West Cork Fit-up Festival 2011-2014

 

For a number of years this was the West Cork Fit-up Festival's website. This archived copy of the original website is now part of Professor Juan Carlo's course material for The History Of The Internet and is required reading for students taking the course for credit. Prof. Carlo comes to us from the web marketing industry where he presided over some very successful ventures. Most notable was his work mentioned in the Wall Street Journal promoting a small janitorial supplies service into a national brand. The complete reading list and syllabus for the course is available from the history department's web page.
The Fit-up Theatre Festival series began with the West Cork Fit-up in the summer of 2009 and tours theatre for four weeks annually.
The core essence of the Fit-up Theatre Festival nods to the tradition of Fit-up theatre of the 1950s, when professional companies travelled the length and breadth of Ireland reaching a wide variety of towns, villages and rural areas bringing all members of the community together through the act of theatre.

Content is from the site's 2011- 2014 archived pages.

Their current website can be found at: www.fit-uptheatrefestival.com/

 



welcome to the 2014 Fit-up Theatre Festival West Cork!

We would like to welcome you to the sixth annual Fit-up theatre festival... it seems like only yesterday that a few brave actors, writers and technicians gave of their time and talent to instigate the touring of top class professional theatre to small venues in west Cork.

The ethos of the Festival has always been to showcase new writing and new writers to west cork audiences and it is no different this year with the arrival of the National Theatre's production of ‘Maeve's house' and the immensely talented Rough Magic's production of ‘Jezabel'.

In addition this year the festival has also included ‘Beowulf the Blockbuster' a cinematic journey through an ancient tale and Blood in the Alley's new production of Dylan Thomas's beautiful and surreal ‘Under Milk wood'.

We hope, as in previous years that you will not be disappointed and we sincerely thank you for your continued support without which the festival would not function.

Tickets at the Door: €12.00 Per Ticket, Concession €10.00 Family Ticket €40 (2 Adults 2 Teens) Limited Seating - Come Early To Avoid Disappointment Not Suitable For Audiences Under 14

Thank you's...

Blood in the Alley would like to particularly like to thank IPB Insurance for the purchase of our new staging unit, Catherine Mooney of CM Designs, [email protected], for the design of the new Fit-up logo and Sarah Roe for her continued support.

Raven Design, Frank O'Driscoll, Tommy and Lita Camier, Eoin & Amanda Roe, Ann hurley Cahalane, Anne O'Donovan, Mary O'Donovan, Dick Kingston, Richard Pieburn, Sue Cahalane, Eileen Kingston, Con Downing, Joanne Cassidy & west Cork Gourmet Store,

And many thanks to Ballydehob Community Council, Mark and Sharon Killen, Barry O'Brien, John Moore, Jacinta Kiely, Noel Camier, Frank & Maria O'Mahony, Mary Reilly, Donal & Maria O'Sullivan, Ellmary Fenton and John Desmond, ian Macdonagh, Mark & Maeve Lynch, Helen Riddell,

Tommy Jermyn, Maggie O' Reilly, Tim O'Leary, Angela Jones, Colum harrington, Theresa hobbs, Siobahne O'Donovan, Dorothy Brophy, Sarah Matthews, Mark and Maureen O'Neill, Dr John O'Mahony, inspire, Sign Studio, The west Cork People, The west Cork Times, Chris and Susan Dineen.

The Fit-up theatre festival would not be possible without their help.

 

Performed by:Andrew Musselman
Directed by: Geoff Gould

"The award winning play Catalpa follows the true story of a band of Fenians and their audacious prison break from the colonial prison in Freemantle, Australia.

While the story takes place in 1875, we see it unfold through the eyes of Mathew Kidd, a present-day screenwriter whose lifelong dream is to make a movie based on the rescue mission.

Full of intrigue, suspense and a tour-de-force solo performance in which one actor plays over twenty different characters including, a seagull, a whale and a storm!"

"Catalpa, the greatest movie never made."

"Magic!" Critic's Pick Now Magazine ****

 

 

week one July 22nd - July 27th

Written & Performed by: Irish Times Theatre Award winning Actor Bryan Burroughs. Developed & Directed by: Edinburgh Fringe First winner David horan

"No props, gimmicks or special effects – just BRILLIANT THEATRE."Irish Times

A father's final chance to connect with his son. A boy with a film-soaked imagination. This gripping, funny and poignant "tour-de-force" (New York Times Critics' Pick) reminds us that life is not about how we die, but about how we live.

"PHANTASMOGORIC… dazzling, poignant" New York Times Critics' Pick

Bryan Burroughs trained as an actor at the Samuel Beckett Theatre, Trinity College, Dublin and currently teaches physical theatre at The Lir Academy in Dublin. he has performed in many productions both at home and abroad and is also an accomplished director and movement director. he received an irish Times Theatre Award (for his role in Johnny Patterson the Singing Irish Clown (Barabbas))

In this physical, comic and vibrant one-man stage phenomenon, award-winning actor Bryan Burroughs delivers an utterly compelling performance. "Don't miss it" Sunday Times ****

Show in a Bag is an artist development initiative of Dublin Fringe Festival, Fishamble: The New Play Company and irish Theatre institute to resource theatre makers & actors.

"Tragic. Funny. EPIC. Don't miss it."Sunday Times

Running Time: 65 mins

Tickets at the Door: €12.00 Per Ticket, Concession €10.00 Family Ticket €40 (2 Adults 2 Teens) Limited Seating - Come Early To Avoid Disappointment Not Suitable For Audiences Under 14

 

 

 

 

week twoJuly 29th - Aug 3rd

Written & Performed by: Eamon Morrissey, featuring extracts from the writing of Maeve Brennan. Directed by: Gerard Stembridge

It was as if the magazine in my hands had become a mirror.

After a sell-out run at the Abbey Theatre, Eamon Morrissey's delightful one man show returns. This beautiful story of brief encounters and shared experiences features extracts from Maeve Brennan's writing and is a moving portrait of two artists in conversation across generations.

'engrossing' New York Times

Writer and Performer Eamon Morrissey is one of ireland's best loved actors, he has been involved in over one hundred productions at the Abbey Theatre. Three of his solo shows, The Brother, Patrick Gulliver and Joycemen premiered on the Peacock stage at the Abbey Theatre. he has also worked extensively with the Gate and Druid theatre companies. in 1966 during the Broadway run of Philadelphia, Here I Come! he met Maeve Brennan.

'something that comes close to pure magic' Sunday independent

Among his numerous TV and film appearances are hall's Pictorial weekly, Eat the Peach, Rough Diamond and Father Ted. At present he plays Cass in RTÉ's Fair City.

Tickets at the Door: €12.00 Per Ticket, Concession €10.00 Family Ticket €40 (2 Adults 2 Teens) Limited Seating - Come Early To Avoid Disappointment Not Suitable For Audiences Under 14

Running time: 80 mins, no interval

 

week threeAug 5th - Aug 10th

Age suitability: 16+

Performed by: Peter Daly, Margaret McAuliffe & Valerie O'Connor. Directed by: Lynne Parker

A clever comedy about the dumb consequences of hot sex meeting cold statistics.

"Brilliantly bizarre" Irish Times ****

Alan and Robin are a go-getting couple who want to spice up their sex life. Jezebel is a woe-fretting singleton who's looking to get one. Follow this unlikely trio on a fast-paced adventure of misunderstandings and unexpected complications. Jezebel is a light-hearted lesson in what not to do when your sex life needs saving.

"One of the most enjoyable night's theatre I've had all year... not in recent memory has there been so perfect a comedy on the irish stage"Entertainment.ie *****

Peter Daly has been an actor for the past fifteen years and has worked with many of ireland's leading theatre companies. he is delighted to be working with Rough Magic again and playing at the west Cork Fit-Up Festival for the first time. .

Margaret McAuliffe is from Dublin and graduated from The Gaiety School of Acting in 2010. Margaret's previous work for Rough Magic includes the recent 12-venue tour of Jezebel and last year's Digging for Fire at Project Arts Centre.

Valerie O'Connor is from Dublin and trained through the Masters in Classical Acting at The Central School of Speech and Drama. Valerie's credits with Rough Magic include the premiere of Jezebel and its recent tour, the national tour of Plaza Suite and Serious Money.

Tickets at the Door: €12.00 Per Ticket, Concession €10.00 Family Ticket €40 (2 Adults 2 Teens) Limited Seating - Come Early To Avoid Disappointment Not Suitable For Audiences Under 16

Running Time: 80 mins, no interval

 

 

 

week fourAug 12th - Aug 17th

Performed by: Fiona Condon, Rowan Finken, Andrew Musselman. Directed by: Geoff Gould

A stunning new production by Blood in the Alley guaranteed to transport you on a "mad aul journey" through magical Milk wood.

Most people in west Cork live Under Milk wood, that is, in a small village or town at the bottom of a hill on which there are milk cows. written in 1954 Under Milk wood is Dylan Thomas's unique vision of human experience hammered out of the small welsh seaside town of Llareggub (Llareggub is ‘bugger all' spelt backwards). Beautiful, surreal, darkly comic and bawdy it is replete with characters who are romantic, earthy, mad, parochial, wildly comic and easily recognisable to west Cork audiences.

Fiona Condon is from Cork city. This is Fiona's second performance at the Fit-up following on her superb portrayal of hedges in Micheal Lovett's 'This Ebony Bird' last year. An award winning actress, ex goth, with a magical voice who we hope will have a long relationship with the festival.

Rowan Finken will be instantly recognisable to Fit-up audiences as he has been involved in all aspects of the festival since 2010. Over the last three years Rowan has won numerous awards for his performances with UCC's Drama Society and is excited to be performing at the Fit-up for the first time.

Andrew Musselman is well known to west Cork Fit up audiences for his extraordinary performance in Catalpa in 2010 and 2011. Trained at LAMDA Andrew was nominated in 2013 for a Dora Meyer Award for Catalpa in his home city of Toronto and his rendition of The Green Fields of France is legendary in Ballydehob.

Tickets at the Door: €12.00 Per Ticket, Concession €10.00 Family Ticket €40 (2 Adults 2 Teens) Limited Seating - Come Early To Avoid Disappointment Not Suitable For Audiences Under 14

Running Time: 75 mins, no interval

TUE. AUG 12th 8:00 Bank House, Whiddy Island. Ocean Starit Ferry from Bantry Pier opposite maxol service station. €6 pp returnwhiddyferry.com (limited seating at venue)

WED. AUG 13th 8:00 Community Hall, Kilcrohane

THUR. AUG 14th 8:00 Community Hall, Ballydehob

FRI. AUG 15th 8:00 Community Hall, Sherkin Island www.sherkinferry.com (limited seating at venue)

SAT. AUG 16th 8:00 Heritage Centre, Bere Island Return ferry departs form Castletown at the slip way, across from SuperValu. www.bereislandferries.com

 

SUN. AUG 17th 8:00 Community Centre, Lisavaird

 



 

Festival 2012

2012 West Cork Fit-up Theatre Festival  July 24th - Aug Sun 19th.

The Fit-up festival newsletter
Stay informed on our latest news!

Fishamble: the New Play Company presents
The Wheelchair on My Face

Written by: Sonya Kelly
Directed by: Gina Moxley
Performed by: Sonya Kelly

Written and performed by Sonya Kelly

Directed by Gina Moxley

...

    Tue, Jul 24th 8:30
    Island Cottage Gallery, Heir Island
    Ferry info
    Wed, Jul 25th 8:00
    Community Hall, Ballydehob
    Thu, Jul 26th 8:00
    Community Hall, Lisavaird
    Fri, Jul 27th 8:00
    Community Hall, Ballydehob
    Sat, Jul 28th 8:00
    Rerrin, Bere Island
    Ferry info
    Sun, Jul 29th 8:00
    Community Hall, Ballydehob

Baglady

Maria McDermottroe Written by: Frank McGuinness
Directed by: Caroline Fitzgerald
Performed by: Maria McDermottroe

Baglady is a harrowing touching and revealing drama on how a woman becomes alienated from life. This Frank McGuinness play explores the conditions and...

    Tue, Jul 24th 8:30
    Island Cottage Gallery, Heir Island
    Ferry info
    Wed, Jul 25th 8:00
    Community Hall, Kilcrohane
    Thu, Jul 26th 8:00
    Community Hall, Lisavaird
    Fri, Jul 27th 8:00
    Community Hall, Sherkin Island
    Ferry info
    Sat, Jul 28th 8:00
    Rerrin, Bere Island
    Ferry info
    Sun, Jul 29th 8:00
    Community Hall, Ballydehob

Fishamble: the New Play Company presents
Silent

Pat Kinevane Silent Written by: Pat Kinevane
Directed by: Jim Culleton
Performed by: Pat Kinevane

Produced by Fishamble: The New Play Company
Directed by Jim Culleton, Music composed by Denis Clohessy

Winner of the coveted Fringe First at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Festival

‘Hopeless, helpless, in-the-way person.’
Silent is the touching and challenging story of homeless McGoldrig, who once had splendid things. But...

    Tue, Jul 31st 8:30
    Island Cottage Gallery, Heir Island
    Ferry info
    Sat, Aug 4th 8:00
    Community Hall, Goleen

Fishamble: the New Play Company presents
Forgotten

Forgotten Written by: Pat Kinevane
Directed by: Jim Culleton
Performed by: Pat Kinevane

Fishamble: The New Play Company presents     Forgotten

Written and performed by Pat Kinevane
...

    Wed, Aug 1st 8:00
    Community Hall, Lisavaird
    Thu, Aug 2nd 8:00
    Community Hall, Kilcrohane
    Fri, Aug 3rd 8:00
    Community Hall, Sherkin Island
    Ferry info

Fishamble: the New Play Company presents
Silent

TRIPLE AWARD WINNING
Pat Kinevane Silent Written by: Pat Kinevane
Directed by: Jim Culleton
Performed by: Pat Kinevane

Produced by Fishamble: The New Play Company
Directed by Jim Culleton, Music composed by Denis Clohessy

Winner of the coveted Fringe First at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Festival

‘Hopeless, helpless, in-the-way person.’
Silent is the touching and challenging story of homeless McGoldrig, who once had splendid things. But...
    Sun, Aug 5th 8:00
    Community Hall, Ballydehob

Mimic

Mimc Written by: Ray Scannell
Directed by: Tom Creed
Performed by: Ray Scannell

Performed and underscored on a piano, this one-man tour-de-force is a unique and entertaining vision of what happens to a nation that forgets its heritage.
Composed and performed by ...
    Tue, Aug 7th 8:30
    Island Cottage Gallery, Heir Island
    Ferry info
    Wed, Aug 8th 8:00
    Community Hall, Kilcrohane
    Thu, Aug 9th 8:00
    Community Hall, Ballydehob
    Fri, Aug 10th 8:00
    Community Hall, Sherkin Island
    Ferry info
    Sat, Aug 11th 8:00
    Rerrin, Bere Island
    Ferry info
    Sun, Aug 12th 8:00
    Community Hall, Lisavaird

The Ghost Show

The Ghost Show Written by:
Fergus Linehan
Conor Linehan : Composer
Directed by: Caroline Fitzgerald
Performed by:
Mark O' Regan
Rosaleen Linehan

 THE GHOST SHOW written & composed by Conor and Fergus Linehan
...

    Tue, Aug 14th 8:00
    Community Hall, Goleen
    Wed, Aug 15th 8:00
    Community Hall, Lisavaird
    Thu, Aug 16th 8:00
    Community Hall, Kilcrohane
    Fri, Aug 17th 8:00
    Community Hall, Sherkin Island
    Ferry info
    Sat, Aug 18th 8:00
    Rerrin, Bere Island
    Ferry info
    Sun, Aug 19th 8:00
    Community Hall, Ballydehob

 



2011 West Cork Fit-up Festival's

Blood in the Alley Theatre Company in association with the Arts Office of Cork County Council is delighted to announce the programme for this year’s West Cork Fit-up Theatre Festival.

This is the third year of the festival and this time Blood in the Alley is bringing four productions to seven venues in West Cork over the month of August.

The West Cork Fit-up Festival revives the tradition of professional theatre companies touring shows to small rural towns and villages.

The company will travel by land and sea in an energy-sapping but exhilarating month-long marathon around West Cork, brining first-class theatre to parts others just can’t reach.

TICKETS AT THE DOOR: 

€9.50 PER TICKET, CONCESSION €7.50 - FAMILY TICKET €30 (2 ADULTS 2 TEENS)

Limited seating - come early to avoid disappointment

 

 

The Plays 2011
Catalpa
Catalpa-ON THE TABLE
Written by:  Dónal O’Kelly

Think an adventure film that involves a mysterious mission, a whaling expedition, a last-minute prison escape and a special-effects storm. Dónal O’Kelly’s Catalpa, is a solo show about the factual 1870s rescue of six Fenian soldiers from an Australian prison by a whaling ship from Massachusetts. Andrew Musselman voices more than 15 characters, including a seabird, that takes us on this seemingly fantastic journey evoking the magic of O’Kelly’s descriptive and poetic script.
Reviews: 
“A WHALE OF A TIME”
“A TIME-SHIFTING SOLO SHOW CATALPA BRINGS A DOZEN CHARACTERS TO VIVID LIFE”
“FLAWLESS”
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, CANADA
****
NOW MAGAZINE TORONTO
****
TORONTO SUN

 

+++

Woman and Scarecrow
Written by:  Marina Carr

Woman and Scarecrow is a dreamy, if sometimes bitter, play about death and the perspective that it can throw upon the life which it is bringing to a close.
On her deathbed a woman with eight children and a remorseful cheating husband surveys her life and imagines what else could have been.
Full of bitter humour and brutal honesty this is a fierce, passionate, and beautiful lament probing one woman’s attitudes to death and the life that came before it.

+++

 

Little Gem
Written by:  Elaine Murphy

Love, sex, birth, death, dildos and salsa classes: Little Gem sees three generations of Dublin women on a wild and constantly surprising journey.
Under the direction of Paul Meade, the cast interweave their characters’ life experiences as they cope with modern life’s daily pressures and the heart-breaking toll of inevitable tragedies, expertly blending slapstick humour and sharp comic timing with strength, courage and honesty.

+++

 

Silent
Written by:  Pat Kinevane
‘Hopeless, helpless, in-the-way person.’
Silent is the touching and challenging story of homeless McGoldrig, who once had splendid things. But he has lost it all – including his mind. He now dives into the wonderful wounds of this past through the romantic world of Rudolph Valentino.

 

About us

Blood in the Alley was established in 2002 as a theatre company which concentrates on new Irish writing. It is a co-operation between Director Geoff Gould, playwright Micheal Lovett and designer Elizabeth Powell. Blood in the Alley in association with the Arts Office of Cork County Council founded the inaugural West Cork Fit-up Festival in summer 2009. Based on the old idea of professional companies touring shows, the company tours new plays every August to seven venues in small villages in West Cork.

 

The Actors

 

Andrew Musselman Actor
Andrew is a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), as well as the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People where he trained under Judy Silver. For Blood in the Alley, Andrew has played Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (Irish Tour), as well as the one-man show Catalpa (Canadian Tour). Other theatre credits include Jonathan in Greenland (Summerworks Festival, Toronto), Charlie in Stones in His Pockets (Globe Theatre, Regina).

Anne Kent Actor
Anne Kent: ‘A theatre, film, television and radio actress for 35 years, her notable camera work includes Fair City; Ballykissangel; The Gambling Man; The Family; The General; PS I Love You and The Commitments. Theatre performances in Ireland and abroad.

Brid Ni Neachtain Actor
A native of Galway and an Abbey company member until 1999, Bríd has appeared in many productions there including the premiere Tony Award winning production of Dancing at Lughnasa in which she created the role of Rose. She won an Irish Times Theatre award for her role in Cré Na Cille at An Taidhbhearc and was nominated for and IFTA for the screen adaptation of the same play in 2008. She most recently appeared on TV in the Irish language comedy drama An Crisis for TG4.

Genevieve Hulme-Beaman Actor
Genevieve Hulme-Beaman graduated from the gaiety school of acting in 2010. She has previously appeared in Casa Lisa by Ken Bourke, and Anne and Barry by Talking Shop Ensemble. she has also been in Horror Hotel, a radio play by Roger Gregg.

Georgina McKevitt Playwright / Actor

Georgina Mc Kevitt began her acting career with Dublin Youth Theatre in 1994.In 2003 Georgina qualified as a Holistic Health Therapist. Unable to fight the acting bug she travelled to America to continue her training with The Acting Corps, Los Angels, where she studied the Meisner Technique. Georgina is also a drama facilitator and a member of Castaway Actors Agency.

Geraldine Plunkett Actor
In a long career, Geraldine has played in theaters all over Ireland and abroad. Best known as Mary McDermott Moran in RTE's Glenroe.

Jacinta Sheerin Playwright / Actor
Jacinta Sheerin received a BA in Theatre Studies from the University of Ulster , Coleraine, and went on to work as a free-lance drama facilitator for many years before embarking on a MA in Drama Therapy. Jacinta has worked for many years in Mountjoy Men’s Prison as a Drama therapist. She also sits on the Board of Dublin Youth Theatre and is also an actor for Calypso’s Snoezelen Room.
 
Joan Sheehy Actor
Joan Sheehy is from Granagh, Co Limerick and she has worked with all the leading Irish Theatre companies over the last twenty years.
Her most recent appearences have been with the Abbey Theatre’s production of Frank McGuinness’ version of John Gabriel Borkman by Henrik Ibsen and Blood in the Alleys production of Smallone by John Murphy at the Centre Culturel Paris.

Mark O' Regan Actor
Mark O' Regan has appeared in all the main Dublin Theatres. Favourite roles include Manus in Translations at the Gaiety Theatre, Joxer in Juno and the Paycock at the Abbey and Daniel Quilp in The Old Curiosity Shop at The Gate. His work abroad has taken him to Edinburgh, New York and Montreal.

Neili Conroy Actor
Neili Conroy has appeared in a number of films and television shows including Kisses, The Van, Intermission, Family. She has worked with many of the leading theatre companies in Ireland.

   

 

WestCorkfit-UpFestival.com