2010
Griese Youth Theatre hosted the 6th Ballitore Festival from July 22nd to 25th with workshops to suit all ages and interests.
Thursday morning events began with arts and crafts with Jackie Nolan. The atmosphere in the Meeting House was really relaxed and friendly as Jackie worked on themed collages with the young boys and girls. At the same time the GYT Youth Initiative team of Shane Bennett, Emily Vaughan, Shauna Rouse, Ashley Prendergast and Katie Byrne facilitated a workshop with the youth theatre members on improvisation and team building. Introduction to clowning with Debora Danti followed .
Meanwhile the kiddies bingo session, a tense affair, was in full swing. It was a great success with all participants going home with a prize! Special thanks to Niamh Corcoran, Jean Allen, Brenda Corcoran and Denise Barrett for organising and running this fun event for the young children. Jackie arrived back at 5pm to demonstrate the lovely flower arranging, with a number of arrangements being made for the Garden Party on Saturday. Lily o Meara kindly demonstrated some lovely embroidery stitches and quilting techniques from 7pm to 9pm while Mary and Reiltin Minahan provided the delicious refreshments.
Weston Byrne ran the Dj workshop in the Picture House, this was enjoyed by all with everyone getting a go at spinning the decks. There was interest expressed from participants for follow up workshops in September for both Lily’s embroidery workshops and Weston’s DJ Skills.
Friday morning began with a very energetic voice workshop with Alexandra Rosiak , this was thoroughly enjoyable and GYT would like to extend a special welcome to Alex who has recently moved to the Ballitore area.
The very popular glee workshop (again facilitated by GYT members )was next followed by African Drumming(Rory Adams) and Irish Dancing(Tracey O Dwyer)
Events continued on Saturday with drama, storytelling and write your own song.
Commedia Del Arte
As part of the annual Ballitore Festival, members of the Griese Youth Theatre took part in a Commedia Del Arte workshop with New York trained actor and NAYD trained facilitator Amy Redmond.
Commedia Del Arte is a form of Italian theatre that began in the 16th century, known for its use of masked stock characters. These characters can be either tragic or comedic and show four main emotions: fear, happiness, sadness and anger. Similar to clowning, the actor who portrays these characters must be as bold and dramatic as the mask he/she wears.
We were given the opportunity to create and develop our own version of these characters using a modern technique of applying the mask directly onto the face using make-up and by choosing our own costumes. Through a number of exercises we developed these characters even further and devised our own five-minute improvised piece. The workshop concluded with a public performance of the piece at the annual garden party.
It was interesting to learn about the history behind Commedia Del Arte and how these traditional character development techniques are still used today.
Conor McMahon
Griese Youth Theatre
The Annual Garden Party took place in lovely sunshine with music from trad-band; Fusion and a Showcase of Drama and Irish Dancing. The excellent food as always provided by Susan Waters and Liam Tallon.
Sunday morning began with a workshop in Gospel Singing facilitated by Michael Fay co –director of Maynooth Gospel Choir. Participants consisted of Griese Youth Theatre members, the Society of Friends and anyone else who happened to drop in.
The “Funday” was enjoyed by all 23 children who took part in dance, animation, games and treasure hunt, the children expressed disappointment after four hours that it was over so soon!
EALU
The Festival ended with a performance by Ealu productions of Chambers of the Heart. The cast were as follows: Elaine Tomlinson, Jenni O Brien, Nicole Fenner, Deirdre Burke, Grace Hendy, Claire O Neill, Deirdre Callaghan and Lisa Woods. This performance was presented as a work in progress. The finished performance will take place in the Riverbank Arts Centre Newbridge on Saturday October 9th at 8pm
Special thanks to the members of Griese Youth Theatre for their participation in the Festival workshops and their work with the younger members.
Thanks to Mary Minahan for the lovely snacks. To Denis Barrett for all her assistance. To Noel and Stephen Donovan for work behind the scenes. To Mick Barrett and his team of helpers.
And especially to Niamh Corcoran for all her hard work.
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy? Discuss...
Griese Youth Theatre present Veronica Coburn’s “Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy? Discuss...”, a newly commissioned play for youth theatre by the National Association of Youth Drama (NAYD).
Set against a cycle of the seasons, “Elizabeth and Mr Darcy? Discuss” allows you to enter a world of exams, love and confusion. These Leaving and Junior Cert students are excited by the possibilities of their futures and eager to explore life beyond school. A combination of flirtation, expectation and romance for a colourful group of characters makes for a lively and playful story.
In the midst of a world which is dominated by the mass media and social networking, “Elizabeth & Mr Darcy? Discuss” addresses issues relevant to young people today: homophobia, social-awareness, hate, sexuality, racism and prejudice. The play shows how difference is a good thing and that we should strive to remain independent and unique rather than follow the crowd and give in to our peers.
‘Less Stress More Success’? Perhaps it’s a case of Less Sex More Success…
2009
In October 2009 we put on a stunning show in The riverbank theatre of the play 'The Trials of Joan'. this was put on by our wonderful, always growing youth theatre.
2008
2007
2006
Some of the members of G.Y.T. took part in the 5th annual Wyeth festival. (Tues 31st July to Sat 4th August)
Members of the Youth group filmed a short film for the BBC on July 2nd and 3rd based on our adaptation of Baby Girl.
Hidden History...
The following members of the Youth Theatre took part in ‘Atonement’ on the weekend of June 8th, 9th and 10th. Elaine Tomlinson, Yvonne Rouse, David Doyle, Danny Doyle, Craig Fagan, Stephen Barrett, Noel Donovan and Charlie Cox. This project is a one hour documentary for RTE, part of the Hidden History series in the Autumn 2007.
Friday 25th August
Fundraising Race Night in O'Conors pub Ballitore 8pm
Ballitore Independant Youth Film Festival Premiere ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Barbecue in The Harp Ballitore
Intermediate 1 play (3rd class)
'A Terrible Tale Of A Dreaded Dragon' by Burt Liebert
Meeting House Ballitore
Intermediate 1 play(4th class)
'The Twelve Dancing Princesses' from the Grimm Bros Fairytale adapted by the cast
Meeting House Ballitore
Intermediate 2 play (5th & 6th class)
'An Alien Stole My Skateboard' by Randall Lewton
Kilcullen Town Hall Theatre
Intermediate 2 play (1st year)
Kilcullen Town Hall Theatre
Griese Youth Theatre Play
'Alien Nation' by Max Hafler
Kilcullen Town Hall Theatre
Griese Youth Theatre Play
'Folie Tha' by Ciarán Gray
Kilcullen Town Hall Theatre
Annual Grieseplayers Fundraising Barbeque
Some members of the Youth Theatre went to Glór in Ennis for the Irish Young Filmmaker of the year Final and Awards Ceremony. Two of our films were shortlisted and were in the final but that was as far as they got. . . .
Visit from Blind Ditch Crew
3 short plays will be performed by the Junior & Intermediate Groups in the Meeting House, Ballitore at 7.00pm
Kildare Celebration of Youth event in Goffs
October fest in Celbridge.
A weekend of drama workshops and performances performed, directed and run by the teenage members of Griese Youth Theatre.
Premiere of the films that were made during the Ballitore Tv and Film week in Ballitore. By invitation only
If you wish to see The Films that were made they will be screened in Kirwans, O'Conors and The Harp in Ballitore.
The Griese Players took to the stage for their summer show with the groups performing:
Junior group "Alice In Wonderland"
Intermediate group "Fairy Tale Detective"
Intermediate group 2 "Mrs. Moore & The Cup Final"
Youth group "When the Nerds Bit Beverly Hills"
The Youth group took part in The Wyeth Festival of Youth Drama which is now becoming an annual event, in the Riverbank Theatre in Newbridge.
Following the great success of the Youth groups production in Ballitore & Newbridge we performed the play once more in Kilcullen Town Hall Theatre.
Classes resumed late due to the Directors involvement with Meeting Lane Theatre Co. in the performance "I Am"
Some members of the groups dressed up & went trick'r'treating through the streets of Ballitore.
The Youth group travelled to Galway for the screening of their short film "All My Love" on the big screen at the Galway Junior Film Fleadh.
The Griese Players took part in two Craft Workshops both generously Sponsered by KELT. We made Jewellery, Candles & Christmas Decorations with the help of Cordelia Von Klot & Susan Waters.
Are Junior groups performance of "Sleepy Santa" took place in the Meeting House in Ballitore. For many of them this was their first time on stage. Jewellery, Candles & Christmas Decorations that we made at the previous two craft workshops were sold in our Christmas Craft fair held on the same night.
The Griese Players went on their annual "Hunting The Wren" outing to raise money for The Guide Dods For The Blind. In All we raised an impressive 630euro.
Members of the Youth group took part in a Yoga class with instructor Margot Boyle.
Dance workshops for all groups took place under the instruction of Shauna Whyte.
Junior group are performing Make Believe
8-10 year old group perform East Of The Sun And West Of The Moon
11-12 year old group perform A Play About A Dragon
Midsummer barbeque fundraising event
The Youth Group are perfoming Facing Up by Cynthia Mercati
The Youth Group are also performing Dreamjobs by Graham Jones
In Kilcullen town hall theatre
The Youth Group are taking part in The Kildare Festival of Youth Drama in The Riverbank Theatre in Newbridge
Ballitore Tv and Film Week for drama group members and the teenagers of Ballitore
25th August
Fundraising Race Night O' Connors Ballitore
26th August
Film Premiere and reception. Old Picture House Ballitore
