Galway's got talent: theatre gets a Jolt in the west

“CREATIVE quickies” and audience-director question-and-answer sessions are central to an experimental theatre project in Galway.

NUI Galway (NUIG) and Druid Theatre are supporting the project, known as Jolt, which makes its debut in the Town Hall Theatre’s studio space next week.

The concept dates back to a theatre forum last November, when it was agreed that young theatre companies in Galway required nurturing.

“There are so many great companies working in town but there is very little support,” Jolt project manager Róisín Stack said. “We hope that Jolt will provide a greater sense of community and lots of opportunity for theatre-makers to expand and develop their skills and ideas.”

Jolt's opening production is Sleep Skips My Heart, which runs from May 4th-7th. The play tells the story of Elliot Sweetman, a boy with a sleeping disorder.

The following week, Waterdonkey Theatre will present The Very Best of John Lennon(May 11th-14th), which was staged at Dublin's Project Arts Centre in February.

Dodo Theatre will present a new work, The Pump(May 18th-21st). Audiences are warned to expect a "physical, abstract performance" with plenty of surprises.

Two evenings of “creative quickies”, involving 10-minute extracts of work in development, will be presented by various companies May 27th and 29th.

Audiences will have the chance to meet and talk with performers and directors at Friday “talkback” sessions during the series.

More information is available from the Town Hall Theatre at 091-569 777.

Also this week, in Mayo, a new art competition has been initiated in memory of Phyllis Caffrey, co-founder of the family-run Caffrey’s Gallery in Ballina. The contest is open to amateur and emerging Irish-resident artists aged 35 and over and who have not had public recognition of their work and do not earn income from it.

The late Mrs Caffrey had a reputation for nurturing creativity. The prize money is €3,500, with €2,000 for the winner. The closing date for entries is July 29th; for more see caffreysgallery.ie.