Iain Glen aka Jack Taylor at Blue Teapot

Ken Bruen’s Galway super-sleuth JACK TAYLOR investigated Blue Teapot Theatre yesterday (6th December). Thankfully, no arrests were made – just numerous requests for autographs and photos with the magnificent Scottish actor Iain Glen (aka Jack Taylor).

Iain very kindly took time out from filming the latest Jack Taylor episode on Munster Avenue to chat to the gang. Blue Teapot are familiar with the Jack Taylor stories, thanks to Galway’s brilliant crime writer Ken Bruen who is also a huge supporter of our work.Appropriately, The Dramatist is one of the episodes currently being filmed. Thank you Iain and especially Ken Bruen for introducing and allowing us to explore the darker side of our city!

For a third consecutive year, Petal Pilley will be swapping her winter woollies for a swimsuit on Christmas Day and jumping in to Galway Bay. Brrrrrrrrr…..

Joining Petal in the festive splash will be Sonja as well as other Teapot supporters. As Cliff Richards has been telling us for years,  Christmas is a ‘time for giving’ so all we’re asking is for you to support our annual fundraiser in aid of Blue Teapot Theatre Company.

As Blue Teapot is a registered charity CHY 18643, we rely on the kindness of our supporters to ensure that we continue to provide the high standard of training and performance activities available to all members.

You can donate via the Paypal link on our home page or contact us for a sponsorship form. Our target is set at €4,000 which we hope to achieve by whatever means we can, even if it does mean braving the freezing rapids of Salthill on Christmas Day!

Ho, Ho, Ho...

Blue Teapot will be performing excerpts of the screenplay and our particip

Brewing up a script

ation will be proceeded by an introduction from Garry Hynes, Druid Theatre’s Artistic Director, who very kindly gave us Druid Theatre in which to premiere 84 for Culture Night.

The launch takes place from 4 – 6pm at Arts & Disability Ireland’s headquarters. For further info, contact ADI 01 – 8509002

The atmospheric Druid Theatre has played host to some of Ireland’s greatest theatrical works of the modern era, as well as  stabling some of Ireland’s greatest thespians – the late Mick Lally, Sean McGinley and Marie Mullen to name a few.  Now Blue Teapot’s ensemble can be added to the roll call of greats to tread the hallowed Druid boards!

Culture Night 2011 sees the premiere reading of a specially commissioned short film screenplay ‘84′ by Len Collin.

About ‘84′ – Little does Tom know when he says goodbye to his parents that he’s seeing them for the last time. He believes he is going on a vacation.  That his girlfriend will accept his proposal of marriage. That the future is bright. The gang are all meeting at the dancehall, where they wait for the 84 bus to take them to their destination; but in a world run by the ministry, nothing is as it seems. A funny, sad, tense and intriguing drama.

This commission is being funded through the Arts and Disability Networking (ADN), a partnership between Arts Council, Arts & Disability Ireland and Galway City and County Councils.  The initiative is to pilot a new model of developing local capacity in the area of arts and disability in Ireland.

The rehearsed reading and talk with writer Len Collin takes place at 8pm, Druid Lane Theatre, off Quay Street, Galway. Seating is limited so in order to secure your seat contact us 091 520 977 in advance.

We look forward to seeing you there.

We have been privileged this week to host an Acting Masterclass with Meisner maestro Scott Williams, a UK based theatre director from The Impulse Company, who studied under acting coach guru Sanford Meisner in the USA. Throughout the week, Blue Teapot’s ensemble have gaining deeper insights into the principles and methods of this acting technique which  promotes positive interaction and a common language. Actors are trained to ‘live truthfully’ under the imaginary set of circumstances. Scott has been enthralled by the work this week and we look forward to welcoming him back next year.

The enchanting backdrop of Brigit’s Garden, Roscahill, Co.Galway  is the setting for Blue Teapot’s band of merry wanderers of the night as they perform excerpts from of A Midsummer Night’s Dream as part of Splanc!  summer solstice celebrations this Saturday 25th June.

Shakespeare’s cast of lovers, fools and fairies will charm you with music, sonnet and song. Blooming sunflowers, honey bees and magical sprites will delight spectators throughout the garden as the sun goes down for the solstice party.

We are due to perform at 7.45pm followed later with participation in  moonlit procession alongside drummers, fire dancers and a host of performers on the night.For further info contact Brigit’s Garden 091 550905.

The special commission has been made possible due to an artistic collaboration between Arts & Disability Networking Pilot, Fishamble: The New Play Company and dramaturg Gavin Kostick. We are grateful to Padraig Naughton (Director, Arts & Disability Ireland) and the steering group behind the project for this wonderful opportunity.

Len Collin originally hails from Sligo and currently lives in Westport. He has written for film, theatre and television. Theatre work includes Terrible Beauty, [London] Fatal Illusion [Dis-Play Theatre Company at The Mercury Colchester), Soprano's Last Supper [Tiviloi Theatre, Dublin] and his award winning play BOX  which has been performed in Exeter, London and at The National Theatre Tel Aviv. His Television credits include The Clinic, Ultimate Force, The Bill, Soldier Soldier, Casualty and Eastenders. He is set to direct his first feature To Dream With Open Eyes in 2012. Len is delighted to be working with Blue Teapot Theatre company in Galway

Screenwriter Len Collin

Screenwriter Len Collin

We are delighted to welcome professional screenwriter Len Collin to Blue Teapot Theatre for a series of developmental drama workshops which will result in a screenplay by Len which will be publicly performed for Culture Night in September 2011.

The special commission has been made possible due to an artistic collaboration between Arts & Disability Networking Pilot, Fishamble: The New Play Company and dramaturg Gavin Kostick. We are grateful to Padraig Naughton (Director, Arts & Disability Ireland) and the steering group behind the project for this wonderful opportunity.

Len Collin originally hails from Sligo and currently lives in Westport. He has written for film, theatre and television. Theatre work includes Terrible Beauty, [London] Fatal Illusion [Dis-Play Theatre Company at The Mercury Colchester), Soprano's Last Supper [Tiviloi Theatre, Dublin] and his award winning play BOX  which has been performed in Exeter, London and at The National Theatre Tel Aviv. His Television credits include The Clinic, Ultimate Force, The Bill, Soldier Soldier, Casualty and Eastenders. He is set to direct his first feature To Dream With Open Eyes in 2012. Len is delighted to be working with Blue Teapot Theatre company in Galway

Michael Hayes as Krishna with his dragon (photo: Jane Talbot)

Thanks to the very generous support from Galway Lions Club and their members, our participation in this year’s St.Patrick’s Day parade is underway. Conceived by Rod Goodall, ‘From The East to the West’ is currently in rehearsal with participants from all our projects – Blue Teapots, Performing Arts School and Bright Soul.

‘From the East to the West’ brings  Buddha and Krishna and a host of magical, oriental characters to Galway bearing the gift of a fiery dragon to St Patrick to help chase the snakes from Ireland.

With costumes designed by Charmian Goodall, make-up by Kathy Murphy,  float decoration by Savage Creative, Blue Teapot gratefully acknowledges the support given from Galway Lions Club, President Noel Meehan and members.

We look forward to seeing you on the streets of Galway

on 17th March 2011.

Galway Lions Club President Noel Meehan meets the Siamese Twins - Jennifer Cox & Emer Macken.

From the east to the west....Charlene Kelly in preparation of the arrival of a fiery dragon for St.Patrick

Galway Lions Club President Noel Meehan & Frank Kineen with members of Blue Teapot in celebration of the Galway Lions' Club sponsorship.

Michael Hayes as Krishna with his dragon (photo: Jane Talbot)

Thanks to the very generous support from Galway Lions Club, our participation in this year’s St.Patricks Day parade is underway. Conceived by Rod Goodall, ‘From The East to the West’ is currently in rehearsal with participants from all our projects.

For more information on our entry visit The Irish Times on March 7, 2011