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The New Playboy (a reading)
June 2006
Roddy Doyle and Bisi Adigun co-writing
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“I think it’s a very exciting piece of work,
and exactly what the Abbey should be doing in 2007.
At a time when this country isn’t very sure of what it is,
where it’s come from or where it’s going, your play tells an
age-old story in a new and challenging way. In a sense, I felt
like an immigrant myself when I was reading it....looking at
something that was at once familiar, and at the same time,
far away. I found it very unsettling. “
Sean McGinley, Irish actor |
Arambe’s new version of The Playboy of the Western World is an Arts Council funded
modern reinterpretation of J M Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World. To coincide with the centenary of the first production of this Irish classic in the Abbey in 1907, Arambe commissioned its founder and artistic director, Bisi Adigun and Irish award winning (1993 Booker Prize Winner) to work collaboratively for ten months in 2006 to adapt The Playboy. To further contribute to the development of the new version, the Abbey, Ireland’s national theatre facilitated a reading of the first draft in June 2006. The dream cast included award winning actor, Owen Roe, Karl Sheil, Judith Roddy, Lisa Lambe, Elaine Symons, Aoife Duffin, Simon O’Gorman, Cathy Belton, Emmet Kirwan and Arambe Productions’ Gabriel Akujobi and Yomi Ogunyemi. For further information on the planned production go to Watch This Space
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Not so Long Ago
December 2005
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"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your organisation for your enthusiasm and commitment in seeking to make Ireland a more inclusive intercultural society. Indeed the success of the National Plan depends on groups like yours and all sectors of Irish society taking a positive and proactive role in combating racism."
Former Tánaiste:
Michael McDowell.
Letter to Arambe, 2 September 2005 |
Not So Long Ago was our sequel to Once Upon A Time, funded by the National Action Plan Against Racism. 12 of the 16 participants who originally took part in the Once Upon A Time developmental project were joined by four professional Irish actors and worked together for 10 weeks on the dramatisation of a selection of stories based on personal encounters of African immigrants with Irish people and vice versa. Award winning Irish writer, director and actor, Terry McMahon was invited to facilitate two workshop sessions on playwriting and acting with the group. The whole process culminated in a performance showcase followed by a Q&A session on Saturday 18 December in The Project Arts Centre.
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Once Upon a Time
May 2005
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“It made me feel so proud of who I am and where I come from. It opened my eyes to the cultures of other Africans. It would get to show that Africans are not only about being asylum seekers. That we come from a place rich in culture and heritage it will open people’s eyes.”
Edda Gombedza. an African audience member
“There is far more to African theatre than we are given to believe. Many rich and variety of cultures to be represented and explored [….] we need Arambe to educate and understand our new multicultural society of ourselves”.
An Irish audience member
“No pretension whatsoever. Very refreshing, honest theatre. Back to the roots of storytelling.”
An audience member |
Once Upon A Time was funded by Arambe’s first Arts Council revenue grant and it was a series of workshops culminated in a final performance showcase. This was a series of workshop through which participants had the opportunity to research and adapt for a stage presentation, a selection of African moon lit stories. Theatre directors who were invited to work with the group were Jimmy Fay of Bedrock Productions, Raymond Keane of Barabbas Theatre Company, Chrissie Poulter of Samuel Beckett Centre and John Martin, the director of the London based- Pan Center for Intercultural arts. The sixteen participants who took part in this project are originally from Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda. The final performance showcase was presented on May 25, 2005 in O’Reilly Theatre, Belvedere College to celebrate Africa Day, and it attracted audience from both the Irish and African communities.
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African Griot
November 2004
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"Just a short note to congratulate you on the African Griot festival. Esiaba and Peter's presentations were brilliant - I could have listened to them all weekend, and I really got the feeling that they were delighted to be part of something new and exciting in Ireland. So - comhghairdeachas!"
Máirín Nic Eoin, an Arambe founding member
“After all the work leading up to the past few days, just a quick note to say thank you and also to reiterate my congratulations. Had a wonderful time - insightful, enlivening, vital. Great to meet Peter and Esiaba. Well done on making it all happen.”
Oonagh Kearney, African Griot Participant
“I just wanted to send you a quick note to say thanks very much for the
workshop and congratulations to you on all your hard work. I really enjoyed
the experience and look forward to the next opportunity I'll have to do the
harvest dance!”
Kerry West, African Griot participant
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African Griot was an international conference devised to demonstrate the various elements of African theatrical production by giving both audience and participants direct experience of the full production process under the guidance of true modern renowned griots, UK-based Peter Badejo and Esiaba Irobi of the University of Ohio. First of its kind in Ireland, it was an exploration and showcase of the ‘total’ nature of African theatre, incorporating readings, seminars and demonstrations, workshops and live performances.
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