Artists in Residence
The Civic is committed to supporting mature and emerging artists to develop new ideas, projects and receive mentoring in directing, production and planning/marketing.
To date we have supported a range a of artist in residence schemes – more details here.
Bitter Like a Lemon- Theatre Company in Residence 2022 -2024
Honey & Lemon – Dance Artists in Residence 2023-2024
Honey & Lemon are multidisciplinary entertainers who experiment with dance, voice & film to blur the boundaries of contemporary dance. Founded as an artistic partnership in 2020 by artists Millie Daniel-Dempsey & Amy Robyn Lyster, Honey & Lemon is built on a decade of friendship & began as a desire to centre themselves & other women artists on the contemporary dance stage.
Millie & Amy started working together while training professionally in the UK & have each been developing their own practice in Ireland, the UK & Europe as independent performers, dance makers & facilitators since graduating in 2015; these wide-ranging experiences as performers have a strong influence on their work. Honey & Lemon are previous recipients of the Dance Ireland Mentored Residency Award, which began their ongoing relationship with their mentor, Lea Anderson MBE. Their work has been presented at Five Lamps Arts Festival & Dancer from the Dance Festival, with their current work in development, DOUBLE ACT, due to premiere in 2023. They have previously been resident artists at Axis Arts Centre, where they facilitated the post-Covid re-launch of Threads, the venue’s flagship women’s dance group.
During their time in residence here in The Civic, they will provide a series of community engagement workshops, both here in The Civic and out in the Community.
Freshly Ground Theatre Company- Youth Ensemble in Residency 2022 -2024
Davey Kelleher – Theatre Artist in Residence 2017 – 2018
The Theatre Artist in Residency is a post funded by The Civic, the Arts Council of Ireland and South Dublin County Council. Beginning in July 2017, Davey Kelleher (Theatre Director/Creative Producer) will engage in a year long residency focusing on four aspects of Artistic Engagement & Skills Development which include the creation of a new multi-disciplinary theatre piece for all ages: The Whale – a fantasy retelling of Moby Dick; the development of the Civic’s studio theatre as a creative hub and the implementation of a complementary audience engagement strategy; bringing existing and new audiences into contact with the development processes through a series of engagements (e.g. meet the maker events, open readings, discussions, work in progress showings, creation of a studio club). In addition, Davey will work alongside the Artistic Director, in planning any complementary programming of the Studio during the term of the residency and undertake a process of mentorship relating to the running and programming of a multi-disciplinary arts venue, a rare opportunity which will significantly enhance his own practice.
Liz Roche Company – Company in Residence 2017 – 2019
Sylvia Beatley – Theatre Artist in Residence 2014 – 2015
Sylvia worked with two at risk community groups in the South Dublin area facilitating them to retell their own stories for a period of 12 months from September 2014. These workshops informed the development of a new play. Sylvia has worked for over 13 years with at risk communities delivering workshops on devising and performance techniques. Sylvia wrote and performed in the one woman show ‘Making Lemonade’ based on gun crime culture in West Dublin. The production was performed at The Civic to huge success for an audience that included youth theatres, rehabilitiation groups and people living with this anti-social behaviour in their community. Audiences expressed a deep connection with the work and felt that it was relevant, authentic and accessible to them. In post-show discussions, audience members explored issues of oppression, crime and vulnerability in their communities
Due to this Sylvia is keen to develop relationships with two at risk groups from the North Clondalkin and local Tallaght area using ‘Making Lemonade’ as a starting point into their stories. Through a workshop process she developed their stories and worked on exploring these through different theatre forms and contexts such as devising, forum theatre, playwriting, collage and movement and presenting them for each other in a theatrical manner using the Loose End Studio to facilitate these.
Ríonach Ní Néill, Ciotóg – Dance Ensemble in Residence 2013 – 2014
Ciotóg was chosen as Dance Ensemble in Residence in South Dublin County Council, Civic Theatre and Rua Red South Dublin Arts Centre for 2013/2014. The residency culminated in the premiere of a new dance work by Ríonach Ní Néill. The themes of the new piece were informed by Ríonach’s work since 2007 with older people and people living with dementia.
Amú premiered at The Civic in May 2014 as part of the Dublin Dance Festival.
Collapsing Horse Theatre Company – Theatre Artist in Residence 2013 – 2014
The Theatre Artist in Residency was a year-long post funded by The Civic, the Arts Council of Ireland and South Dublin County Libraries. During the residency, Collapsing Horse Theatre Company worked with staff from South Dublin Library to run puppetry workshops with different age groups. The Company performed ‘Human Child’ for the Red Line Book Festival 2013 at The Civic. The Company rehearsed ‘Bears in Space’ in the Loose End Studio and performed the show for the public in the Main Auditorium prior to the Edinburgh Theatre Festival. The Company devised and developed a new dramatic piece and are working towards a work-in-progress showing in The Civic.
Jose Miguel Jimenz and Nyree Yergainharsian – Theatre Artist in Residency 2012 – 2013
The Theatre Artist in Residency was a year-long post funded by The Civic, the Arts Council of Ireland and South Dublin County Libraries. The artists worked directly with the youth theatre at the Civic and with the clubs that gather regularly at the library, in the form of workshops led by the artists based on the personal experiences of the participants around themes like community life, economic distress, cooperation and alternative forms of social organization.
Each workshop was recorded and this material was processed in order to extract relevant situations, texts and group dynamics that was re-introduced to the group in the next workshop. It is important to highlight the impact that the mix of theatre and non theatre aficionados had on this process.
The development of this technique and the gathering of content shaped by the participants was shared by the particpants with an audience in a final Work in Progress showing at The Civic.
Michelle Read – Theatre Artist in Residence 2011 – 2012
The Theatre Artist in Residency was a year-long post funded by The Civic, the Arts Council of Ireland and South Dublin County Libraries. During the residency Michelle Read worked in conjunction with Tallaght Library and children from four local junior national schools to create new plays with, and for children. This project culminated in the publication of two volumes of new plays for schools.
Michelle also worked on a commission for the Civic. This new play for adults with the working title Trans, explores change and identity in post boom Ireland. It is supported dramaturgically by Fishamble: The New Play Company’s New Play Clinic scheme.
Michelle is a writer, theatre-maker and dramaturge. She originally trained as an actor and later received a masters in dramaturgy from Goldsmiths College, London. She has written extensively for stage, radio and television as well as co-creating and producing theatre. Her awards include the Hugh Leonard Bursary and the Eamon Keane Full-Length Play Award for Snakelight (2009), the Stewart Parker/BBC Northern Ireland Drama Award for The Other Side (2003), an Ondas Award for radio for A Day In The Life Of Kitty Sway (2001), and a Fringe First in Edinburgh for Romantic Friction (1998). Most recently her tiny play The Nation’s Assets was seen as part of Fishamble Theatre company’s Tiny Plays for Ireland at Project Arts Centre.
Read one of Michelle Reads’ one-act plays online.
Paul Meade – Theatre Artist in Residence 2011 – 2012
Award winning writer/director/actor Paul Meade was Artist in Residence for a period of 12 months from January 2011. The Theatre Artist in Residency was a year-long post funded by The Civic, the Arts Council of Ireland and the Arts Office of South Dublin County Council.As the key part of this residency Paul wrote a new play for The Civic which was produced, performed and toured nationwide by The Civic in 2013.
Paul has worked for many years with Limerick Youth Theatre delivering workshops on devising and performance techniques. He has also given workshops for Ballina and Dublin Youth Theatre. He worked with past participants of the Civic/SDCC Tenderfoot programme to continue their connection with the Civic and also with the youth theatres based locally. It included monthly pre or post show discussions (except during the summer months), play reading groups, and bi-monthly workshops (approx 6 over the year).
Recently Paul developed 2 Forum Theatre Pieces for Focus Ireland, working with writers Jennifer O’Dea and Gerry McCann. Clients of Focus Ireland were interviewed and their stories were worked into Forum Theatre Plays, which were performed to huge success in Focus Ireland cafés, centres and hostels for an audience of people with experience of homelessness. Due to this Paul was keen to establish relationships with An Cosan & Brookfield community groups with a view if possible to produce a Forum Theatre Piece with one of them at a later stage.
Paul has worked with The Civic since 2001. Projects as a writer include Trousers & Thesis. As director Trousers, Little Gem & Chicane. As actor The BFG and Hansel & Gretel. Paul’s Compnay Gúna Nua has co-produced and toured 7 plays with The Civic.
