Bringing performances directly into schools is a uniquely accessible way to reach audiences, but it requires a very different approach to traditional financial and touring models. Touring into schools has been happening throughout Ireland for decades but generally in an ad hoc way. How do we create a sustainable model for this kind of touring so that every child in Ireland experiences the performing arts?
Join us for a conversation between Phil Kingston, Community and Education Manager at The Abbey Theatre; Marc MacLochlainn, Director of Branar; Claire O'Neill, Creative Producer; Mags Walsh, Programme Director for Creative Schools; Noel Jordan, Director, Edinburgh International Children's Festival and facilitated by Marianne Kennedy, Senior Lecturer of Drama and Theatre Studies in University of Galway.
Phil Kingston
Phil Kingston is Community and Education Manager at the Abbey Theatre, where since 2011 he has created and led over 100 applied drama/education projects with children, young people, and communities. His work includes Consent Workshops for secondary schools and Priming the Canon, a play series linking Irish theatre to the primary curriculum. Originally trained as an actor, he ran Pathways, a storytelling and T.I.E. company in Manchester primary schools for ten years. He was a long term member of Theatre for Young Audiences Ireland as well as working with Youth Theatre Ireland and the arts-in-education portal, championing best practice in creative engagement.
Marc MacLochlainn
Marc is the executive artistic director of Branar, a company he founded. Based in the West of Ireland since 2001, Branar is renowned for creating highly imaginative and beautiful work. Branar productions tour nationally and internationally bringing its work with equal enthusiasm to leading arts venues nationally and internationally as to a local school in Galway. Branar is committed to reaching its audience, wherever they are. Marc also presented Déan tú fhéin é a 6 part DIY programme on TG4.
Claire O'Neil
Claire collaborates as a creative producer with Paul Curley, Julie Sharkey and Thomas Johnson of Ceol Connected.
Recent projects include Polar Bear & Penguin (The Ark & National Tour 2023, Sydney Opera House & The Egg, Theatre Royal, Bath 2024, Ottawa Children's Festival & Spoleto Festival USA 2025), Grey Matter 2023 & National Tour 2025, An Ant Called Amy (Edinburgh International Children’s Festival 2024, The Ark as part of Dublin Theatre Festival 2024 & Polka Theatre London & Belgrade Theatre Coventry, The Egg, Theatre Royal, Bath 2025), The Very Curious Ceilí (Development) Ceol Connected, 2024 & 2025.
Claire has worked in a variety of roles across a number of of dynamic projects & productions in the last 18 years for companies including THISISPOPBABY, Project Arts Centre, Irish Theatre Institute and Rough Magic.
Mags Walsh
Mags Walsh is Programme Director for Creative Schools at the Arts Council. Creative Schools is national programme delivered in partnership with the Department of Education which places arts and creativity at the heart of school life. Previous to this role Mags was the British Council’s Director for Ireland. She started her career as arts programmer at the Ark and was Director at Children's Books Ireland for almost a decade. She is a recipient of the Jerome Hynes Clore Leadership fellowship.She has been a member of various boards, steering groups and committees including More Europe, Kids Own, National Campaign for the Arts and The Literature Alliance.
Noel Jordan
Noel is the Festival Director of the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival produced by Imaginate. At the beginning of Noel’s career he worked for a schools touring company in Victoria, Australia. The entire UK landmass fits into this state. He is also on the curatorial panel of Theatre in Schools Scotland jointly run by Imaginate and the National Theatre of Scotland.
Marianne Kennedy (Chair)
Marianne Kennedy is a Senior Lecturer of Drama and Theatre Studies in University of Galway, and theatre director and producer of 25 years. Her research interests include Irish language theatre and performance, the decolonisation of Irish theatre and Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA). Kennedy is the Creative Director of The O' Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance since its opening in 2016, as well as Artistic Director and convenor of the University of Galway's ‘Arts in Action’ programme, a flagship arts and arts research programme on campus across architecture, circus, theatre, music, film, literature dance and VR. She is the founder of the Irish language theatre performance and research collective Giorria Theatre, and convenor of Ceangal | Cwlwm, a research and performance initiative between Scotland, Ireland and Wales bringing together those involved in theatre-making in Scottish Gaelic, Irish and Welsh in an annual symposium. Kennedy has many directing credits including for Giorria Theatre Collective, Abbey Theatre, An Taibhdhearc and GIAF. Prior to entering the Academy she has served as CEO of Siamsa Tíre Theatre, the National Folk Theatre of Ireland, and also Director of An Taibhdhearc, the National Theatre of the Irish language and currently sits on the board of Galway Theatre Festival and Macnas.