Lights Up!!! Youth Theatre Week Monday 29 – Friday 3 July Dance - Drama – Circus Skills – Lighting – Make Up An exciting week for anyone age 13 – 17 interested in developing stage presence, performance skills and theatrical knowledge.
Dance: Christina Goletti / Nick BrysonM.
Contemporary/Commercial Style
Drama: Macdara Deery
Acting techniques / State orientation
Circus Skills: Nick Bryson
Juggling and Diabolo basic skills
...and even more with lighting and make up session.
All classes taught by professional artists
Spaces limited Fee €72 (scholarships available – contact 087 2836675)

Birr Stage Guild Children’s Theatre Summer Camp Monday 6 July – Friday 10 July Drama Dance Music Mime Juggling Now in its fifth year, Birr Stage Guild's annual theatre camp presents a week of fun and creativity through drama, dance, music and mime. With a team of professional actors, dancers, musicians, highly experienced in education through the arts, the children have the opportunity to explore a wide range of theatre activities. Places in both junior and senior groups are limited and application forms are available at Box Office.
Tutors: Cristine Goletti, Nick Bryson - Legitimate Bodies Dance Company; Myles Breen drama - mime, Enda O'Connor - music
Course Fee €65 10am-1pm (7 to 9 yrs). 2pm--5pm (10 to 12 yrs).

Kerstin Doelle - Soprano Sunday 12 July Accompanied by Kathrin Elisabeth Zobel Kerstin was born in Berlin 1965 and studied voice at the Academy of Music in Weimar and Dresden and after graduation she was immediately engaged by Marianne Kupfer as a member of the “Komische Oper Berlin”, where she sang several parts. Kerstin has performed all over the world throughout her singing career in concert and opera galas with Californian tenor Mark Fox in 2001 where tour dates included Japan and Israel. In 2004 Kerstin received an invitation from the archbishop of Spain for sacral concerts on the Canary Islands, and while performing at the International Festival of Music in China received an invitation from the Royal House of Thailand. Kerstin’s short Irish summer tour this year will bring her to Birr, Kilmallock, Fota House and Muckross House. Accompanied by pianist, Kathrin Elisabeth Zobel they will delight their audience with pieces of the Italien Bel Canto/Verismo and music of German romantic expression. Details of Kerstin Doelle’s four CD’s can be found on www.kerstin-doelle.com
€15/12 8pm BUY NOW

Saturday 18 July Life Shop till you Drop! Life Shop till you Drop! is the Sassy Girl’s Self Help Solution. It will change your life. Ailish, our Recruitment Consultant Heroine is out to get her dream man, dream job and dream life, by literally following the mantra's of self-help gurus. After hitting her self-help books hard she joins an expensive Dating Agency, re-imagines her childhood, goes speed dating and feng shuis her apartment to attract love into her life. As no Mayo parent, ex-boyfriend or bloke is going to stop our Ailish. A cautionary tale, or more likely, a wickedly fun spoof on our love of going life-shopping. A wickedly fun satire. After three sell-out National Tours, our Recruitment Consultant Heroine is here to help you find love and happiness through her ‘sassy girl’s self-help solution!’ “Quite simply superb! Witty & wonderful” The Irish Times on Wonderland.
€15 8pm BUY NOW



Dine and Theatre Special
2 course special and a complimentary glass of wine at Spinners Bistro followed by theatre performance - €30
(performance starts at 8pm - you are encouraged sit for your meal c. 6.30pm). Offer valid Saturday 18 July ONLY)

Reviews:
Recent Irish Times Review

Click here for a sneak preview!
YouTube sneak preview

MoonSiren Present The Brennans Saturday 25 July Directed by Daniel Coll The Brennan’s are three sisters from Dublin whose music and vocal ability is unique. They sing a mixture of traditional Irish, contemporary, musical theatre and opera backed by stunning arrangements. Yvonne is well known to Irish audiences as a regular on “The Late Late Show” with Gay Byrne; she has performed as a soloist many times with the RTE National Concert orchestra and starred in many musicals all over Ireland. She returns to Ireland from America where she starred as Eliza in The Broadway version of “My Fair Lady” with Maximillian Schell. Paula has been a regular principle singer with the Drawing Room Opera and at the National Concert Hall Dublin. She has appeared on “Live at Three” and “The Late Late Show” and is very well known to Dublin Musical Theatre audiences. Sinead has also appeared as a soloist at the National Concert Hall in Dublin; she played Columbia in “The Rocky Horror Show” at the Olympia and also played along side John Barrowman in Aspects of Love, before moving to the UK where she now works as a composer/recording artist. “When they sing together their harmonies and musical arrangements are stunning”. Alan Barker: Creative Radio UK.
This tour marks the launch of their first album with international record label MoonSiren.
Further information at www.brennansisters.com
€18/15 8pm BUY NOW

The Reel World Filmmaking for Young People Monday 27 July – Friday 31 July An exciting filmmaking course designed specifically for the younger generation.
Participants will focus on creating or identifying a story on the first day, filming that story over the next two days and editing the footage into a short movie or documentary over days four and five. All students will have ample opportunity to participate in each of these areas individually, but will also benefit from the collaborative effort of the group filmmaking process. Following the success of last year’s course, those interested should book early at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre 057 9122911. More details can be found by checking out the website of Birr based company Hello Camera (www.hellocamera.ie).
Course Fee: €80. Places limited to 12 students per course
Age 12 – 16years 9.30am – 1pm

Summer School of Rock Tuesday 4 – Thursday 13 August Now in it’s fourth year, award winning multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter Brendan Keeley will facilitate the Summer School of Rock. This 2-week course will give intensive training in writing and performing your own and other well known songs. It will also provide training in various aspects of the music business including, copyright, publishing, the recording process, voice training and instrument tuition. Anyone interested in participating should have at least a basic knowledge of an instrument (guitar, drums, bass, voice). As places are limited attendance at a workshop on 6th July at 5.30pm is essential at which time places on the course will be allocated. Participation at workshop does not guarantee a place on the course.
Age 14 – 18yrs.
Course Fee: €40 (both weeks essential) in association with Offaly Local Development Company and Offaly County Council

Choke Comedy Improv Saturday 15 August Only formed just over a year, Limerick's first comedy improv troupe 'Choke Comedy Improv', have been going from strength to strength. With a sell out show and a Special Judges' Award from Limerick Unfringed 2009 under their belt the troupe have performed regularly in Limerick. Bringing much needed laughter in times lacking good news, Choke Comedy sets foot on stage with no script or safety net. Nothing is rehearsed, nothing is planned, it all happens right before your eyes. The audience are in control. If you enjoyed Whose Line Is It Anyway? Choke Comedy Improv are the night out for you.
€10 (Friends: priority) 8pm

Hello, He Lied Written and directed by Campbell Black
with Rebecca Armstrong
presented by Birr Stage Guild
Tuesday 18 – Friday 21 August Pinocchio goes to Hollywood, determined to escape the pizzeria he inherited. Tired of massaging dough, chopping tomatoes, and dreaming of red sauces at night, he wants to be a big time actor - a star! He is taken under the protective wing of Gepetto, the great studio Mogul, the man with the power to make stars or break hearts or both. Mr Blue-Fairy, talent-spotter, swears he can bestow the magic powder of stardom on young Pinnochio....and Pinnochio is desperately willing to take the chance in a world known for its skullduggery and slippery deals. But will it all go terribly wrong for our young hero on his way to the top?
€14/12 (including tea/coffee/sandwich) 1.05pm SHARP (Friends: Priority)

Birr Stage Guild presents Vintage Classics Tuesday 18 August A stunning night of music and song with John Molloy, bass-baritone; Ann Hogan, mezzo-soprano; virtuoso violinist Vladimir Jablokov and members of the Slovak Festival Orchestra (making a return visit to Birr) with Claudia Boyle, soprano and Mairead Hurley, piano. From wild Gipsy Airs to romantic Neapolitan song: from Early Music to Contemporary Classics. This Premier concert for Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival combines the unique styles of these internationally acclaimed young artists. An unforgettable, one night only performance, which will sell out fast!
€20/16 8pm (Friends: €16)

* * * Special Offer - Double Bill * * * Hello He Lied and Vintage Classics
€30. (Offer applies to Tuesday performance only.)

Roesy Wednesday 19 August Birr extends a great welcome home to singer/songwriter/artist Roesy this summer when he performs at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre and exhibits at The Chestnut during Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival. Living in Amsterdam for the past two years, Roesy has been busy writing and recording a new album and before coming home will be in New York, Glastonbury as well as working on a new book and for the rest of the year will be preparing for trip to Memphis in Feb 2010.
€20 (Friends: €18)

Historic Society Commemoration of Mary Ward Saturday 29 August Commemoration of the World's First Motoring Fatality: Mary Ward, Birr, 1869. Speakers: The Countess of Rosse, Isobelle Fallon (Medical Doctor) & Denis Dowdall (Chairman of Gordon Bennett Car Rally). After the lectures, all are invited to the site of the accident nearby for the unveiling of a commemorative storyboard. 2.00pm – 4.30pm All Welcome

Musical Theatre Masterclass
with Peter Corry Friday 4 – Sunday 6 September Focusing on vocal technique, confidence and musical interpretation, this is a great opportunity to work with one of Ireland’s finest performers over 3 days of intensive tuition, culminating in a concert of participants work on the final evening of the course. A must for anyone interested in Musicals! Book early to avoid disappointment - limited places available.
Course Fee: €120
(As places are limited and huge demand is expected a non-refundable* deposit of €30 will be required to secure place (* deposit is non-refundable if place is not taken up by another participant).

Cello & Piano classical Recital
Gerald Peregrine & Cathal Breslin Friday 4 September Critically acclaimed Irish cellist Gerald Peregrine and pianist Cathal Breslin will give an evening recital featuring much loved cello works by Shostakovich, Debussy, Beethoven, Chopin. The recital will also feature the beautiful Mendelssohn cello Sonata in honour of the composers 200th birth year. Both artists are laureates of the Royal College of Music, London, and former Fullbright scholars. The duo have recently been invited to join the prestigious Music Network Artists Roster. Both performers were also individual recipients of the National Concert Hall Rising Star debut recital. 'Gerald Peregrine plays the cello as if born to it'- The Irish Times
Cathal Breslin-'Playing with assurance and sparkle'- The Irish Times

PROGRAMME:
Beethoven: - 7 Variations on Mozarts Magic Flute in e flat major
Mendelssohn:- Cello Sonata no.1 in b flat major, op.45
Debussy:- Cello Sonata
Eibhlish Farrell Stillsong for solo cello
Shostakovich:- Cello Sonata in d minor, op.40
Chopin:- Polonaise Brillante in c major, op 3
€16/14 (Friends: €14) 8pm

RDS National Crafts Competition Prize-winners Exhibition
15 – 27 September The RDS National Crafts Competition, in assoiation with the Crafts Council of Ireland is organised on an annual basis with an exhibition of prize-winning and commended entries on show during the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show in August 2009. The RDS National Crafts Competition Prize-winners Travelling Exhibitions comprise of the prize-winning entries and travels to a number of venues around Ireland from August to December. We at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre are delighted to host this exhibition.
Official Opening: 15 September, 7pm