Irish Premiere Signals More International Exposure for Aussie Playwright
Sean McIntyre's stunning script for theatre will once again stride the international stage. Confirmed as an official selection, 'The Pickup' will make its Irish debut as part of an inaugural program at the prestigious International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in May 2007.
(PRWEB) May 9, 2007 -- Sean McIntyre's stunning script for the stage 'The Pickup' is confirmed as one of a select group of international entries granted official selection for one of the most innovative and unique theatrical occasions on the Irish cultural calendar.
The only one of five Australian plays submitted to be selected in the final program of 20 plays, 'The Pickup' will enjoy six performances during its debut Dublin season from Monday 14th May to Saturday 19th May 2007 as part of the Irish Premiere of 'Shorts, Shorts & Very Shorts!':
http://www.gaytheatre.ie/html/2007_shorts_shorts_and_very_shorts.html.
A unique cultural event, the 2007 International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival attracted almost 100 submissions for consideration from companies and playwrights around the world including Spain, Italy, Jersey, Ukraine, Australia, Canada, Ghana, South Africa, Iran, the USA, UK and Cork.
International playwright Sean McIntyre said that the strength of 'The Pickup' lay in its dialogue and its unique observation of the relationship between its three characters. It is a riveting piece that deals with the universal human themes of friendship, loneliness and change.
"I also saw the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival as a great vehicle to showcase the play because obviously not only is it set in Ireland but it features a gay Irish character," said McIntyre. "I'm also thrilled that such an outstanding international gay theatre festival is prepared to have a heterosexual Australian voice contribute to this ambitious event now part of the vibrant Irish gay calendar."
'The Pickup' will be presented as an international co-production with Siobhan and Mark O'Donoghue from Twinkletoes Productions. The young up and coming Irish company expressed an interest in the play when it read the script McIntyre submitted.
Festival Artistic Director Brian Merriman created the new 'Shorts, Shorts & Very Shorts!' program when he noticed that playwrights were submitting short plays only or as attachments to their main submission.
"If I wasn't happy with the main submission but detected a good writer I asked for other material and inevitably the short that followed was good,' said Mr Merriman. "As in film festivals, the shorts programme works very well with audiences and I could see no reason why we couldn't try to be ambitious and do this live. I also wanted to explore themes, similarities and differences side by side on the one programme."
Eight shorts were selected this year ranging from five to twenty minutes long from Australia, the US and Ireland. Mr Merriman was so motivated he even wrote one himself!
Mr Merriman also commented that diversity and high standards have driven the event since its inception while Dublin City Council and Failte Ireland have recognised the significant contribution that a 'standards driven theatrical Festival of merit' makes to the arts in a changing Ireland.
"I can only surmise that it results from the work we have done to date, the standards achieved, the warm welcome and cooperation given to our visitors to date, and the real need for all voices to be heard in the arts, that this event has inspired many an artistic imagination at home and abroad," said Mr Merriman.
"Growing audiences and the support given by arts bodies in other countries (including Australia) have kept it going," said Mr Merriman. "The festival is committed to showcasing new writing - we include a writer's award in the name of Oscar Wilde for plays written post 2000."
Bookings
Temple Bar Cultural Information Centre,
12 East Essex Street
Dublin
Book on 01-677 8511, by post or over the counter. Concession prices (when available) apply to students, unemployed, disabled visitors and senior citizens.
For further information about the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival, May 2007 visit www.gaytheatre.ie
About 'The Pickup'
Felix is an Aussie backpacker hitchhiking through Ireland with Norman, his guitar. They've travelled the world together for nearly a year and now they need to get from Dublin to Belfast - fast! As the play opens a car approaches. After 359 days and 16 countries, the ensuing journey with The Driver -- unnamed and not quite trustworthy -- will change the friendship between the two forever.
'The Pickup' made its international debut during the inaugural Melbourne leg of the Short and Sweet International Play Festival in November 2005. Chosen from a record number of nearly 1100 entries worldwide, 'The Pickup' was one of the top 30 scripts performed at the prestigious Melbourne Arts Centre. It also earned a top 30 place in the 2006 Sydney leg of Short and Sweet.
Performed again in in Melbourne 2006, it was directed by Sharni Page while in March 2007 received a staged reading by Working Title Playwrights in Georgia, USA.
Contact:
Sean McIntyre
Wise Words Media
ABN 60 363 406 503
M: 0011 61 0413 397 441
w: www.myspace.com/wisewordsmedia
e: sean.mcintyre AT wisewords.com.au
Brian Merriman
Artistic/Managing Director
179 South Circular Road
Dublin 8, Ireland.
Brianmerriman AT iolfree.ie
All Artistic and Submission Enquiries
Corporate Enquiries
Gary Tiernan
Corporate AT gaytheatre.ie
Media Kit containing logo and festival brochure also at:
www.gaytheatre.ie/html/corporate_media.html
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