Draiocht seeking hosts for home theatre project

Draiocht Blanchardstown have secured funding for an exciting new project that will see theatre brought into people’s homes next year.
The theatre has been awarded funding from the Arts Council for Home Theatre (Ireland) – an innovative new project that will see new work staged in 30 homes on one night across Dublin 15.
Director of Draiocht, Emer McGowan, told The Gazette that she hopes that the project will help to expose more people to the world of theatre and the arts.
She said: “It’s a real partnership between playwrights and theatre makers and the public.
“The thing that I love about it is that we are asking people to work with us and invite us into their homes, which is an amazing thing.
“For someone to invite you into their home is a really special thing and in return for their generosity and allowing us into their home and into their life, we are in turn going to give them a gift – a piece of theatre that is going to be inspired by them.”
The project will pair 40 leading playwrights and theatre makers with 30 community hosts.
The playwrights will spend time in the host’s homes to chat and talk about what is important to them, about what they hope for and fear and what makes them laugh.
The artists will then write an original play inspired by the host and performed in the host’s own home to an invited audience.
The performances take place on October 6, 2018 and there will be three performances of the 20-minute pieces.
The hosts will decide who to invite to the performances and anyone is free to apply to become a host, whether they live big house, a little house, an apartment or in a housing estate.
Anyone who doesn’t wish to host a performance but would like to get involved can become a community ambassador, who will partner with one host and act as a support to them.
Emer says that she hopes the project will unite people from all over Dublin 15 and show them that the arts are for all, regardless of their background.
“We are going out to say art can happen everywhere and be inspired by anyone,” she said.
“Everyone can own this.”
Anyone interested in getting involved as a host or as a community ambassador can contact Emer on [email protected] or call 01 8098027.