A note from Eibhlín Gleeson, CEO Welcome to ProdiJIG: The Revolution - a dance show like nothing you have ever seen, heard or experienced before. As CEO of this great institution, it gives me enormous pride to introduce this brand new show to you. In this important year for Ireland, what better way to celebrate our diversity as a nation, and explore our cultural identity, than by giving some of our finest artists a platform to redefine one of our most significant art forms. I’m so excited to be part of something so fresh, new and energetic - something that genuinely reflects the vitality and dynamism that exists in Irish culture today. Alan Kenefick, founder of ProdiJIG and co-creator of ProdiJIG: The Revolution is one of Ireland’s finest dancers and a shining star in the world of Irish Dance. The inspiration for this show comes from Alan’s own journey for freedom, together with freedom for the dance form. What transpires is choreography that is beautiful, honest and real - something that we can’t wait to show the world. We are thrilled to be working with the award-winning Director and Co-Creator of ProdiJIG: The Revolution, Wayne Jordan. Wayne’s directorial prowess and unique creative vision has both complimented and driven Alan’s choreographic ambition, and together they have delivered an Irish Dance show like no other. The music is brought to you by the extremely gifted Composer and Sound Designer, Cork based Peter Power, together with the force of nature that is the trailblazing Irish trad band, MOXIE. The original music for the show is a blend of MOXIE’s progressive style, which is has its roots in trad and jazz, together with Peter’s electro-acoustic style of composition, for which his company Eat My Noise is known. I’d like to acknowledge and thank the Cork Opera House Board of Directors and its Chair, Damian Wallace, for the support they have shown towards this endeavour, and the belief they had in the team to deliver the task of creating this show. I’d also like to mention the Cork Opera House staff, who once again have thrown their shoulders to the wheel in the name of creating something brilliant. Lastly, I’d like to acknowledge you, our loyal and dedicated audience. Cork Opera House couldn’t achieve any of its successes without your support. By coming to this show, you have supported your Opera House in developing something incredible for this region and for that we are truly grateful.
A note from Wayne Jordan
I’d never worked with Irish dancers before. I’ve found myself in awe of their tenacity, commitment and vividness. They work so hard. They pound the floor. They drill formations and work and rework their choreography. And they are always tapping their heels and their toes. They come through an extraordinary training full of strict rules and hard knocks with an emphasis on competition, precision and virtuosity. They hold their arms by their sides. They dance to a formula. They do their hair and make-up a certain way. They have to. ProdiJIG: The Revolution has been an opportunity to celebrate and develop creativity and diversity in popular Irish dance; to devise a large scale show that plays with the form and experiments with new approaches to making work with Irish dancers. To create a dance that is about freedom, playfulness and creativity and not just rules or limits, straight lines and rhythm. Although there is, of course plenty of rhythm. The show is built around the choreography of Alan Kenefick and his work as an Irish dancer with his troop ProdiJIG. Getting to know Alan has been an electric experience. He is over-brimming with energy and ambition for Irish dance. His determination to blaze a new trail for the form is palpable and invigorating. He propels all of his collaborators toward his bold and brilliant dream of a popular and inclusive show filled with his innovative new kind of Irish dance. The energetic genre-bending music of the band Moxie and the music of Peter Power, at turns thoughtful and explosive, have been an inspiration and great companions along the way. ProdiJIG: The Revolution was developed through conversations about Alan’s ideas as to how the popular Irish dance show could develop and his feelings about the kind of work he needed to make. It has become a kind of essay on the theme of Revolution – a live pop video, a rock concert, a dance spectacle and a way of imagining a future for popular Irish dance. A protest, an invitation and a celebration. We hope you enjoy the journey.
A note from Alan Kenefick
is all I’ve ever wanted since I was 9 years old. I was an Irish dancer who loved Michael Jackson. Ever since then, I’ve been fighting to bridge the gap between the two worlds, albeit with a few stumbles along the way. This show is a dream come true for me. Just as I was inspired back then as a 9-year-old, I want to inspire every single person who sees the show today. I want to give people goosebumps. I want them to be amazed, excited, to feel both joy and sadness - and above all - I want people to be entertained. I want them to leave the theatre on a high, ready and willing to use this message of Revolution in their own lives, to take on the world, to seize the day. Wayne Jordan, our Director, has been the key ingredient to this show. He has taught me so much and his guidance along the way has been invaluable. All the dancers have inspired me by pushing themselves past their own limits. Every person on the stage is an integral part of the show and I feel lucky to be working with them. It’s been a huge privilege to work with Moxie, John O’ Brien and Peter Power on the music for the show – all musical geniuses. I have so many people that I need to thank for helping me get to this point. My family was there for me when times were tough and I can never say thanks enough to them for that. Thanks to everybody at the Cork Opera House specifically Eibhlín Gleeson and the Board of Cork Opera House, who took the risk and gave me this opportunity. I am forever in awe of the amazing Cork Opera House team - Pat Carey, Delia Webster and Rory Murphy. Thanks to the guys at EPIC for shooting the trailers. The biggest thanks of all goes to Nelly. This show wouldn’t have been possible without you. You are my everything and I love you. Finally... Life can be tough but the human spirit is tougher. Never give up on your dreams. Vive la Revolution.
A note from Peter Power
It has been an incredible journey working on this project. From the first time I met Alan I knew that something special was going to come out of this. It has been a wild ride with plenty of ups and downs, ins and outs, but I am happy to say now that I am incredibly proud and excited to be at the point where we get to share this show with the world. The first major challenge that was set to us all was to try and match the aspiration and concept of Alan’s choreography. There simply wasn’t a type of music that covered every idea he had, either physically or emotionally, and so we started on the long road to finding a sound world that Alan could occupy. Meeting MOXIE for the first time and comparing our sound worlds really showed us the scale of the task we had ahead. We had to find a way to communicate, connect and compliment our sounds so that the show felt like one story connected to Alan’s movement. Today here we are. A full show of new music from a new sound to support a new form of dance. I hope especially that the music reaches out and pulls you into the world that Alan and the entire troupe of ProdiJIG occupy. I want to say a huge thank you to my family and friends, and my friends who are family, for their unwavering support for this over-working madman. I’d like to also thank everyone in ProdiJIG and in Cork Opera House for their incredible trust in letting us make something with them that doesn’t compromise.
Ted Kelly, MOXIE
Created by Alan Kenefick & Wayne Jordan Director Wayne Jordan Choreographer Alan Kenefick Show developed in association with Peter Power Music MOXIE & Peter Power Additional Music Eat My Noise Arrangements, Sound Design and Musical Supervision Peter Power Set Design Maree Kearns Lighting Design Sinéad McKenna Costume Design Katie Crowley Musical Director John O’Brien Assistant Director Killian Collins Hair & Make Up Maeve Readman
Choreographer/ Dancer Alan Kenefick Dancers: Nawal Elbadri Dane McKiernan (Dance Captain) Colin Fleck Calum Kelly Zoe Talbot Mitchell Hodges Lianne Stubbs Olivia Graydon Mark Chichester Michael McHugh Emmett McMorrow Georgina Donovan Maedhbh Kennedy Niamh O’ Sullivan
Produced by Cork Opera House Executive Producer Eibhlín Gleeson Production Manager Rob Furey LINE Production Delia Webster Rory Murphy Technical Manager Chris Gaughan Technical Sound Design Lawrence White Stage Manager Sarah Robb Assistant Stage Manager and Props Sarah Purcell Assistant Stage Manager Patrick Harris Costume Supervisor Jessica Healy Costume Assistant Valentina Gambardella Dresser 1 Bethany Cosgrove Dresser 2 Katrina Foley Casting / Production (ProdiJIG) Nawal Elbadri Manager (MOXIE) Eamon Murray Tap Track Recording David Hayes Set Builders 53 Degrees Design Promo Videos EPIC Productions Music Line Producer Diego Fasciati lighting Chief Electrician Lighting board Op. Stage Lx Tech F ollow spot Follow spot Cover Follow spot
Drew McCarthy Donal McNinch Jason Quirke Manuel Loosli Hanan Sheedy Neal Hooper / Tom Cahalane
Sound
Moxie: Tenor Banjo/Guitar Cillian Doheny Button Accordion/Keyboard Jos Kelly Button Accordion Darren Roche Tenor Banjo/Electric Guitar Ted Kelly Percussion Paddy Hazelton vocals Karen Underwood Cello Ilse de Ziah additional vocals Zoe Talbot
Head of Sound FOH Sound Op. Stage Sound Tech Monitor Board Op.
Colm Hinchion Lawrence White Francesca DeBuyl / Edan Ray Steve Isherwood / PJ Rankin
Stage Stage Dept. Manager Declan O’Mullane Fly master Billy Moore Stage Crew Liam Harris Stephen Barry Fly / Stage Freddy Regan Stage cover Neal Hooper PR AND marketing Marketing Pat Carey PR and marketing Irene O’Mara graphic design Dave Crowley
Wayne Jordan is a freelance theatre director. He was an associate director at the Abbey Theatre from 2010 to the end of 2012. He was Artistic Director of his own company Randolf SD between 2003 and 2010. He has also worked regularly at The Gate Theatre, Dublin. He is Resident Associate Director at The Lir (National Academy of Dramatic Art, Ireland). His recent work at the Abbey has included a new version of Sophocles’ Oedipus (for Dublin Theatre Festival 2015), The Shadow of a Gunman (coproduction with Lyric Theatre Belfast), The Plough and the Stars by Sean O’Casey (UK and National Tour), Twelfth Night, La Dispute, Alice in Funderland (an electro-pop musical devised with thisispopbaby), and new work by playwrights Marina Carr, Thomas Kilroy and Nancy Harris. At the Gate, Wayne directed a new version of Brecht’s The Threepenny Opera for Dublin Theatre Festival 2013 and he has created new productions of Ibsen, Shakespeare and Pinter. His other work includes devised and co-created projects and his own original music theatre play Ellamenope Jones at Project Arts Centre. He has also translated or written versions of Sophocles Oedipus and Marivaux’s La Double Inconstance. Wayne has been nominated for the Irish Times Theatre Award for Best Director for his productions of Everbody Loves Sylvia, Christ Deliver Us and for Oedipus and Shadow of a Gunman and for Best Production for his shows Alice in Funderland and The Threepenny Opera. Wayne is a graduate of the Samuel Beckett Centre, Trinity College.
World Champion Irish Dancer Alan Kenefick’s unique and spectacular style has been thrilling audiences globally since winning Sky’s Got To Dance in 2012. Founder of trailblazing Irish dance troupe ProdiJIG, his dynamic blending of urban and contemporary culture with traditional Irish music and dance has seen him become one of the most highly respected and sought after dancers and choreographers in the world. Since cutting his teeth touring as lead dancer with international phenomena Riverdance, Celtic Tiger, Magic of The Dance and Ragús, and special guest TV performances including Strictly Come Dancing, Alan has gone on to become a giant in the world of Irish dance. He has performed in front of huge crowds all over the world, danced with Irish music legends The Chieftains and has been commissioned by Bill Whelan to choreograph a dance piece in celebration of the Grammy award winner’s music. His passion for creating new works and collaborating with influences outside of Irish culture has seen Alan develop his own genre of Irish dance, combining his incredible individual dance talent with a brave and exciting new form of choreography. An exciting blend of old world and new, his new show ProdiJIG: The Revolution is an exhilarating showcase of a tradition revitalised.
Nawal Elbadri
Dancer
Zoe Talbot
Dancer
From the age of 4, Nawal has danced competitively for The O’Shea School of Irish Dance. She received many titles in her career including Dublin, Leinster and All Ireland Championships and has qualified for the World Irish Dancing Championships numerous times. In 2003, Nawal joined the cast of the O’Shea Irish Dance Company’s shows Irish Thunder and Emerald Beat at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, Virginia and Tampa, Florida for a period of 7 years. In 2010, Nawal toured the East Coast of America with The Tony Kenny Ireland Show and also performed with The Tony Kenny Ireland Show on the Holand America Cruise Line which travelled from New York City to Bermuda. In 2011, Nawal toured Germany with Dance Masters Best of Irish Dance, performed with Skydance in front of 10,000 people at the Basel Tattoo, Switzerland and toured Russia and Poland with Gaelforce Dance. She has also performed with Irish Celtic in France and Germany. Nawal is delighted to be performing in ProdiJIG: The Revolution at the Cork Opera House this summer.
Zoe is a multiple World Champion Irish dancer, dancing for the Lee-Byrne Academy. She is a member of Damhsa and performs in Ireland and abroad at prestigious corporate events. At the age of 16, she completed her first tour of all the major arenas in France as part of the Irish Celtic Show Generations. Zoe is also a member of the Riverdance Flying Squad and recently appeared in LAOCHRA, the 1916 commemorative event in Croke Park, where she was selected as dance captain to a troupe of over 100 dancers. Zoe has over 16 years of stage-school experience with the Billie Barry Stage School specialising in Tap, Jazz, Modern and Ballet. She appeared in the annual Gaiety Panto for many years. Zoe also studies drama with Visions Drama School (Mary Murray) and recently appeared in the TV3 soap Red Rock as Caitlin O’Malley. Zoe has just completed her first year of study in Musical Theatre with IMT (Irish College of Musical Theatre). She is delighted to be part of ProdiJIG: The Revolution, and to be making her debut in Cork Opera House with Alan Kenefick in his hometown.
Dane McKiernan
Mitchell Hodges
Dance captain
Dancer
Dane started dancing in 1994 and competed for 8 years before joining the National Dance Company of Ireland in 2007 where he toured worldwide for two years with their production Rhythm of the Dance. In 2009, he became part of the original Irish dance show Riverdance and toured for 3 years across Europe and Asia. It was during this time that he met ProdiJIG creator Alan Kenefick and became one of the original members of ProdiJIG, going on to win Sky’s Got to Dance and touring with their first production Footstorm. In 2014, he became the Choreographer and lead male dancer for the National Dance Company of Ireland’s Rhythm of the Dance. “It’s great to be part of ProdiJIG:The Revolution. It’s like a family, an extremely hard working family, all chasing after the same thing - freedom.”
Born in Bristol, Mitchell Hodges began dancing at the age of 4. After training with the Carey Academy in Birmingham, he went on to attain several international titles including Great Britain, All Scotland and four consecutive North American Championships. His biggest achievement to date was being crowned the U18 Men’s World Champion in London. He then began his professional career with Riverdance on their 20th Anniversary Tour. Mitchell is excited to be a part of the future of Irish dance with ProdiJIG.
Colin Fleck Dancer
Lianne Stubbs
Colin began his dance career at the age of 4 - taking tap, jazz, hip hop and even ballet for years. Around the age of 10, he was introduced to Irish Dance at the Richens/Timm Academy, where he competed and trained for 17 years. Colin won 4 Midwest Regional Championships, the North American Championships, and placed as high as 2nd in the World Championships among many others. At the height of his competitive endeavours, he joined Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance and performed most notably as the principal Dark Lord. Other dance shows and projects he’s been involved in include ProdiJIG, Footstorm, Riverdance, Damhsa, Rockin’ Road to Dublin, SkyDance, Celtic Foot Force and The Kells, Cherish the Ladies, Tristan & Iseult, A Celtic Symphony, An Jig Gig on TG4, and Live to Dance on CBS.
Lianne graduated from London Studio Centre in 2009 with a degree in Dance and Performing Arts. Since graduating, Lianne has performed in many TV commercials and music videos as well as live stage performances for various events. Lianne started her professional Irish dancing career with ProdiJIG’s Footstorm in 2013 and has since toured with Irish Celtic, Rhythm of the Dance, Celtic Stars and choreographed Essence of Ireland and Ireland’s Call The Musical. Lianne is excited and proud to be a part of ProdiJIG: The Revolution. She would like to thank her amazing family and friends for all their love and support.
Calum Kelly
Olivia Graydon
Dancer
Calum began his dancing career at age 8 in Glasgow, Scotland. Since then, dancing and music has played a big part in his upbringing. He has won numerous championships. He is the current An Comhdhail World Irish Dancing Champion, having also won it 5 times previously. He has many international titles under his belt. With his love for performing, he attended performing arts college training in contemporary and jazz dance and is now pursuing his career as a professional Irish dancer. To date he has performed with Celtic Dreams, Irish Celtic, Damsna, Celtic Diva, and also as part of ProdiJIG.
Dancer
Dancer
Olivia Graydon has been Irish dancing since she was 4 years old for Maguire O’Shea in London and has competed around the world. Her greatest achievements in competition are 2nd place in the World Championships, 2nd place in All Ireland Championships and 1st place in Great Britain’s Championships. Finishing her competitive career, she joined the cast of Footstorm for a 3 month tour in China. She then went on to complete 2 West End tours with Lord of the Dance performing with Michael Flatley and getting the chance to perform the lead role of the Little Spirit. Olivia has also completed a 3 year musical theatre course at CPA Studios where she has been trained in all aspects of singing, acting and dancing. She has also taken on educational roles with the BBC in various plays in London. She is very excited about being part of ProdiJIG: The Revolution at Cork Opera House.
Mark Chichester
Dancer
Meadhbh Kennedy Dancer
Mark first started dancing at age 5, at Marilyn Baker School of Dance in Doncaster, England. Studying tap, modern, ballet, jazz, acrobatic and troupe dancing, he has won several major cabaret and classical championships, bursaries and scholarships; most notably the All England Tap Championship, All England National Championship and Young Tap Dancer of The Year. Mark took up Irish dancing after watching a video of Feet Of Flames with McRoibin School of Irish Dance, Doncaster. Mark began his professional career with Marion Turley’s Celtic Feet Dance and Theatre Company, where he still performs as a tap dancer, lead Irish dancer and Dance Captain. He has also performed with Excalibur: The Celtic Rock Opera on their German arena tour, as Lancelot; Gaelforce Dance, as the lead; Dance Masters; Celtic Dream, Rhythm of the Dance, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance in 2010, Feet of Flames, London’s West End in Lord Of The Dance: Dangerous Games with Michael Flatley and Celtic Fyre at the Busch Gardens theme park in Virginia, USA. He has also choreographed a Tap vs Irish piece for the World Mobile Congress for ground breaking dance group TapTronic. Mark is extremely excited to join ProdiJIG: The Revolution and to work with Alan Kenefick.
Meadhbh hails from Tara, Co. Meath and began dancing with the Jackie O’ Leary School of Irish Dance at the age of 4. She went on to join the Murrihy - Flynn School and the O’Shea School of Irish Dance. She has competed successfully at the World and All Ireland Championships and became Leinster Champion in 2014. Meadhbh also danced in ladies and mixed teams with the O’Shea School of Irish Dance placing top three in the World Championships numerous times. Meadhbh has danced professionally since 2010, while also completing a degree in Mathematics and English at St. Patrick’s College, Dublin. She has performed with Damhsa, Celtic Rhythm and Celtic Nights both nationally and internationally. Throughout 2015 and 2016, Meadhbh toured Europe and South America with Celtic Legends and Irish Celtic. She is proud and excited to be performing with ProdiJIG’s new show ProdiJIG: The Revolution.
Michael McHugh
Niamh O’Sullivan
Dancer
Michael began Irish dancing at the age of 3 for the Kennedy School based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He danced competitively for many years, going on to win Ulster, All Ireland, Great Britain, British National, North American, European and All Scotland championships. He also was lucky enough to win the prestigious World Title twice at the young age of 10 and then at the age of 17, placing Top 3 in every other year. In 2008 he joined Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance and has since toured many countries including America, South Africa, Israel, Taiwan, Brazil and all over Europe with both Troupe 1 and Troupe 2. He has also performed in Michael Flatley’s Feet of Flames in 2009. In 2012, he performed with the show in Taiwan to an audience of over 20,000 people.
Emmett McMorrow Dancer Emmett started his dancing career at the age of 3 under the instruction of his mother, Clare Faragher (T.C.R.G) and Siobhan Mc Donnell (A.D.C.R.G) in Leitrim Ireland. From a very young age he was heavily involved in the Irish music and dance scene. In 2007, he won the Connaught Championships and also competed and won at the highest levels at the All Ireland and World Championships. In 2010, he went on to perform and tour with Gaelforce Dance. Emmett joined the cast of Irish Celtic in 2011 where he toured extensively throughout Europe and has been Dance Captain for the last year. While not on tour, Emmett is a member of Damhsa Irish Dance Company in Dublin. Emmett started working with ProdiJIG in 2015 on some of their corporate events in Ireland. In 2015 he joined the cast of Lord of the Dance and travelled Europe as he performed on stage beside Michael Flatley.
Georgina Donovan
Dancer
At the age of 3, Georgina began Irish dancing. Throughout the early years she performed in small productions, cabarets, parades and charity events which later led to the opportunity to dance in Disneyland Paris for St. Patrick’s Day and take part in the parade for many years. She later began dancing at weddings and corporate events. At age 7, she developed a passion for jazz and went to train in the Billie Barry Stage School where she performed in the panto at The Gaeity, The National Concert Hall, The Late Late Toy Show and Penny Dreadful. At age 16, she completed a foundation year of professional dance training in The College of Dance Monkstown. Last year, she was appointed dance captain in a production of Evita held by MT4uth and was awarded a scholarship for the pre-audition course in The Urdang Academy. Georgina has just completed her first year of University, studying a BA in Musical Theatre at Institute of the Arts, Barcelona.
Dancer
Dublin born, Niamh began Irish Dance at the age of 3 as well as many other forms of dance including: hip-hop and jazz. She has won numerous Leinster titles and has many World, All Ireland, Irish National and North American Championship medals. Niamh has performed with shows such as Riverdance, Irish Celtic, Titanic Dance, Sky Dance and many other productions. Niamh is very excited to be a part of the revolution of dance alongside Alan and the ProdiJIG cast.
Karen Underwood
Vocals
“When I came to Cork, I landed on my feet. I became alive to the music in me. At my lowest point in 2012, music gave me hope. The ‘banks’ reshaped my life and made me the Chicago diva. I was not the Chicago diva before I came to Cork!” Karen Underwood is a singer and performer based in Cork. A Chicago native, Karen has lived in Cork for nearly two decades and enjoys collaborating with a host of Cork based musicians. She is the creative director of Cork’s first annual Soul in the City festival. This April, she was favourably received as she returned to the National Concert Hall, performing her favourite, inspirational songs crossing the genres of spiritual, gospel, jazz, American folk and popular music. In 2015, The Paul Dunlea big band invited Karen to perform at the Cork Opera House, where she shared the stage with Camille O’Sullivan, Mick Flannery, John Spillane and Laoise Hanlon. Karen also debuted her new show Feeling Good with Karen Underwood and Her Friends in the beautiful walled gardens of Marlay Park, Dublin. In 2014, Karen played Motormouth Maybelle in the Cork Opera House summer production of Hairspray, directed by Joseph Walsh. She has toured the width and breadth of Ireland singing and storytelling at numerous venues and festivals including: The National Concert Hall, Vicar Street, The Olympia, The Gaiety, Everyman Cork, and the INEC. She has been a contributing artist for many years at the Cork Jazz Festival. Karen has also performed Clonmel Junction Festival, Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival Belfast, Marlay Park, Castlepalooza, Body and Soul, Townlands Carnival, Oxegen and Electric Picnic. Her radio and television appearances include TV3, TG4, The Marion Finnucane Show, The Pat Kenny Show, The Miriam O’Callaghan Show and John Creedon. Karen has written: The Nina in Me, an autobiographical show of her life and her many transitions from Chicago to Cork; Singing Nina, the life of Nina Simone; The Story of Soul, the journey of soul music in America; Of Ladies Lost and Found, the stories of divas that left us too soon and women that inspire her today. Her latest show Feeling Good with Karen Underwood and Her Friends, is a light hearted and beautiful selection of favourite songs. Karen continues to do charitable work for suicide prevention organisations, adoptee rights and Fr Mathews Basketball. She is a keen gardener and cook and has dedicated 25 years to working with people with disabilities. She has a BA in Psychology from University of Illinois Chicago and a HDIP in Psychotherapy from UCC. She is proud and excited to be performing in ProdiJIG’s new show ProdiJIG: The Revolution.
Ilse de Ziah
All hailing from Ireland’s untamed West Coast, MOXIE are: Cillian Doheny (tenor banjo/guitar), Jos Kelly (button accordion/keyboard), Darren Roche (button accordion), Ted Kelly (tenor banjo) and Paddy Hazelton (percussion). Their music has a solid traditional backbone, inspired and shaped by the surroundings of the West of Ireland. With progressive, world and jazz influences creeping into their music it makes for a truly heady and distinctive sound, putting them at the forefront of new music from Ireland. In August 2014, they released their debut album ‘Planted’ to critical acclaim. With their unmistakable approach, MOXIE have become a festival favourite in Europe, America and beyond, garnering a reputation for their highly charged live performances.
“Harmonious, energetic and tenacious, there’s no idea where Moxie will take you!” - Lynette Fay, BBC
“A high energy cocktail that defies easy categorization… This is highly charged 21st Century Irish music.” — Carl Corcoran RTÉ
Cello
Ilse de Ziah, Irish/Australian cellist, arranger, composer, conductor and filmmaker has had a colourful and varied career. In 2014, her Irish music film, Living the Tradition - An Enchanting Journey Into Old Irish Airs, won best feature length documentary at the Eerie International Film Festival, and is shown on Aer Lingus in-flight entertainment and on The Roots Channel in America. She is a member of the Quiet Music Ensemble, performing an Irish style of ‘deep listening‘ music in European contemporary music festivals, gives solo cello recitals, is musical director of the Dust Busters Light Orchestra, is the principal cellist of the Cork Symphony Orchestra and founded the Scarlet String Quartet. She has played with many international performers including Nigel Kennedy, Russell Crowe and Micheál Ó Súilleabhain. She has performed as actor/musician in award winning theatre shows in Cork and London. Ilse composed film music for the European Space Agency, and for dance and short films. In 2010, she published her book and accompanying CD Irish Airs for Solo Cello and this year published an Irish cello guide ‘Trad on Cello’. Ilse gives Irish cello workshops; Strings Unlimited in Germany, Ireland and the U.K.
Peter Power
Composer/Sound Designer
John O’Brien
Music Director
Peter Power is a Composer, Director and Sound designer from Waterford, based in Cork. Peter’s current and recent projects include: Thomas Kent by Lantern Productions, Neon Western:Prologue with Conflicted Theatre, Override by the award winning Stacey Gregg for Dublin Fringe Festival, and a new commissioned work fLux with Eat My Noise for Cork Film Festival. Peter is also the Artistic Director of Eat My Noise, a multi-genre audio collective that work in Event, Film, Television and Production. Most recently Peter has composed and directed Eat My Noise’s new work Carinae, presented as part of Sounds from a Safe Harbour Festival. Other projects include: Inquyre for Cork Film Festival, Moeity & A:Volution for Cork Midsummer Festival, Spindle for Big House Festival, Gentrification & How These Desperate Men Talk by Enda Walsh, a co-production with Corcadorca. Eat My Noise also compose works for TG4, RTÉ and RTÉ2 as part of various documentaries, television series and short film. Peter’s previous compositional work includes collaborations with: Artist’s Atelier Programme at Hotel Pro Forma, Broken Crow, Clinic Media, Corcadorca, Choreographer Ruairi Donovan, Performance Poet Carl Plover & Cork New Music Ensemble. He holds a degree in Biochemistry and a Masters in Composition and Electronics from University College Cork.
John is a conductor, director and composer who lives in Cork. He has worked on over forty different productions of opera and musical theatre in Ireland, UK and Canada, and has toured across Europe, Japan and China. John is acclaimed for directing and conducting Faust, Der Vampyr, (both nominated for Best Opera - Irish Times Theatre Awards) Orpheus, and Pagliacci (Winner Best Opera - ITTA) at the Everyman Theatre with Cork Operatic Society. Compositions include Easter 1916 - premiered by Fiona Shaw and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra; scores for the feature films Tree Keeper and Shem the Penman Sings Again recently premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh; the plays Sisters of the Rising and Lovers at the Everyman Theatre; as well as other short films, choral works, piano pieces and numerous operatic, choral and orchestral arrangements. Other projects include directing the dance film Inner Landscapes; conducting a recording with the National Chamber Choir; playing piano with Karen Underwood; guest conductor with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra; and a concert with the National Symphony Orchestra this coming June.
Maree Kearns Set Design Maree has worked as a set and costume designer for many of Ireland’s leading companies; spanning theatre, dance, opera, film and television. Recent set and costume designs include: Invitation to a Journey, CoisCéim, Fishamble & Crash Ensemble production; Monsters, Dinosaurs & Ghosts. Other work includes: Agnes, Pageant & Faun/As You Are, CoisCéim; Moll, the Gaiety Theatre; Desire under The Elms, The Corn Exchange; These Halcyon Days (Edinburgh Fringe First winner 2013) & Moment, Landmark/Tall Tales; Far Away From Me & Zoe’s Play, The Ark; Hamlet & King Lear, Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth & Dancing at Lughnasa, Second Age Theatre Company; Anglo the Musical, Verdant Productions; Faith & The Goddess of Liberty, Gúna Nua; Plasticine, CorcaDorca; In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play, Scenes from the Big Picture, Opera Briefs & Troilus and Cressida,The Lir; The Dead School, Conversations on a Homecoming & Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme (Irish Times Best Set Designer 2009),Nomad Theatre Network. Maree is the MFA Design Course Director in the Lir Academy of Dramatic Art in Dublin and also lectures in Theatre Design in the Drama Department, Trinity College.
Killian Collins
Sinéad McKenna
Maeve Readman
Lighting Design
Sinéad has previously worked with Cork Opera House on Oliver. Theatre designs include Othello, Aristocrats, Quietly, The Plough and the Stars (2010 and 2012), Alice in Funderland, 16 Possible Glimpses, The Burial at Thebes, Howie The Rookie & Finders Keepers for The Abbey Theatre; Juno and the Paycock, The Importance of Being Earnest, A Month in The Country, The Gigli Concert, The Mariner, The Price, An Ideal Husband and Private Lives for the Gate Theatre Dublin; Richard III and Uncle Vanya at West Yorkshire Playhouse; Howie The Rookie (Best Lighting Design Irish Theatre Awards), Greener, October, Last Days of The Celtic Tiger, Blackbird for Landmark Productions; New Electric Ballroom for Druid Theatre Company/ International tour. Other designs include Embodied for GPO/ Dublin Dance Festival; The Wolf and Peter, Agnes, Pageant, Swept for CoisCéim; Dubliners for The Corn Exchange, Famished Castle, Travesties, The Importance of Being Earnest, Improbable Frequency (New York Drama Desk Best Lighting Design for a Musical nomination 2009), The Parker Project, Life is a Dream, Attempts on Her Life and Dream of Autumn for Rough Magic; Skull in Connemara, Faith Healer, Doubt for Decadent; Elevator for Thisispopbaby; Best Man for Everyman Productions; Nivellis War for Cahoots; The Making of Tis Pity She’s a Whore, The Lulu House, Medea for Siren Productions; Philadelphia, Here I Come! For Longroad; Macbeth, The Snow Queen, Merry Christmas Betty Ford for Lyric Theatre Belfast. Katie Crowley Costume Designer Katie studied Costume Design For Stage and Screen at IADT. Since graduating, she has worked as costume designer on a number of shows including: The Poor Little Boy With No Arms by Mikel Murfi & One Duck, A Girl is A Half Formed Thing by The Corn Exchange, Love Song and Dance by CoisCéim Broadreach, Marvel by Eala Productions and Best Man by The Everyman. Katie has also worked as Wardrobe Supervisor for RTÉ’s Centenary, The Bloody Irish for PBS, Borstal Boy and Moll at The Gaiety Theatre, Agnes by CoisCéim, A Particle of Dread by Field Day Productions and Desire Under the Elms by The Corn Exchange.
Assistant Director
At Cork Opera House, Killian has worked as assistant director for Grease, The Sunbeam Girls 2 and four seasons of pantomime. He has also performed in The Sound of Music, West Side Story, Honk!, Michael Collins and The All Star Wars. Killian has worked as a director, assistant director and actor on over 60 productions of plays, musicals, pantomimes and concerts in venues including Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Theatre Royal, Waterford, Everyman, Cork, Esplanade, Singapore, INEC, Killarney and in community theatres nationwide. He is Artistic Director of Colton Theatre Company and holds an honours degree in Government from UCC. For Colton Theatre Company, he has directed Damages, ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore and This Lime Tree Bower. Other directing credits include The Turn of the Screw (Everyman, Smock Alley, Dublin), Orion’s Hat (Old Red Lion, London), Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train (Granary), The Music Man (Fermoy Musical Society) and the last three seasons of pantomime at The Palace Theatre, Fermoy. This August, he will direct Hot Mikado for Fermoy Musical Society and an exciting new production of The Collector at Central Arts, Waterford.
Hair & Makeup
Maeve Readman is no stranger to Cork Opera House; she has been backstage shadowing her mother, Jennie Readman since she was just 4 years old. Learning the art of hair, wigs and makeup by osmosis and also training in Hairdressing here in Cork, her natural creative flare is leading her to be one of Ireland’s top hair and makeup artists. Maeve has designed and worked on many theatre productions including; Marriage of Figaro, Magic Flute, Dido and Aeneas, La Cenerentola, Cosi fan Tutte (Lismore Opera, Waterford), Grease, Sound Of Music, Michael Collins, and many COH Pantomimes, including most recently Beauty and the Beast. She has also worked on many film and fashion productions, including History Channel’s Vikings Season 3 and 4, Penny Dreadful, BBC’s Eastenders’ spin off series Redwater and many TV advertisements including McDonald’s.
Lawrence White
technical sound design
Born in Zimbabwe, Lawrence White has spent more than 25 years in the professional audio industry. His first theatrical experience was as an actor in Ghandi: The Musical performed in the Wits Box Theatre in Johannesburg in 1983/84. From 1989 to 2000 Lawrence worked in South Africa in recording studios, theatre and television as a technician, musician and performing artist. He was Head of Sound for the Cork Opera House for 7 years. During this time he revolutionised the sound department by leading the implementation of digital mixing consoles in 2004 (the first theatre in Ireland). In 2005, he redesigned the Cork Opera House sound systems in conjunction with Jim Cousins at Martin Audio UK. Lawrence holds an MA in Music Technology from Cork School of Music. Lawrence now works as freelance audio professional working in all aspects of sound production and is co-owner of Woods Street Recording Studio in Cork. Credits include: Singing in the Rain, Grease, Hamlet, Sweeney Todd, The Sound of Music, Michael Collins, Fame, Oliver, The Man of La Mancha, The Sunbeam Girls, The Good Sisters and many Pantos over the years.
Sarah Robb
Stage Manager
Sarah Robb trained at the Lir Academy of Dramatic Arts, in association with Trinity College Dublin, in Stage Management and Technical Theatre. Since then she has worked with the Lyric in Belfast, Rough Magic in Dublin and has toured in Ireland and the UK with Menopause the Musical, amongst other things.
CORK OPERA HOUSE STAFF Chief Executive Officer
Eibhlín Gleeson
Exec. Asst. to CEO / Marketing Manager (acting) Production Assistant Operations Executive
Delia Webster Rory Murphy Peter Crudge
Programme Team
Ashley Keating Martha Earley
Financial Controller Financial Team
Dermot O’Driscoll Carmel Kiely Suzanne O’ Sullivan
Business Development Manager Business Development
Martin O’Donoghue Olivia Cussen
Marketing Manager Siobhán Howe Asst. Marketing Manager Pat Carey Marketing Team Michelle Russell Dave Crowley Aisling O’Riordan Shayron Hobbs Box Office Managers Heather Murphy Irene Harte Box Office Team Elaine Hayes Olivia Cussen Rob Wedgbury Aoife Maher Orla Cronin
Sarah Purcell
AssistanT Stage Manager
Sarah is a recent theatre studies graduate of Colaiste Dhulaigh College of Further Education. Some of her previous ASM credits include: Signatories (Verdant Productions in association with UCD 2016), Kings of the Kilburn Highroad (Livin’ Dred 2016), Freezin’ (Olympia Theatre 2016), The Bloody Irish! (Bloody Irish Productions DAC 2015), Are You There Garth? It’s Me, Margaret (Gaiety Theatre 2015), The Field, Moll (Verdant Productions). She is delighted to be working in the Cork Opera House for the first time as part of the ProdiJIG team.
Pa Harris Assistant Stage Manager Cork native, Pa celebrates his tenth work anniversary this year at the Cork Opera House. Pa’s family have had a long association with Cork Opera House, with Pat representing the third generation to have worked there. Pa has worked as stage technician on every type of show imaginable from musicals and opera, to rock concerts, dance shows and comedy. He worked as Assistant Stage Manager on the Cork Opera House production of Aladdin (2014) and as a Set Builder on The Sound of Music (2012/2013) and Grease (2014). One of Pa’s greatest achievements was working as Touring Flyman and Production Carpenter on the RTE National Tour of Fame (2010), which played at a number of large-scale venues throughout Ireland, including the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, the Grand Opera House, Belfast and the Millennium Forum in Derry. Pa is delighted to work as Assistant Stage Manager on the Cork Opera House production of ProdiJig: The Revolution.
Bar Manager Mick Walsh Deputy Bar Manager Sean Stack Bar Staff Tina Harris Tracey Martin Sybell O’Driscoll Rachel Wallace Aaron Coughlan Silvia Tircolea Sinead Coughlan Louise Kelly
Technical Manager Chris Gaughan Stage Manager Declan O’Mullane Chief Electrician Drew McCarthy Deputy LX Lighting Donal McNinch Head of Sound Colm Hinchion Deputy Stage Manager Liam Harris Fly Master Billy Moore Lighting Technicians Jason Quirke Manuel Loosli Hanan Sheedy Sound Technicians Francesca de Buy PJ Rankin Ronan McGrath Stephen Isherwood Edan Ray Stage Technicians Freddie Regan Patrick Harris Stephen Barry Neal Hooper House Manager Feena McGrath Deputy House Manager Tony Darrer Front of House Team David Cunningham Carly O’Sullivan Aidan Delacey Noreen Guinee Audrey Delacey Geraldine Desmond Kim Kendellan Jackie Cussen Alan Desmond Eric Cotter Martina Carroll Claire Desmond Monica Cussen Carmel Harris Molly Burke Emer Lynch Rory Murphy
Board Of Directors Chairman Damian Wallace Secretary Valerie O’Sullivan Lord Mayor Cllr. Des Cahill Majella Cullagh Cllr. Mick Finn Cllr. Fiona Kerins Aine Ní Shé Cllr. Sean Martin Terry Shannon Tim Healy Ciarán Bermingham Eddie Murphy
SPECIAL THANKS TO Hickeys of Maylor Street, Irish Modern Dance Theatre, Nick Anton - Dúnamaise Theatre, The Abbey Theatre, An Spailpín Fánach, Firkin Crane, Eamon Fox - An Draíocht, Cityprint, Andec Steel, Mary Hickson, Emer O’Callaghan, Mary Shields, Lorraine in Bladez Barbers, Julie & her team at Picasso House of Colour, Greg Forest & his now famous BMX, Bunscoil Mhuire - Youghal. PHOTOGRAPHY BY Clare Keogh, Donal Moloney, Miki Barlok.
The last 12 months have been very important for Cork Opera House as we have continued to develop our programming strategy to include more and more in-house productions. We are not only committed to presenting world class touring artists, and hosting shows from around the globe, but also to developing the Opera House as a world class production house for the people of this region. ProdiJIG: The Revolution is just one example of the fantastic work being produced in this city. We are situated in a country and city that is a hot bed of creativity and talent. This extends from musicians and composers, to actors, writers, directors, set and costume designers, lighting and sound technicians and everything in between. It is a privilege to be able to work with the best artists and professionals in the business on shows and projects that can truly be called world class. We began with the Cork Opera House Christmas Concert in December 2015 – the first in the current Cork Opera House Concert Series. Working with a number of groups in the community, top quality local musicians and world class singers, we experienced a magical evening of music and song. In April, we worked once again with the Cork based Paul Dunlea Big Band on a Rat Pack themed night of music that had everybody swinging in the aisles. In June, we staged a concert performance of Verdi’s La Traviata, starring Majella Cullagh - the first to feature the newly formed Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra, continuing the long legacy of Opera on the stage in Cork.
Lehár’s
We are hugely excited about our second Opera Concert Performance, Lehar’s The Merry Widow, in August, featuring internationally renowned Cork soprano Cara O’Sullivan and Trinidad born tenor Ronad Samm. Directed and conducted by the acclaimed Cork based Opera Director John O’Brien, this concert performance will feature the chorus of the Cork Operatic Society and the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra.
The
Merry
Widow SAT 27 AUG
Our eagerly awaited annual Pantomime, Cinderella opens its doors a little earlier this year on the 1st of December. We have extended our run to facilitate more people from this region experiencing the thrill and hilarity that is the Cork Opera House Panto!
And we eagerly look forward to our final concert in the series – the annual Cork Opera House Christmas Concert in December, to round off a hugely successful year of Cork Opera House Productions. We hope that you join us on this great adventure, as we look forward to a very bright future Eibhlín Gleeson CEO, Cork Opera House
Christmas Concert Mon 19 Dec
W ALE NO ! ON S
Script by
Directed By Trevor Ryan Trevor Ryan and Frank Mackey
From Thursday, 1 December Tuesday - Friday, 7pm | Saturday, 2pm & 7pm | Sunday, 1pm & 6pm Tickets From €25* | Family Pass €80 & €100* Group Booking Rates Available