Blue Teapot Theatre Company Archives

UK Film Festival Nomination for Galway’s Blue Teapot

March 11, 2024

Galway’s Blue Teapot Theatre Company will represent Ireland at the BAFTA qualifying Oska Bright Film Festival(UK), screening three self-produced films on St. Patrick’s Day, Sunday 17 March, as part of Reel Ireland documentary strand.

Oska Bright is the world’s leading festival for films made by or featuring people with intellectual disabilities or autism. Held in Brighton, the annual event screens over one hundred films with Blue Teapot’s documentary ‘Enquire Within‘ chosen to close the week-long festival and is nominated for an award in the Best Story of a Life category. Screening with Enquire Within are two other Blue Teapot produced documentaries – Prophecy (2021) and My Light will Blind You (2022).

Award winning independent filmmaker Fionn Rogers directed all three films. Speaking about the projects, Rogers explained, “The three documentaries are all very different and very special in their own way. Enquire Within was the most rewarding to work on, because of how organic it was and how the concept grew so naturally from the ground up”.

The documentary stemmed from Blue Teapot’s Outreach projects in collaboration with Galway County Council arts office, with a strategic aim of creating more impactful, experiential, inclusive arts practise across the County. Filmed in Clifden and shot over 8 days, Enquire Within involved people from the area, in front and behind the camera.

“To give people the opportunity to explore their ideas and get them hands on with film equipment they had never used before was amazing to experience first-hand”. The resulting documentary explores the subject of employment from the perspective of young people, seniors and those with disabilities living in Connemara.

Talking about his experience as a first time Assistant Director, Blue Teapot artist Paul Connolly expressed, “It’s such a great honour to represent Blue Teapot, Criost Linn and the Clifden people involved at Oska Bright this year”. Along with his colleagues, Connolly is looking forward to attending the festival having received support from Culture Ireland.

In other developments, recently appointed Executive Director Jane Parsons is delighted to announce the launch of a new Friends Scheme, inviting individuals and businesses to partner with Blue Teapot to help make a positive difference to the creative lives of the company’s artists. This investment will empower the company to continue making game-changing theatre and provide opportunities for artists with intellectual disabilities.

Further information or to discuss joining Blue Teapot Friends Scheme, email exec.director@blueteapot.ie or call 091 520 977.

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Blue Teapot Searching for New Actors

October 18, 2023

Blue Teapot Searching for New Actors

Blue Teapot Theatre Company has launched a search for new actors aged 18 and over to join its full-time theatre ensemble. The award-winning Galway theatre company is looking to expand its talent pool by inviting aspiring actors with an intellectual disability to audition for a permanent place within the resident company of artists. This positive development is part of an overall expansion, aligned to the company’s Strategic Arts Plan (2023-2027).

Speaking about the search, Artistic Director Petal Pilley commented, “This autumn, a rare opportunity has arisen to join our coveted, professional ensemble. We will be holding open auditions for a small number of places, casting the net wide in search of brilliant talent. Previous acting experience is not necessary; many actors come to their careers as diamonds in the rough looking for an opportunity to shine. The successful candidates will join our vibrant, experienced cohort of actors to develop and perform theatre on Ireland’s main stages and beyond”.

Company actor Kieran Coppinger agreed, saying, “Be yourself, be proud of the fact you have a disability. When you’re on that stage, it’s a whole different world”.

For almost thirty years, Blue Teapot has worked consistently to radically transform theatre practices by telling stories through the lens of disability, paving the way for inclusive practices to become the norm. Artistic achievements in theatre include Sanctuary, Dancing At Lughnasa and last year’s production of Into the Dark Woods written by the company’s own Charlene Kelly in a co-production with The Abbey as well as twice nominated for an Irish Times Theatre Award.

Stage and screenwriter Christian O’Reillyadded, “This is a unique opportunity to join an extraordinary ensemble of brilliant actors and to develop artistically in an environment that is professional, supportive and fun”.

Interested candidates should apply to audition via email admin@blueteapot.ie or by calling 091 520 977 (Mon to Thurs 9am – 5pm). Deadline is 12pm Monday 13 November.

Auditions will be held late November and early December. For detailed information, visit www.blueteapot.ie/audition which includes accessibility controls for the visually impaired.