Founded in 2008 by the Origin Theatre Company, the 1st Irish Festival has become a gateway to North America for contemporary Irish and Northern Irish playwrights. The 2011 1st Irish Theatre Festival will run off-Broadway from September 5th to October 2nd in New York City.
Roísín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland said, “We have an exceptionally rich seam of artistic talent in Northern Ireland and promoting that talent internationally is an important function of the Arts Council. We are delighted to be a title sponsor for the 2011 1st Irish Theatre Festival and welcome the opportunity for some of our artists to reach out and partake of the introductions, collaborations and wonderful advantages that the dynamic New York City theatre scene has to offer.
“Working within this year’s festival programme, we anticipate that our artists will be able to form many more creative connections over the coming years, as well as showcase, to tourists and investors alike, the wealth of creative talent Northern Ireland has to offer”.
This year’s 1st Irish programme will be launched in New York on August 31st and includes some excellent productions with a uniquely Northern Irish ‘edge’, some of which have been supported by the Arts Council. These include the Brass Neck Theatre Company’s ‘A Night with George’ and one of Northern Ireland’s leading playwrights Owen McCafferty, with a double-bill reading of ‘Mojo Mickybo’ and a screening of the movie based on his award-winning play.
George Heslin, Artistic Director of the Origin Theatre Company and Festival organiser said, “1st Irish is delighted to have the endorsement of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Now in our fourth year, the festival has quickly become an important conduit for American audiences to engage with and hear Northern Irish voices. But it’s also a great opportunity for theatre practitioners from both sides of the Atlantic to share ideas and innovations and form collaborations for future co-productions”.
The Origin 1st Irish Festival of Irish Theatre will run from September 5th to October 2nd in theatres across New York City/off Broadway for further information visit www.origintheatre.org.
