Shyness can stop you from doing all the things in life you’d like to..…GSA & Spirit of Folk 2012 Blog #4

Shyness is nice and shyness can stop you from doing all the things in life you’d like to…

Finding ourselves experiencing the rare occasion of an actual Blue Moon this past Friday, it was only right that an equally rare occurrence would befall us: We, the fabulously flawless Spirit of Folkers, made a booboo.  Twas not shyness but rather a wee mix-up with room booking and some unbreakable prior engagements that called an early halt to this week’s proceedings.  C’est a dire, after all the hype in my last entry, we didn’t get around to performing our fully off-book run of the play for Natasha and Dave, our darling festival co-ordinator and our dear writer, respectively.  However!  The topsy-turvy mish-mash of excitement and a desperate need to please this wonderful pair has not had time or opportunity to quell as we are re-scheduled for this very Tuesday September 4^th.  Gasp!

Please excuse any excessive exclamations…I love a good over-reaction, me. In all sincerity though, we are all bubbling with excitement and anticipation as we draw another week closer to the big event, Spirit of Folk, at which we will debut our (nay, Dave Phillips’ ) brand spanking new and completely original play, Return of the Fianna.  Rehearsals have been ploughing on very nicely, no major hiccups yet, thanks be to Dionysus!  We gathered at our usual meeting place, the wonderful – funderful, always buzzing – never fizzling, all singing – all dancing (well, mostly acting) Gaiety School of Acting and got cracking with line runs and blocking, once some essential formalities had been dealt with…by which I mean we established that the boys can all kick the living b’jaysis out of the hanging punch bag the previous class left behind, each in an equally manly way (flex!), and also, that our Sam does one hell of a…unique Elvis impression!  Both always good to know.  Thems our boys!  But I digress…

Swaying sharply back towards our lovely lady Folkers, I’d now like to continue the introblogtrons…no, blogtroductions…wait.  That’s gonna need some work – ANYWAY – please allow me to introduce you to this weeks pair of loverly actor types, Ms Kathy O’Meara and Ms Lena Kenny…

Kathy O’Meara, Performing as the Voice of the Prologue…

Our Kathy has had a vast range of training and experience over the years.  Originally hailing from north-west England, Kathy started building her performance resumee with the Wirral Youth Theatre.  Along with this experience she also achieved some very impressive qualifications, ranging from O & A Levels in Theatre Studies, to both studying and performing theatre at Cambridge University.  And let’s not leave out that wonderful class in which all of us Folkers met, the Gaiety School of Acting’s Advanced Performance Year.  Here are just a few mentions of Kathy’s acting credits in recent years:

Antonia in Fortune’s Fool’s production of The Tempest, at Iveagh Gardens August 2012

Emmeline Pankhurst in Petticoat Rebellion

Prostitute in Zigger Zagger

Iago in Othello (GSA Showcase)

Kath in Entertaining Mr Sloane (GSA Showcase)

Maggie in Big Maggie (GSA Showcase)

Kathy’s also done some voice-over work for both radio (Phoenix FM, Dublin City FM) and Cinema (Rank, Carlton).  Additionally, she’s got some great hobbies which come in very handy in this particular trade; Kathy swims, rides horses, is an avid runner, enjoys stage combat, comedy improv, likes singing, Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain…Em, that last bit may or may not be true, I’ll have to get back to you!

Grainne the Witch, portrayed by Lena Kenny…

Lena, like myself, owes most of her training to GSA, having participated in several of their short courses and, just in case I haven’t mentioned it enough already, the GSA’s Advanced Performance Year.  She has completedIntroduction to Drama and Page to Stage, with nothing but praise for her wonderful tutors and all the lovely-jubbly performance wisdom that they’ve imparted on her.

Lena cites the following two as her most memorable performance credits to date:

Her truly unique take on a character that we shall refer to only as Traveller in her version of Women in a Playground by Christopher Durang.  How Lena developed her character was simply ingenious, if you ask me…and a whole heck of a lot of others too.

And, a role I am dying to know more about – a character called Lars, in a school production entitled The Last Temptation of Michael Flatley.  Now that we must chat about, Lena.  Tea’s on me.  Actually, make that Lemsip…or soup…or – what do you feed somebody who’s just had their tonsils taken out, as our lovely Lena just has?!

Get well soon, Bird, we’ll miss you at rehearsals this week.  Don’t stay away too long…

As for the rest of you – please go away now, that’s me done for this week.  Oh come on, by this point you must know how groggy I get without my tea and cake – so off with ye!

Until next time…

************************

GSA & Spirit of Folk Blogger, Amanda Darling.

The ‘Spirit of Folk Festival’ will take place in Dunderry Park Co. Meath from 21st – 23rd September 2012. Please visit their website for more information:  http://spiritoffolk.com/

If you wish to learn more about our One Year Part Time courses including Performance Year and Advanced Performance Year please click here.

 

Actors wanted for Short Film!

‘Bad Man’

Alban is a boy in his early to mid 20s who is looking to find the
truth of why he was abandoned from the 2 people he should have loved
most. He finds his father far away from home and wants to get some
answers. When he meets the father who does not even know he ever had a
child, questions become more of accusation. We see a power change of
both men. Who will have the last word? A father who has had a vicious
power and control freak or the son, Alban, who all his life has had
one thing on his mind. Revenge.

We are looking for 2 lead actors:
Alban, Albanian speaking from the West-WSW of the country, of an
athletic build, age 23-26
Azem/Boss, Albanis an speaking from the West-WSW of the country, of an
average build, Age 45 – 55.

The shoot will take place over a weekend so 2 days of filming and 2 to
3 days of rehearsals.
There is no wage as such but benefits, food and travel expenses will
be covered.

The project is part of a bigger one and this will decide if the
project will go any further and full budget where every one will
benefit.

Contacts:
Arber Sule, Director, Producer, Writer.
0851502627
arbers22@gmail com

NEW FACEBOOK SHOP

We’re making it easier and easier for you to book your place with us this Summer and are delighted to announce our brand new FACEBOOK SHOP. Now you can book your course through facebook with just a few clicks.

The best thing is if you”LIKE” our page or decided to “SHARE” it with your friends you’ll automatically receive special discounts!!

Check us out here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Gaiety-School-Of-Acting/78319863883?sk=app_138996027389

Our check out our facebook profile here: www.facebook.com/gaietyschool

Movement

When I first started movement, I couldn’t help but think how much of a fool I must look like right now. I felt stupid with everything I was doing – at that time, not only did it not make sense, but I couldn’t see a point to the entire exercise. It was like trying on a really nice glove that just wasn’t the right fit. I went through the motions, trying not to think about it, while I was trying to stay out of my own way as I was getting into these shapes and body positions that created something, something that at that time I was incapable of seeing.

I started playing around with simple stuff: speed, direction, jumps, and stuff that for the most part was the ground floor for all future work. At that time, I was feeling okay as I moved around quite easily – go there, jump here. The only thing was that it felt like there was nothing behind it – It really just felt like jumping around for the sake of it. After two years of study, I not only have begun to glimpse the individual elements of movement, but I occasionally can now envision the big picture – the end game.

These glimpses are becoming more frequent, but I’d be lying if I told you my movement vision is 20:20.  I began by putting movement phrases together that make something; maybe that something isn’t as concrete as I would like, but it was “leaps and bounds” from having no idea at all as to what to do. Then, I finally decided to let go and just go for whatever it was that was manifesting itself. The worst that could happen was that I would fall, but I knew that I would easily get up again. I finally didn’t feel like a nervous child anymore; it was like I had this tool that no one else had, and that I could use it as long as I gave it a chance.

Using that tool, I brought theme ideas and meaning behind the pieces to make them much bigger that just an arm or a leg going up in the air. Story and character were the next pieces to be sown into it. But with my theater mind working overtime, I would often wonder whether I might be over thinking, and wonder whether other people would get it or would they just accept that I had to get it over with?  I then took it to the extreme, throwing myself on the floor, falling, descending, moving with grace while also moving like a fool to try to figure out the key.

Part of the key within my own body was my innate flexibility and how I could use that to create a shape that no one else could. It wasn’t about story or movement at that point. It was about me as myself and as an individual, and I began to realize that this phrase belonged to me alone. I have now reached a point where I can basically become a human pretzel. So I started to show off that little gimmick and began to see what else was possible; how to combine other moves and see what else could be created. I learned that this was part of me and part of who I am.

Taking this new knowledge and combining it with the rest of the puzzle, I eventually came across Atlas, and brought the story physicality and stylization into one. Even though it was literal, it didn’t matter, because when I worked on that piece, I experimented with hundreds of ideas over and over again. Throwing things away, falling on my face, doing anything to peel away the nonsense and reveal the essence of the core.

During Manifesto, I began to explore an angle of rock climbing and tried to recreate the movements and what would it would look like if the rock that I was climbing wasn’t there. So I tried it, created some cool shapes, and moments shone through. I thought back to the hours I have spent climbing, looking at climbs, remembering how my muscles ached, and hoped I could picture the eternal idea of a free fall when I fell.

I then created a whole wall – each move designed from feeling muscle memory, and the only problem was the angle to the audience. I was trying to convey the idea of when I was just a couple of inches from the next hold on a climb, and I could feel it, and express it, but how could the audience see it? Then I began to work with Cindy Cummings on the climbing idea. I had to talk while doing all the moves and everything. Bits of it worked, and others didn’t. Then together we went over some basics about rolling properly, falling, dropping my center and really controlling what I was doing. I spent hours rolling around and getting confused while getting out of my head. I never gave up because I knew it was there. I wasn’t completely sure what it was, but I knew it was brilliant. Cindy showed me that once I let go of my mind, and trusted my body, I could create a piece that would show the entire journey. I may fall off balance, but I roll back and go straight forward. Cindy’s experience and perspective helped me see things that I couldn’t, and allowed me to shatter the blinders and really get to the core of what I call the “perfect imbalance,” the ability to be in control while at the same time letting go. I brought my body and myself to light through this and achieved something I never thought was possible to perform, much less that I would be the one nailing it.

Stuart Conlon – 2nd Year – June 2011

Second Year Manifesto’s now on Youtube!!

Hi All,

The Second Year fulltime students completed their Manifesto showcase on Friday 8th May at the complex in Smithfield.

The showcase was a great success with the students showing off two years of intensive work in the subject.

For those of you who didnt get to see them in action or for those of you just wanting a second look, please click here.

Be sure to check out other videos on our youtube page including a career talk from the Director of The Gaiety School of Acting, Patrick Sutton.

Traffic Delays for Young Gaiety Classes – Saturday 14th May

Hi All,

This is a message for all Young Gaiety students attending classes at the Gaiety School in Temple Bar this Saturday 14th May.

Due to the Queen’s visit next week (17th May), please expect delays getting to and from the City Centre. Classes will be going ahead as per usual.

Please ensure you accomodate for any possible delays by leaving extra early for your journey.

We look forward to seeing you all on Saturday!

BeLonG To Youth Services annual Stand Up Video!

Watch Video Here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrJxqvalFxM

Irish anti homophobic bullying advertisement, created as part of BeLonG To Youth Services annual Stand Up! LGBT Awareness Weeks. The campaign promotes friendship amongst young people as a way to combat homophobic bullying, and has had 226,000 hits on YouTube in the first four days of being released and is being broadcast and translated around the world.

The cast consists of young actors of Ireland, coming from various acting institutions around the country, who gave their time and talent to this wonderful production.

For more information on the campaign please see: http://www.belongto.org/campaign.aspx

Written & Directed by Anna Rodgers & Aoife Kelleher
Produced by Zlata Filipovic
Crossing the Line Films for BeLonG To Youth Services

Past GSA Student Michael O’Callaghan featured in review of Those Sick and Indigent!

Michael O’Callaghan featured in a review by the Irish Theatre Magazine for the production of Those Sick and Indigent.

Those Sick and Indigent by Alan O’Regan is set in a homeless shelter in Dublin. When Jack Gannon, a homeless man who stayed at the shelter, passes away, Ronan, a member of staff (played by Cian Daly) must gather the deceased man’s belongings. He is helped by another shelter resident (Brendan Hourigan) in the presence of Jack’s disturbed roommate Oxo (Eugene McCarthy). While making an inventory of Jack’s possessions Ronan discovers an unsent letter written by Jack to the love of his life, a woman called Dolor whom he met when he was in New York. As Ronan begins to read the letter, a younger version of Jack (played by Michael O’Callaghan) takes over and tells the audience how a lost love led him to forsake a material life for one on the streets.

To read the full review, please click here

Richard Branson, Sharon Stone, Justin Timberlake, Joan Collins…and YOU?!!

And it’s not just them! Keanu Reeves, Queen Elizabeth, Richard Nixon, Boy George, even Madonna and Guy Ritchie were known to do it in happier times. It’s meant to be really good for you as a way to keep the brain going and active…Scrabble!

Now don’t sigh. If all those celebs are doing it why don’t you give it a whirl? There’s no better feeling than looking at 7 chunks of rectangular plastic and seeing a word materialise as you frantically shuffle the tiles around trying to make sense of them. There aren’t many things you can do indoors on a cold winter’s evening with a loved one (or even 3 loved ones if you’re feeling extra Scrabbletastic) that takes an hour and can be accompanied by a glass of red wine and gooey chocolate cake. Really.

All of that aside, it genuinely is a great way to take your mind off real life. If you’re in the midst of rehearsals, running from class to class, performing and want to not spend the aftermath in a bar for a change, a quick game of Scrabble is a tonic. It’s sort of competitive, you can try your arm at cheating by insisting words exist, you don’t need to take it too seriously, there is a chance you might win with a spiffingly high score and you might even learn some new words as you go along.

There are whole books, dictionaries, tournaments and associations devoted to the game. Have to say, I think that’s all a bit serious for my liking. I have to confess I did give one of these a go one time in the hope of meeting like minded folk so was expecting the chocolate biscuits and corkscrew to be whipped out and was appalled to find that games were timed with those little chess timers that you have to stop and start. They were all talking about going to some tournament the following weekend. I don’t think they would have been spending too much time in the resident’s bar. I reckon Guy Ritchie and Madonna would have hosted a way better Scrabble party.

Personally, heading off with the mammy to the local cafe, ordering hot choc with extra marshmallows, unveiling the travel Scrabble and having a good natter and watching the world go by is a much better way of doing it.

Give it a go…

Paramount Pictures `She’s Out Of My League` !

PARAMOUNT & DREAMWORKS PICTURES IN ASSOCIATION WITH A-Z CHILDREN’S CHARITY INVITES

THE GAIETY SCHOOL OF ACTING TO THE IRISH EXCLUSIVE SCREENING – SHE’S OUT OF MY LEAGUE

Tuesday, 25th May 2010 – Door 6.15pm/Film 7pm SHARP

Cineworld, Parnell Street, Dublin 1

Wine reception at 6.15pm.

Free goodie bags for everyone in the audience.

Tickets €20 ( €15 Gaiety School of Acting Students)

All proceeds go to A-Z Children’s charity Clinic for HIV infected children

Book tickets on http://www.mycharity.ie/event/movie_premier/

or with Elaine on 086-080 3275 .

More details on http://www.azkids.ie

Tickets are limited, so book NOW!