WELCOME TO THE 2012 Synge Summer School

Thursday 28 June to Sunday 1 July 2012

IRISH DRAMA: MAKING IT NEW

 

 

The 2012 Synge Summer School takes place from 29 June to 1 July

The theme this year is “Irish Drama: Making it New”

PROGRAMME Online Now

Applications Forms Available in Word Format and PDF

This year, we intend to reflect upon recent changes in Irish theatre. Since the end of the Celtic Tiger period in late 2008, we have seen a move towards new kinds of theatre-making in Ireland. As a result of those developments, many of our assumptions about what Irish theatre should be no longer apply in quite the same way. We will reflect upon those changes, and will hear from some of the writers and directors who are leading them. We also hope to place the present in a historical context, to look at other moments of transition in the history of Irish drama.

As always there will be lectures and seminars on modern and contemporary Irish drama, readings by authors, performances, social events, and more. Updates can be found here and on our Facebook page.

To be kept informed, please email Patrick.Lonergan@nuigalway.ie and we will add you to our mailing list.

In the meantime feel free to browse our programmes from previous years:

The programme for the 2011 Synge Summer School

Programme 2010 

Programme 2009

Programme 2008

Earlier Programmes

 

The Synge Summer School is held in Avondale House, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow. See here - http://www.visitwicklow.ie/attractions/avondale_house.htm - for more information about the venue

We recently launched the second volume of essays from the Synge Summer School: Synge and His Influences .

ABOUT the 2012 SYNGE SUMMER SCHOOL

The Synge Summer School is a gathering of people who are enthusiastic about Irish theatre and drama. Each year, we welcome participants from many different professions (academics, students, teachers, public servants, theatre practitioners, journalists, and people from many other walks of life), and from many different countries (Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia, Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, China, Japan, and elsewhere).

Participants attend a series of talks, seminars, and social events over the course of a long weekend (from Thursday afternoon to Sunday evening) in the beautiful setting of Avondale House in County Wicklow.

Lectures are given by leading scholars of Irish drama. They focus not only the works of J.M Synge but also on other Irish dramatists and performances.

Lectures usually last for between 45 minutes and an hour, and are followed by about 30 minutes of discussion, which all participants are welcome to contribute to, if they wish. Lectures are intended to be accessible to both academic and non-academic audiences. A reading list will be provided: it is not essential to read any of the play on the list in advance, but doing so may enhance your appreciation of the lectures.

Seminars This year, we are offering four seminars; participants select one from that list. A seminar is a small group of people (usually no more than eight), who will meet twice (on Friday and Saturday mornings) to discuss a specific theme. The discussion will be led for about 90 minutes by a dedicated specialist, who will ensure that all participants have an opportunity to share their views with each other. Seminar participants should read the recommended plays in advance (again, a reading list will be provided). Seminars are intended to take place in a relaxed, friendly and informal setting; as with the lectures, they will prove rewarding for both academic and non-academic participants.

Social events . In 2011, these included:

A visit to the Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray to see two plays by Una McKevitt, one of the most exciting young theatre-artists currently working in Ireland. Her play Victor and Gord was a prize-winner at the 2008 Dublin Fringe Festival, and 565+ was one of the hits of the 2009 Dublin Theatre Festival.

Participants also had a chance to hear Colm Toibin deliver a memoir-style lecture about Irish theatre in the 1980s.

There was a tour of Avondale House (the home of Charles Stewart Parnell and the venue for the School) and of Synge country.

If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with the School’s Director Patrick Lonergan (Patrick.Lonergan@nuigalway.ie) or email info@syngesummerschool.org/

 

 

 

 

 

Page Updated 5 September 2011

 

© 2011 The Synge Summer School