NEWSLETTER

A Standing Ovation For Ballyfermot Youthreach.
“We are the reckless, we are the wild youth!
In the ruins of an old, derelict church where
young people sometimes go to drink, secrets
and lies strain friendships to breaking point.
During the course of a single night, young
lives and loves may be lost or redeemed,
but all will be changed forever.” Following
on from last year’s Streets and Stories, The
Unknown Theatre, comprised of students
from Ballyfermot Youthreach, and one from
Cabra Youthreach, returned with their first,
full production, If Walls Could Talk, a haunting
and often humorous tale of friendships, failings
and, maybe, just maybe, finding yourself
before it’s too late. Running from July 29th at
The New Theatre, Temple Bar for six performances,
it then transferred to the Civic Centre,
Ballyfermot for one night only due to popular
demand. And the response was phenomenal!
It’s been an amazing twelve months for Unknown
Theatre who last year set out to prove
that a courageous group of young people,
unfamiliar with acting or theatre, could create
something of their own capable of standing
with anything out there. It started with Streets
and Stories at The New Theatre, in July 2014.
Then, in December, cast member Zoe Kelly
won the Olympia Theatre Rising Star Award
2015. Next came the hugely successful, If
Walls Could Talk, a play which follows the lives
of a group of young people over the course of
one night which exceeded everyone’s wildest
expectations.
Described by Anthony Fox, Artistic Director of
The New Theatre as “poignant, refreshingly
bold and brave, very funny,” If Walls Could
Talk pulled no punches and packed them
in. Playing to an appreciative full house,
receiving a standing ovation, with requests
to come back later in the year or early next
year, two of the cast were even invited onto
the Ryan Turbidy Radio Show on 2FM. And
most exciting of all, there’s significant interest
in taking the show to The Edinburgh International
Fringe Festival in 2016. A remarkable
achievement given that most of the cast which
include Terrie Gray, Zoe Kelly, Aishling Hickey,
John McCarthy, Demi O’Reilly,
Chelsea Butterly, Luke Weekes,
Ciara Gavin, Chelsea Graham and
Annmarie Farrell, who range in
ages from 16 to 21, had never set
foot in a theatre before, never
seen a play or attended a drama
class. They just took the chance.
Through regular workshops in
The New Theatre, thanks to the
incredible support of Anthony
Fox, students devised, improvised
and generally had great fun
exploring stories they wanted to
tell, told in their own voice. The
Unknown Theatre is different in
that it’s aware that young people
from backgrounds where theatre
may not at first be appreciated
still have amazing talent and sets about encouraging
that in a way they can connect with.
Two years ago these students took a step into
the unknown. Since then they have delved
even deeper, had some amazing experiences
and achieved something quite remarkable.
The journey continues. If you think you
might be interested in joining us, talk to your
Co-ordinator. This year we were delighted to
have Chelsea Graham, a student from Cabra
Youthreach, join Unknown Theatre. Next year,
it could be you!
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