did the artist go about creating that work?
Answering these kinds of questions can lead to a greater appreciation of a piece and the work that went into it. So, if you are curious to delve deeper into a play you are seeing at this year’s Galway Arts Festival, check out Backstage At The Festival, a new series of post-show and gallery talks with selected artists, directors and cast members, who will discuss with the audience how they went about creating the work.
Freefall director Annie Ryan will be in conversation with playwright Michael West for the Tuesday July 13 performance in The Black Box Theatre.
Uncle Vanya director Andrew Hilton will be in conversation after the Wednesday 14 performance in the Town Hall Theatre.
Penelope director Mikel Murfi will be in conversation with actor Tadhg Murphy on Wednesday 14 in the Druid Theatre.
Political Mother choreographer and composer Hofesh Shechter will be in conversation after the Wednesday 21 performance in the Black Box.
The cast of Aftermath will be in conversation on Thursday 22 at the Town Hall.
Vicky Featherstone, artistic director of the National Theatre of Scotland, which presents Long Gone Lonesome at this year’s festival, will be in conversation after the Thursday 22 performance in the Claddagh Hall.
The artist talks will see Alice Maher discussing her work on Thursday July 15 at 2pm in the Galway Arts Centre and Brian Bourke talking about his paintings in the Fairgreen Gallery on Saturday 17 at 3pm.
Admission to the theatre talks is free for ticket holders. The artist talks are free and all are welcome.
