A new artist development programme, Blas, has been set up by Galway’s Town Hall Theatre, in conjunction with James Riordan of Brú Theatre and the Galway Theatre Festival.

Under the scheme, Áine Ní Laoghaire, Ari Bhatti and Hannah Bevan, who are already involved in theatre, will receive support to develop new, solo pieces, bringing these to a work-in-progress stage later in 2025.  The aim is to give the three pieces a full production in 2026, explains Town Hall manager, Fergal McGrath.

Galway-born Ari Bhatti is an experimental director, movement director and performer.  Her recent credits include directing BEASTS at last year’s Dublin Fringe, doing the movement direction for Pupa at Galway Theatre Festival, also last year, and performing in Active*Consents 2024 national tour of How I Learned About Consent.

Actor and writer Áine Ní Laoghaire works in film and theatre, and her work explores participation, identity and collective dynamics. She has received various awards, among them the Markievicz Award. Last year she presented My Boyfriend Plays Pretend at Druid Theatre as part of that company’s Fuel project, funded by the Arts Council, and Na Bulláin, with Screen Ireland support.

Hannah Bevan is an emerging writer, lighting designer and technician, originally from Wicklow.  She aims to create non-traditional theatrical work that captures the human experience, hoping that audiences will see their lives reflected in her shows.

The Blas programme involves mentorship, masterclasses, rehearsal space and technical support. It’s being led by writer and theatre-maker James Riordan, who is Artistic Director of Galway’s innovative Brú Theatre.

James, from Moycullen trained at the London International School of Performing Arts and Berlin’s  Atelier für Physisches Theater. In London, he worked for companies such as the English National Orchestra and Absurda Comica, and was a core member of UK troupe The LipSinkers for four years.

James and Jill Murray set up Brú Theatre in 2018 and the bilingual, multi-disciplinary company has produced seven shows since then, touring at home and abroad. Not a Word, produced by Brú for the 2023 Galway International Arts Festival, recently played London’s Barbican Centre. In 2020, James was nominated for an Irish Times Best Actor award for his role in Brú’s Selvage.

Like many Galway arts practitioners, he worked with Macnas and went on to direct the group’s 2023 Halloween parade, Cnámha La Loba. He was Digital Artist in Residence with the Centre for Creative Technologies at the University of Galway in 2023 and Resident Director with the Abbey Theatre last year.

Blas continues the Town Hall Theatre’s long-standing relationship with James, who was Theatre Artist in Residence with the venue for two years, and has presented his work on the main stage.

The scheme will support artists who are making work in Galway, welcoming them into the venue and providing them with resources.

Those who were chosen this year, will each get a stipend, while there will be in-person and online mentorship and support from James and other professionals working in different aspects of the business.

The women will receive strategic and dramaturgical support; access to the Town Hall Studio space; and support from Galway Theatre Festival, with an eye towards presenting the finished pieces as part of that festival.

They’ll also have access to networking events with funders, as well as festivals and venues; and theatre tickets for shows in the Town Hall and Black Box Theatres, including Q and As with visiting theatre companies.

This pilot programme from the Town Hall is one of number of initiatives to support creative development for Galway artists, companies and producers, helping them to make new work in theatre, music and dance, Fergal explains.

Blas is funded by the Town Hall Patrons Award and the Arts Council.

When people are booking online for the Town Hall venues, they can avail of the Patron Donation option to donate to the Awards, by clicking tht.ie/patron-donation-awards/.

Fergal McGrath thanked those who have donated so far, supporting artists to create new work, which will premiere in Galway before hopefully going on to have a life elsewhere.

The aim is that the completed works from this year’s Blas will premiere at Galway Theatre Festival, the only dedicated theatre festival in the West. Founded in 2008, it presents high-quality, innovative and bilingual work that expands the definition of theatre.

More information on the scheme at tht.ie.

Pictured: This year’s Blas recipients are Ari Bhatti, Hannah Bevan and Áine Ní Laoghaire.