Galway Arts Festival 15th-27th July 2003

Galway Arts Festival 15th-27th July 2003

galway.net , 03 July 2003

The 26th Galway Arts Festival celebrates contemporary culture from all over the world with a strong focus on Irish and international theatre, music, literature and the visual arts. The celebration begins on Tuesday 15th July and continues to Sunday 27th July.

Galway Arts Festival 2003 features three major world premieres by Irish companies. For the first time since 1985 a new Tom Murphy play will premiere in Galway, The Drunkard, a b*spoke production in association with Galway Arts Festival, is directed by Lynne Parker and the cast includes Stephen Brennan and Pauline McLynn. Macnas present The Mysteries, a spectacular re-imagining of the Biblical Medieval Plays, in co-production with Coventrys Belgrade Theatre, which will take place outdoors in the grounds of Galway University. Barabbas Hurl by Charlie ONeill, directed by Raymond Keane is a spectacular hurling yarn of a different Ireland and has a cast drawn from all over the world.

In addition to work specially commissioned or produced by the Festival, is theatre from Australia, the USA and France. The Festival continues its creative relationship with Chicagos world-renowned Steppenwolf who make a welcome return to Galway with Purple Heart, a new play by Bruce Norris featuring Steppenwolf ensemble member Laurie Metcalf. Extraordinary physical theatre performances from Australia and France illustrate the Festivals continuing commitment to staging ambitious projects combining multi artforms. Acrobat from Australia is a high-energy, rigorously physical show with gravity-defying performances while The Junebug Symphony created by James Thiérrée is an electrifying spectacle fusing theatre, circus, dance and music. Also from the USA comes Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre to perform George Bernard Shaws Major Barbara in the intimate surroundings of Druid Theatre. One of Australias most vibrant physical theatre companies Stalker Theatre Company bring Four Riders a spectacular stilted show to the streets of Galway.

The vibrancy of local culture is evidenced by the wealth of work from Galway at Festival 2003. Local work being showcased in the international context of the Festival includes a new play by Little John Nee - a collaboration with Scotlands Cumbernauld Theatre; Paris Texas, a live theatrical short of the award winning film by Diarmuid De Faoite and new work from Teatro Punto, An Taibhdhearc, Catastrophe Theatre and Galway Youth Theatre.

Galway Arts Festival and Galway Arts Centre have entered into major collaboration for the first time to produce a unique visual art exhibition by Bavarian artist Nils-Udo. Nature has been Nils-Udos source and inspiration for the past 30 years and this exhibition, supported by Udaras na Gaeltachta and Foras na Gaeilge, features photographs of a remarkable series of his installations created throughout Connemara earlier this year. The Festival has also entered into collaboration with French artist Bernard Pras who creates new work at the Aula Maxima, NUIG while the streets of Galway also become an open-air canvas for his work, featuring images of 20th century cultural icons including Jimi Hendrix, Albert Einstein and Che Guvera. Fellow French artist Anne Ferrer creates an installation of floating resin pigs, Ester Wiliams on Galways Eglington Canal. The Aula Maxima also hosts a video installation Breaking Voices by leading Icelandic artist Helena Jónsdóttir. Other visual art shows include Joe Boske, Jim Kinch, Artspace and a group exhibition Painting Without Numbers by the GMIT Art College Tutors.

The continued support of Guinness enables the Festival to present a comprehensive programme of music from all over the world, with a strong Irish component. Linton Kwesi Johnson and the Dennis Bovell Dub Band make their Festival debut in a concert simply not to be missed and The Waterboys continue their special relationship with the west of Ireland in their unique Tour of Galway taking in venues such as Druid, Roisin Dubh and the Radisson Hotel along with workshops and a special recital in the atmospheric St. Nicholas Church by keyboard player Richard Naiff. A concert celebrating the work of one of Irelands most influential musicians of the past 20 years Arty McGlynn promises to be one of the musical highlights of the year with special guests ranging from Paul Brady, Nollaig Casey, Liam OFlynn, Sean Keane, Frankie Gavin and Matt Molloy to name but a few. Other artists to perform during the Festival include Boz Scaggs, Carlos Nunez, Ron Sexsmith, The Proclaimers, Emmett Tinley, James Grant, Damien Dempsey, Erin McKeown, Mairéad NíMhaonaigh, Dermot Byrne, Yonder Mountain String Band and Paddy Kennan among others.

Talks and literary events at this years Festival feature US social and political satirist Tom Tomorrow, Irelands Pat Mc Cabe, reading from his forthcoming novel Call Me the Breeze and a unique collaboration between actor Stephen Rea and musician Colin Reid which celebrates Flann O'Briens The Third Policeman in a special evening of words and music. Composer, author and playwright Willy Russell makes a rare appearance on stage to perform his new songs with special guests Tim Firth and Andy Roberts. Russell will also give a performed reading of his highly acclaimed hit play Shirley Valentine while writer and publisher John Calder will talk about the authors he has published including of Beckett, Ionesco, Pirandello and Duras.

The very best of Irish comedy is also represented with Tommy Tiernan, Barry Murphy, Ian Coppinger, Dara O'Briain and Deirdre O'Kane.

Childrens events include Peacemaker by the M6 Theatre Company, Puppets in the Wild from The Lempen Puppet Theatre and a special Festival Harry Potter Quiz with quizmistress extraordinaire Pauline McLynn.

With over 400 writers, artists, performers and musicians from Australia, Canada, England, France, Iceland, Jamaica, Scotland, Spain, Romania, USA and of course Ireland - creating theatre, spectacle, street art, music, comedy, literature and music - the 2003 Galway Arts Festival promises a stunning fortnight of cultural activity and celebration.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.galwayartsfestival.ie or in person or by phone from Monday June 23rd Galway Arts Festival Box Office Victoria Place Eyre Square Galway Phone: 091 566 577

Related Links

Advertisements