Following an extensive selection process, Rough Magic has chosen three playwrights and three directors to participate in SEEDS II - a structured development initiative for emerging theatre artists.
The three playwrights are Neil Bristow (Dublin), Bryan Delaney (Dublin) and Rosemary Jenkinson (Belfast). The three directors are Tom Creed (Cork), Darragh McKeon (Offaly/Dublin) and Matthew Torney (Belfast/Dublin).
Following on the success of the initial SEEDS new writing programme, SEEDS II is a new and expanded initiative, which will not only continue to foster new playwriting talent, but will also, for the first time, offer emerging directors the opportunity to participate in a parallel programme. An experienced theatre director will mentor each artist throughout the eighteen-month programme. The mentors for the writers’ programme are Jon Lloyd (Soho Theatre, London), Philip Howard (Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh) and Declan Hughes (freelance writer and director). Mentors confirmed for the directors’ programme include László Marton (Vigszínház, Budapest) and Suzanne Osten (Unga Clara, Stockholm).
The three playwrights will be offered a full commission to write an original play for Rough Magic which will be supported and developed by one-on-one meetings with the mentors, workshops, private readings and the support of Rough Magic’s Literary Manager, Christine Madden. The emerging directors will work as an Assistant Director twice during the programme; once to Rough Magic’s Artistic Director, Lynne Parker, and once to their mentor director in his or her home country. The three directors will join Rough Magic’s readers’ panel and will direct a rehearsed reading as part of the company’s on-going series of play readings. All six artists will be provided with funds to travel abroad to see the work of leading international theatre artists.
The project will culminate in the SEEDS II SHOWCASE which will take place during the Dublin Fringe Festival in October 2005. During this showcase the three commissioned plays will be presented as a series of public readings and the three directors will be given a production budget to cast, rehearse and stage an agreed production which will be developed during the second year of the programme.
SEEDS II WRITERS:
Neil Bristow
Neil has been writing short pieces of fiction for some time and has had several pieces published in journals, including WHITE DREAM in Nemonymous magazine (UK), which received an ‘Honourable Mention’ in London’s Time Out, and his short story ALL YOU CAN EAT which was published in Der Kleine Dilettante (Germany). He is currently working on a novel. Neil’s first play, LIES LAST, was submitted to Rough Magic in 2004. Neil graduated from UCD with a BA (1st class honours) in English and Philosophy
Bryan Delaney
Originally from Kerry, Bryan’s previous plays include the short play A NEW SUIT, which was produced as part of Fishamble Theatre Company’s SHORTS at Project in 2003. He was also a finalist in the New York-based Ensemble Studio Theater’s Marathon of One-Act plays in 2003. His script THE COBBLER was joint winner of the 16th International Playwriting Competition organised by The Warehouse Theatre in London 2001. THE COBBLER also received rehearsed readings at The Soho Theatre, RADA and The Old Vic. Bryan was recently awarded the Everyman Palace Cork 2005 Commission. He graduated from Dublin City University with a BA in International Marketing and Languages (French and German), and he also holds a 1st class honours MA in French literature and civilisation from the Université Paul Valéry, Montpellier, France.
Rosemary Jenkinson
Originally from Belfast, Rosemary’s previous writing experience includes numerous short stories that have won the Northern Short Story Competition and the Black Hill Books Short Story Competition. Her stories have been published in Cutting the Skin: An Anthology of New Irish Writing, the Sunday Tribune (shortlisted for the Hennessey Award) and the Fish Anthology as Editor’s Choice. She was shortlisted for the Asham Short Story Prize, and an anthology of her short fiction, Contemporary Problems No. 53, is due to be published by Lagan Press. Rosemary has also had poetry published in Lonely Poets’ Guide to Belfast and was runner-up in the Scottish Open Poetry Competition. A rehearsed reading of an extract of her play CHOCOLATE MADONNA was performed as part of the New Writing Hothouse by the Tinderbox Theatre Company at the Linen Hall Library in Belfast.
SEEDS II DIRECTORS:
Tom Creed
Originally from Cork, Tom’s extensive directing credits include SOAP! a 10-episode live soap opera (Midsummer Festival Cork/Dublin Fringe Festival 2003), CRAVE and INTEGRITY for Playgroup, A TOWN CALL F***ED (co-directed) for Last Serenade Theatre, LAST CALL for Got It Together/Granary Theatre, MEASURE FOR MEASURE for UCC, INNOCENT (WHEN YOU DREAM), SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO and LA RONDE for Granary Productions, Cork. Tom was also assistant director to Johnny Hanrahan on Meridan Theatre’s production of WHITE WOMAN STREET. Awards include Cork City Council Drama Bursary 2003, Cork City Council Artist’s Residency 2003, Nomination for Dublin Fringe Festival 2003 in Sexiest Production category for SOAP, Acthéa Festival of European Student Theatre 2001 (Albi France) Best Overall Production for A PLAY ON TWO CHAIRS and Irish Student Drama Festival 2000 Best Overall Production, Best Director, Best Set Design, Best Lighing/Sound Design for EQUUS. Tom graduated from UCC with a BA (1st class honours) in English and philosophy.
Darragh McKeon
Originally from Offaly, Darragh’s previous directorial experience has been as assistant director on JESUS HOPPED THE ‘A’ TRAIN (Dir. Ron Parsons), WINESBURG OHIO (Dir. Jessica Thebus) at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago. Darragh was also assistant director on PURGATORY (Dir. Ciaran Mc Cauley) with Blue Raincoat Theatre Company, Sligo. Previous directing experience includes THIS MAN’S TALE, NOCTURNE (Cardboardbox Theatre/Dublin Fringe) SOMEONE WHO’LL WATCH OVER ME (Cardboardbox Theatre/Andrews Lane), TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (Collaboraction Theatre, Chicago), SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR (Threefold Theatre Productions) and FRANK PIG SAYS HELLO (UCD Dramsoc). Awards include Irish Student Drama Awards 2001 for Best Director, Best Production and Best Sound Design for SOMEONE WHO’LL WATCH OVER ME, and nominations for Irish Student Drama Awards 1999 for Best Sound Design, Best Director and Best Production for FRANK PIG SAYS HELLO. Darragh graduated from UCD in 2001 with a BA in English and Sociology. Darragh is currently completing a National Certificate in Furniture Production.
Matthew Torney
Originally from Belfast, Mathew’s previous directing credits include PAPER TIGERS at DU Players Theatre, which will also run at Pleasance Theatre in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2004, FAUST IS DEAD at the Samuel Beckett Theatre; WOUNDS TO THE FACE and SHOPPING AND FUCKING as part of the Samuel Beckett Theatre drama department directing course. Mathew also wrote and directed THE RULES OF WAR for DU Filmmakers as well as directing a devised piece, EVERYBODY HURTS, for DU Players Theatre. Previous awards include Irish Student Drama Award 2004 for Best Production for PAPER TIGERS, as well as being nominated for Best Director for same production. Matthew also gained acting and dance experience during his student years and won Irish Student Drama Award 2000 for Best Supporting Actor for his role of Frank in AT THE BLACK PIGS DYKE. Matthew graduated from Trinity College in 2003 with a BA in Drama and Theatre Studies and English literature. He recently completed a scholarship in Italy studying Commedia dell’Arte.
Posted on: 26/5/2004 at 1.35pm