Coláiste Gaeilge experience inspires new musical for Galway arts festival
Saoirse, a new musical about young love, hormones and heartbreak, set in the Kerry Gaeltacht, will receive its world premiere at next month's Galway International Arts Festival when it's presented at An Taibhdhearc from July 10-26.
With a young, queer love story at its heart, Saoirse also explores issues facing Gaeltacht communities; rising rents, second-home ownership and potential closing of the Coláiste Gaeilge.
Attending Irish college is a rite of passage for many teens. In this case, on their first summer away from home, Saoirse, Róisín and Aoife grapple with life's big questions: ‘Who am I? Who’s stolen my hair straightener? What is the Modh Coinníollach?’
Written and composed by Shauna Carrick, (composer and lyricist of All Growed Up at Belfast's Lyric Theatre), with co-composer Aidan Byrne, Saoirse is directed by Muireann Kelly.
Ciara Cox (Saol Ella on TG4) is Saoirse, while the other actors and musicians are Juliette Crosbie, (who recently debuted with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and features in the musical comedy Power Ballad), Callum Maxwell, (Stranger Things at the West End), Evanne Kilgallon (Small Town Big Story, Obituary) and actor and sean-nós singer Síofra Ní Éilí (Muicín), as well as Lesley Conroy, Ursula Early, Colm Mac Gearailt, Aidan Byrne and Elliot Nolan.
The creative team includes Olivier award-winning choreographer Meadhbh Lyons and sound designer / music supervisor, Michael John McCarthy, also an Olivier winner.
Describing Saoirse as "a love letter to Irish colleges and Gaeltachts", Shauna Carrick hopes that, as well as inspiring nostalgia in adults, "it reflects the lives of teenagers today".
The two-hour show (with interval) is in Irish, with English subtitles via the SIBRWD app. Irish Sign Language is available on July 25 and 26. Tickets at antaibhdhearc.com or 091 357011.