Back Stage at Backstage
Join us Back Stage at Backstage as we chat to theatre makers to give you an insight into what goes on behind the scenes.
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Back Stage at Backstage with artist Malik Amir Iqbal
Janice Gibney chats to local artist Malik Amir Iqbal, alongside Backstage Theatre Artistic Director Mona Considine and renowned choreographer Catherine Young. Together they chat about Malik’s involvement with Backstage and the arts as well as how they first met and the journey he’s been on since.

Emer Barry of Affiniti with Howard Crosby singing “True Love” Back Stage at Backstage
We were delighted to be serenaded Back Stage at Backstage by star Soprano Emer Barry of Affiniti and none other than Bing Crosby’s nephew Howard Crosby ahead of their concert Lights Camera Affiniti, celebrating music from the movies on Sept 22nd, 2016.

Backstage Theatre feature on National Lottery’s Winning Streak
Winning Streak profiled Backstage Theatre and the work we do made possible through National Lottery Funding from The Arts Council. The feature aired on on Sat 5th Jan, 2019. Hear our Artistic Director Mona Considine, speak about community projects such as Utopia with Gemma Gallagher of Shadowbox Theatre as well as Welcoming The Stranger with Catherine Young Dance. Local actor Daire O’Muiri also speaks about his involvement with Backstage from a young age.

Animal Farm presented by Backstage Theatre and Backstage Youth Theatre
Backstage Theatre and Backstage Youth Theatre present ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell directed by Andy Crook. Every year Backstage gives our resident Youth Theatre, Backstage Youth Theatre, the amazing opportunity to work with a professional director. This year the members are lucky enough to work with Director & Performer Andy Crook who will direct them in a new production of Animal Farm by George Orwell. Some of the cast took time out from rehearsals to chat to us Back Stage…

Playmaking at Backstage Theatre with Maisie Lee 2019
In the first project of its kind in Ireland, a group of talented young writers between the ages of 9 & 12 from across Longford were selected through an open call to work with Artist In Residence at Backstage, Maisie Lee. During summer 2019 Maisie helped their creativity shine as they worked on writing their own plays. The short plays will be performed by professional actors, with a professional set, lighting, costume and sound design at Backstage Theatre during Aisling Children’s Festival on Sat 26th Oct, 2019. As part of the Creative Counties programme, we were thrilled to be able to also give young writers in Roscommon this incredible opportunity to work with our Artist in Residence in Roscommon Arts Centre. Playmaking is kindly supported by Creative Ireland Longford and Longford Arts Office.

LÚMINARIA written by Fionnuala Gygax directed by Maisie
LÚMINARIA written by Fionnuala Gygax and directed by Maisie Lee was developed at Backstage in June 2019 as part of an Arts Council Artist in Residency programme with support from Roscommon Arts Centre & Creative Ireland. Lúminaria brings the audience on a magical journey into the unknown as Lúna discovers that sometimes the thing we fear the most is the thing that can make us stronger…

At Home with Backstage & St Mel’s Musical Society
You may have seen our Back Stage at Backstage interviews in the past where we interview companies and artists Back Stage about their work. Well as that’s not possible we’ve decided to try At Home with Backstage where our Marketing Manager Janice will chat to companies and artists who were due to perform at Backstage and will hopefully be back on stage with us again soon! First up we chat to June Belton from St. Mel’s Musical Society who were due to be taking to the stage tonight for a nine-night run of Hairspray…

Dani Gill At Home with Backstage
We were delighted to get the opportunity to chat to Dani Gill At Home With Backstage this week. Dani is the Literary Audience Development Officer with Words Ireland and is overseeing a new venue network initiative supported by Arts Council Ireland. The LIVE Network (Literature in Venues: Experiences, experiments, events) launches this Fri 1st May and in the initial interview, sponsored by Backstage, Dani fittingly speaks to interviewing Longford author Alan McMonagle.

Young Curators at Home With Backstage
In 2019 we selected a team of Young Curators who, under the mentorship of Artist in Residence Maisie Lee, set about programming an Arts Festival for Young People. Hear all about the Festival line-up and the steps that were taken to ensure the young people of Longford still had an Arts Festival to look forward to in 2020, as they chat to Janice At Home With Backstage.

Ireland’s Call at Home with Backstage
Hear Ireland’s Call producer Edwin Mullane chat with our Young Curators and co about the importance of John Connors’ critically acclaimed production. Watch it this Friday 19th June at 7pm as part of the Backstage Young Curator’s Festival.
Backstage Young Curator’s Festival is supported by Creative Ireland and Arts Council Ireland.

Liam Halligan Back Stage at Backstage
For our latest Back Stage at Backstage interview Janice caught up with Liam Halligan who is directing our co-production with Backstage Youth Theatre. Hear all about the creative steps they are taking under Liam’s guidance to ensure both the cast and the audience get the most of the experience in this Covid era…