R—is’n set for next act in drama-filled life

Róisín Stack’s life is full of drama – of the theatrical kind that is, as practically her whole family is involved one way of the other and she currently works as the Director of the Galway Theatre Festival.

But as much as she loves theatre and curating the festival, which celebrates five years this week, she exclusively reveals here that it will be her last year with the festival.

“I think a changing of the guard is healthy in any organisation. You need fresh blood, renewed enthusiasm and different ideas. There is no shortage of young, intelligent, passionate, capable people in Galway who could put their stamp on this Festival,” she says modestly.

It will be difficult to get anyone younger, fresher or more enthusiastic than Róisín as she exudes enough enthusiasm to drive not only one but a number of festivals!

But after working at the festival, which finishes this year’s run on Sunday night, for four years (and having performed in the first ever one), Róisín feels it is time to tap into her own creative side.

“The festival involves the best part of a year’s work, which at the moment doesn’t give me any time to do anything else and if I don’t leave now. . . well, I just know it’s time to leave,” she says. And then she adds that she is so immersed in the festival that she might have some pangs this time next year!

Róisín has packed in quite a bit into her 31 years including stints in Australia, San Francisco, France and London!

She has a Masters in drama and theatre from NUIG but even if she didn’t, she would still have ended up in a career in theatre as she knew from an early age this is what she wanted to do.

She initially thought she would be an actress, so joined the Galway Youth Theatre company as soon as she could but the more she studied it academically and experienced on-the-job training, she realised that she actually preferred working behind the scene.

So far she has performed, written, directed, produced andprogrammed events and festivals giving her an insight into the wide spectrum of what is involved in theatre.

During our interview on Tuesday, she was able to report two sell-out shows for the festival’s opening night on Monday and healthy ticket sales for that night.

“It’s easier to sell tickets to the theatre during the week and harder to fill seats at the weekend because there is so much on but I would highly recommend Death of a Tradesman, an extended version of a show I saw in Cork and which is very honest and clever.

“I would also recommend Lady Crew’s Sweet Pang is Innocent which involves pole dancing, a live DJ and is more of a performance than a show. This is very different. Then there’s Before Vanishing, a short Beckett play which features the locally based popular actress Tara Breathnach in the cast.”

After years of building up the festival, it was less stressful this year to organise it because they had the choice of six venues, including An Taibhdhearc, which has just re-opened after being closed because of a fire nearly five years ago; a refurbished Town Hall Studio; and Druid theatre space his year. They also have the Town Hall Theatre and Nun’s Island, which is like a second home to Róisín since her GYT days.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.