Back Stage at Backstage

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.

Take a virtual tour of Backstage Theatre.

Philip Doherty of Gonzo Theatre explains why you should come in from the sun to see Pilgrim starring Rex Ryan at Backstage June 16.

Christmas greetings from the cast of Branar Theatre’s production of ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas at Backstage Theatre.

A quick word from Director Padraic McIntyre on why you should come see his show Bailegangaire by Tom Murphy which opened its national tour for Nomad & Livin Dred at Backstage in Sept 2016.

The über talented Declan O’Rourke singing “A Sketch of a Cave Near Mitchelstown” Back Stage at Backstage in 2014.

Julie Sharkey, Niamh McGrath, Steve Blount and Caoimhe O’Malley, chatting Back Stage at Backstage about The Far Off Hills by Lennox Robinson presented by Loco Reckless and Nomad Theatre Network and directed by Mikel Murfi.

Back Stage at Backstage with Mikel Murfi after his sell-out show “The Man in the Woman’s Shoes”.

Damien Dempsey had the audience in the palm of his hand when he performed at Backstage Theatre, Longford on Fri 12th Dec 2014. To add to the night he also gave us a special performance of “Almighty Love” Back Stage at Backstage.

Marketing Manager Janice Gibney talks all things Backstage with Rachel Masterson on her internet and Cable TV show “Rachel Meets” in Sept 2016.

Director Gemma Gallagher and Evelyn Kelly of St Christopher’s Services talk about Utopia, presented by Backstage in association with Mermaid Arts Centre, along with cast members Triona & Linda.

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.

We caught up with the cast of The Dead to chat Back Stage after opening night in Dublin in Feb 2017.

Foil Arms and Hog Back Stage at Backstage after their sold-out gig in March 2017.

The cast of CoisCéim Dance Theatre’s Wolf and Peter chat Back Stage at Backstage alongside director and choreographer David Bolger after two sell-out shows at Backstage.

Seamus O’Rourke chats Back Stage at Backstage before his sold-out run of My Aunt Bee April 2017.

Author Kitty Rodgers chats Back Stage at Backstage before the premier of her first one act play The Basement.

Margaret McAuliffe, author and star of Fishamble’s The Humours of Bandon, chats Back Stage at Backstage ahead of her performance in Sept 2017.

We were thrilled to chat Back Stage at Backstage with Lynne Parker, Artistic Director of Rough Magic Theatre Company during their national tour of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

Catherine Young chats about her newest show State of Exception in the latest Back Stage at Backstage interview with Janice Gibney at Shawbrook.

Marguerite Donlon chats Back Stage at Backstage with Janice Gibney ahead of the Irish premiere of Heroes & The Last Life Boat from Donlon Dance Collective.

Johnny Hanrahan, director of Castle Rackrent, chats Back Stage at Backstage with Janice Gibney.

We were honoured to be crowned regional winners in the Arts & Culture section of the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2018. Here’s some of the reasons why…

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.

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…

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 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…

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…

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.

In this episode we chat to Catriona Mulryan from Peelo School of Dance about having to pull the plug just days before their 7 performances and turning their dance studio into an online one!

In this latest episode of At Home With Backstage, Marketing Manager Janice Gibney chats to Backstage’s Artist Director Mona Considine to find out about all of the exciting projects that will be rolling out during closure.

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.

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.

We were thrilled to feature in Arts Council Ireland’s Arts Centres Spotlight Series. Watch our Artistic Director Mona Considine and choreographer Roisin Whelan chat about our Activate Residency Programme.

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…

Take a moment to hear Oonagh Kearney, Chiamaka Enyi-Amadi, Derek UgoChukwu, Sarah Ahern and Longford’s own Felicia Olusanya, chat Back Stage At Backstage with Janice about their work, their unique approach to film-making and the importance of having the space to create together.