(IP) = Irish premiere. (WP) = world premiere. (CP) = children’s production (i.e. a play for young audiences). (ACP) = An artistic collaboration project, or an exchange project (i.e. a creative collaboration between Kildare Youth Theatre and another company, usually a company from abroad).

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2012

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THEATRE UNCUT 2012. We were the only organisation in Ireland to take part in the global Theatre Uncut festival – performances of new plays about the financial crisis during the week of 12th – 18th Nov. We staged Irish premieres of:

- In The Beginning by Neil LaBute

- The Breakout by Anders Lustgarten 

- Yesterday by Helena Tornero

- Blondie by Hayley Squires. 16th and 17th Nov, The Liffey Studio, Newbridge.

 

SIX POMEGRANATE SEEDS (ACP), a site-responsive performance in the tombs of Ancient Asini, Greece with 12 young people from KYT Ireland and 12 from Osmosis, Greece. September 2012

 

RE:LOCATION (ACP) a collaborative installation and site-resposive performance, with 4 European directors and 60 young European performers (10 each from Kildare Youth Theatre; Le Grand Bleu (France); Rogaland Teater (Norway); Bremen, Germany; Promote YT (Scotland); and Aarhus, Denmark). The week-long festival culminated with performances in Bjergstedparken Park, Stavanger on 17th and 18th August. Re:Locastion was developed over 3 years with all of the partners and with Rogaland Teatre.

 

The LEAVING by Tom Swift (WP) – a brand new play created with KYT and writer Tom Swift about alcohol, debs, pressures to conform, and what the future holds after school. Selected for and invited to the National Theatre of Scotland’s Exchange 2012 Festival in Sterling, Scotland (July 2012).

 

GLOBALFEST Cork (a week long project with Mayfield Arts Centre in Cork city with over 100 young people making art, dance, music and theatre on the theme of volunteering in your community). Final performances in Bishop Lucey Park, Cork city.

 

Journey to X by Nancy Harris (IP). The Liffey Studio, Newbridge and The Moat Theatre, Naas. March 2011 (in association with National Theatre of Britain, London). A new play about teenage pregnancy, in-school bullying, and the attraction of fame.

 

 

2011

 

Globalfest, Cork (a week long project with Mayfield Arts Centre in Cork city with over 100 young people making art, dance, music and theatre on the theme of volunteering in your community). Final performances were staged in Bishop Lucey Park, Cork city.

 

Nuts by Fausto Paravidino (IP) (The Liffey Studio / NFYT Scotland, July 2011)

 

Smelly Ellie devised by the company (CP) Kildare schools, May and June. (A play about being different, focusing on gender. It was made by Thomas O’ Driscoll, Rhianne Fahey, Jack Tinsley, Eliza Kelly, Amy Quille and Emmet Faherty with Peter Hussey & Mary Linehan. It toured local primary schools.)

 

Totally Over You by Mark Ravenhill (May, The Liffey Studio)

 

Bassett by James Graham (IP) The Liffey Studio, Newbridge March 2011 (in association with National Theatre of Britain, London). Staged in The Royal Opera House, Belfast in July 2011.

 

 

2010

 

Conflux Maximus (street spectacle / promenade performance) co-created with Mischief La Bas for SURGE Festival, Glasgow (July 2010) (WP)

 

Proper Preggers: The Musical devised by KYT (Scottish Festival of Youth Theatres, Fife, July 2010) (SP)

 

The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh (The Moat Theatre, Naas, May 2010)

 

This Lime Tree Bower by Conor McPherson (The Liffey Studio, Newbridge, April 2010)

 

Nuts by Fausto Paravidino (IP) (Kildare Youth Theatre, The Moat Theatre, March 2010 / NFYT Scotland, July 2011)

 

After Juliet by Sharman Mac Donald (The Moat Theatre, Naas, March 2010)

 

 

2009

 

The Séance by Anthony Neilson (IP) (Moat Theatre, Naas / Samuel Beckett Theatre, Dublin / Royal Lyceum Edinburgh. March – June 2009)

 

The Heights by Lisa Magee (Samuel Beckett Theatre; May 2009) (IP)

 

Blackout by Davey Anderson (IP) (Samuel Beckett Theatre; May 2009) (IP)

 

 

2008

 

Scenes From Family Life by Mark Ravenhill (WP) (Keith Burke. Riverbank / Royal National Theatre, London (Cottesloe). March – July 2008). KYT were invited to stage this production in the National Theatre in London’s South Bank.

 

A Vampire Story by Moira Buffini (IP) (Kildare Youth Theatre: Riverbank / Royal Lyceum Edinburgh. March – June 2008)

 

Burying Your Brother in the Pavement by Jack Thorne (IP) (Riverbank / Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. March – May 2008)

 

6th WYETH KILDARE FESTIVAL OF YOUTH DRAMA (WKFYD ’07). Riverbank Arts Centre, 31st July – 4th Aug. Coordinated by Crooked House, this festival brought together 5 local Irish youth theatres, one from Scotland (West Lothian Youth Theatre) and one from Italy (Tri-boo, Florence) to take part in 5 days of performances, workshops and devised theatre. Artistic Director: Peter Hussey. Part funded by the EU Youth in Action programme, the Drugs Task Force, Kildare County Council Arts Service, and Wyeth Medica Irl.

 

 

2007

 

MACBETH by William Shakespeare. Riverbank Arts Centre, 26th Nov to 1st December. Directed by John O’ Brien.

 

5th WYETH KILDARE FESTIVAL OF YOUTH DRAMA (WKFYD ’07). Riverbank Arts Centre, 31st July – 4th Aug. Coordinated by Crooked House, this festival brought together 5 local Irish youth theatres, one from Scotland (West Lothian Youth Theatre) and one from Italy (Tri-boo, Florence) to take part in 5 days of performances, workshops and devised theatre. Artistic Director: Peter Hussey. Part funded by EU Youth in Action, the Drugs Task Force, Kildare County Council Arts Service, and Wyeth Medica Irl.

 

SEVENTY-EIGHT (WP) a devised physical theatre piece exploring the impact of soldiership on young Europeans, choreographed by Peter Hussey. With Keith Burke, Deirdre O Donnell, Rachel Lally, Mick Keogh and Keith Millar. Presented at the European Youth Meeting in the Post Bahnhoff, Berlin on 25th June. Also during WKFYD 07 on 4th Aug. Funded by the Franco-German and Polish Youth Offices of the EU Commission.

 

HUMAN RIGHTS COLLABORATION (ACP). An artistic collaboration between West Lothian Youth Theatre in Scotland and Kildare Youth Theatre in Ireland. Participants were 30 integrated young people (some with, some without learning difficulties) from each company, working together to make a piece of theatre about human rights. Part 1 occurred in Newbridge, Ireland (during WKFYD ‘07) and Part 2 in West Lothian, Scotland (13th to 20th Oct).

 

TOXIC TALES (WP) a 15 minute piece of theatre exploring the causes and effects of binge drinking and substance abuse on young people and their peer groups. Devised by the company and directed by Mary Duffin and Keith Millar. Riverbank Arts Centre, during WKFYD ’07. Funded by the Irish Drugs Task Force.

 

CHARLEY’S AUNT by Brandon Thomas. A revival of this popular Victorian comedy, performed in Riverbank 22nd to 26th September and directed by Paddy Melia.

 

DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID by Dennis Kelly. New play for young actors performed in Riverbank 29th and 31st March, in the Everyman Palace, Cork on 3rd May. The first play by Dennis Kelly to be performed in Ireland. Directed by Peter Hussey.

 

NT/SHELL CONNECTIONS REGIONAL FESTIVAL, CORK. In partnership with the Royal National Theatre of Britain we organised the two-day festival of Irish youth theatres on 2nd and 3rd May 2006. 10 youth theatres from all over Ireland perform new plays by established playwrights in the Everyman Palace Theatre, Cork. Festival Producer: Peter Hussey

 

A BRIDGE TO THE STARS by Henning Mankell (translated by John Retallick) (IP) (Riverbank, Newbridge / Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh / April – June 2006). Directed by Mary Duffin.

 

RED SKY by Bryony Lavery (IP) (Riverbank, Newbridge. March) Directed by Alison Hollinshead.

 

A YEAR AND A DAY by Christina Reid (IP) (Riverbank, Newbridge, March). Directed by Vincent O Reilly.

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST by Oscar Wilde (Riverbank, Newbridge – 7th, 14th, 15th Marchy / Andrews’ Lane Studio, Dublin as part of the Dublin International Gay Theatre Festival – 7th – 11th May / Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny, 6th Nov). Revival of 2004 production, directed by Peter Hussey. Winner of first ever Patrick Murray Award for Outstanding Contribution to Irish Gay Theatre.

 

 

2006

 

DOWNWARD SPIRAL (WP) a 30 minute piece of theatre exploring the causes and effects of binge drinking on young people and their peer groups. Devised by the company and directed by Mary Duffin. Riverbank Arts Centre, 18th December.

 

THE LIQUORICE WITCH by Constance Cubicle (WP / CP). A play for children based on the witch in Hansel and Gretel, set in Ireland during the Great Famine of 1845, and performed in the cartoon commedia style being developed by the company. Directed by Peter Hussey. Riverbank Arts Centre, 13th – 17th December.

 

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (WP) An adaptation, of the popular Jane Austen novel, by the older member members of the youth company. Directed by Peter Hussey. Riverbank Arts Centre, 22nd – 25th November.

 

THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD by J.M. Synge. A physically dominant presentation of this popular Irish classic, performed in Riverbank 19th – 23rd September and directed by Peter Hussey.

 

CITIZENSHIP by Mark Ravenhill. Revival of last year’s show and staged in the Promote Youth Theatre annual festival in Perth, Scotland in September. Also performed in Samuel Beckett Theatre, Trinity College on 11th December.

 

CULTURE AND CONSUMPTION. (ACP). An artistic collaboration between West Lothian Youth Theatre in Scotland and Kildare Youth Theatre in Ireland. Participants were 30 young people with learning difficulties from each company, working together to make a piece of theatre about consumer-culture and young people. Part 1 occurred in Newbridge, Ireland (22nd – 27th July) and Part 2 in Edinburgh, Scotland (2nd – 6th October 2006).

 

IF YOU WANT ME (WP) a devised physical theatre piece exploring gender and relationship, choreographed by Peter Hussey, Eamonn O’ Connor and Laura Mc Gann (Riverbank Arts Centre, 26th July | Carlow Youth Theatre Festival August)

 

4TH KILDARE FESTIVAL OF YOUTH DRAMA. Riverbank Arts Centre, 25th – 27th July 2006. Coordinated by Crooked House, this festival brings together 5 local Irish youth theatres and one from Scotland to take part in 3 days of performances, workshops and devised theatre. Director: Peter Hussey.

 

COMBATING RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA. (ACP) An artistic collaboration between Tri-boo in Florence and Crooked House, uniting 13 KYT members with 10 Italian young people to make a piece of theatre about race-relations and immigration in Europe. Part 1 of the exchange occurred in Riverbank in Newbridge 16th – 22nd April; Part 2 occurred in Florence 29th June to 12th July. Funded by the EU Youth in Action programme.

 

NT/SHELL CONNECTIONS REGIONAL FESTIVAL, CORK. In partnership with the Royal national Theatre of Britain we organise the two-day festival of Irish youth theatres on 5th and 6th May 2006. 10 youth theatres from all over Ireland perform new plays by established playwrights in the Everyman Palace Theatre, Cork. Festival Producer: Peter Hussey

 

BROKEN HALLELUJAH by Sharman MacDonald (IP) (Riverbank, Newbridge / Teatro della Limonaia, Firenze / Divadlo na Pradle, Prague / April – June 2006). Directed by Peter Hussey.

 

THE SPIDERMEN by Ursula Rani Sarma (WP) (Riverbank, Newbridge / International Gay Theatre Festival, Dublin – nominated for Hilton Edwards Award / Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh / Carlow Youth Theatre Festival) April – June 2006). Directed by Peter Hussey.

 

THE MIRACLE by Lin Coghlan (Riverbank, Newbridge / Everyman Palace, Cork / April – May 2006). Directed by Vincent O Reilly.

 

SHUT UP by Andrew Payne. (Riverbank, Newbridge. April 2006). Directed by Mary Duffin.

 

CHATROOM by Enda Walsh and KARAMAZOO by Philip Ridley (revivals – Draíocht Arts Centre, Dublin. 25th—28th January 2006. Also performed in Samuel Beckett Theatre, Trinity College on 11th December). Directed by Peter Hussey.

 

 

2005

 

THE SNOW QUEEN by Constance Cubicle (WP) (CP) (Riverbank, Newbridge, December 2005). Directed by Mary Linehan.

 

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE by William Shakespeare. (Riverbank, November 2005). Directed by Peter Hussey.

 

ROOM RAGE: after Hippolytus Euripides (WP) (Dublin Fringe 2005). Directed by Peter Hussey.

 

3rd KILDARE FESTIVAL OF YOUTH DRAMA. Riverbank Arts Centre, July 2005. This festival brings together Irish youth theatres to take part in 3 days of performances, workshops and devised theatre. Director: Leish Burke.

 

THE RUDE MECHANCALS devised by the company after William Shakespeare (WP) (Riverbank, Newbridge. July 2005). Directed by Peter Hussey.

 

CITIZENSHIP by Mark Ravenhill (IP) (Riverbank / Dublin Gay Theatre Festival – winner ‘Best Production’ / Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh. April – June 2005). Directed by Peter Hussey.

"Precisely because it doesn’t patronise young people with pat morality or sentimental solutions, Citizenship is obviously a piece of work that young actors can recognise. And in this excellent production by Peter Hussey for Kildare Youth theatre, the youth wing of Crooked House Theatre Company, the cast repays the compliment with thoughtful, intelligent and utterly committed performances. Young actors would not expose themselves to such a delicate exploration of sexuality unless they had complete trust in the process, and it is evident that Hussey has earned the trust and respect of his company. Niall Moore is quite superb as Tom, capturing all the gaucheness and hesitancy of the character without being either gauche or hesitant, and there is terrific work, too, from Louise Lonergan as Amy and Cain O’ Dowd as Gary." Fintan O' Toole, The Irish Times

 

CHATROOM by Enda Walsh. (Riverbank / Prague Fringe Festival / June 2005). Kildare Youth Theatre. Directed by Peter Hussey.

 

THROUGH THE WIRE by Catherine Johnson. (Riverbank, Newbridge. April 2005). Directed by Mary Duffin.

 

MUGGED by Andrew Payne. (Riverbank, Newbridge / Everyman Palace, Cork. March – April 2005). Directed by Jillian Bradbury.

 

 

2004

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST by Oscar Wilde (Riverbank, December 2004). Kildare Youth Theatre. Two young actors, as a result of their performances in this production, won places at the UK’s National Student Drama Festival’s Ensemble project in 2005. Directed by Peter Hussey.

 

2nd Wyeth KILDARE FESTIVAL OF YOUTH DRAMA. Riverbank Arts Centre, July 2004. Coordinated by Kildare Youth Theatre, this festival brought together 4 local Irish youth theatres part in 5 days of performances, workshops and devised theatre. Director: Peter Hussey.

 

KARAMAZOO by Philip Ridley (IP) (Riverbank / Everyman Palace, Cork / Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh / International Gay Theatre Festival, Dublin. March – June 2004). Directed by Peter Hussey.

 

CITIZENSHIP by Mark Ravenhill (staged reading of work-in-progress. (WP) International Gay Theatre Festival, Dublin. May 2004).

Directed by Peter Hussey.

 

BOAT MEMORY by Laline Paull (IP) (Riverbank, Newbridge / Moat Thetare, Naas / Everyman Palace, Cork; April – May 2004). Directed by Peter Hussey.

 

THE WILLOW PATTERN by Judith Johnson (IP) (Riverbank, Newbridge / Moat Theatre, Naas / Everyman Palace, Cork. March – May 2004). Directed by Darren Donohue.

 

‘WHERE I COME FROM: SCENES FROM ABROAD’ BY SUSAN WILLIAMS by Richard Wilson (IP) (Riverbank, Newbridge / Moat Theatre, Naas / Everyman Palace, Cork. March – May 2004). Directed by Mary Duffin.

 

SAMURAI by Geoff Case (IP). (Newbridge. Bealtaine Arts Festival, May 2005). Directed by Alison Hollinshead.

 

 

2003

 

ROMEO AND JULIET by William Shakespeare (Riverbank, December 2003). Directed by Peter Hussey and Darren Donohue.

 

BABY JAWS devised by the company, (WP) directed by Peter Hussey (13 & 14 Sep; St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra; Victim Support International Youth Safety Conference)

 

1st Wyeth KILDARE FESTIVAL OF YOUTH DRAMA. Riverbank Arts Centre, July 2003. Coordinated by Kildare Youth Theatre, this festival brought together 4 local Irish youth theatres part in 5 days of performances, workshops and devised theatre. Director: Karina Power.

 

TOTALLY OVER YOU by Mark Ravenhill (IP) (Riverbank; Moat Theatre, Naas; Prosperous Theatre; Maynooth Community Festival; Lyric Theatre, Belfast; RNT Cottesloe, London; Directed by Peter Hussey. April – July 2003). Directed by Peter Hussey.

 

PURPLE by Jan Fosse (IP) (April/May 2003 Riverbank, Newbridge; Prosperous Theatre, Kildare; Lyric Theatre, Belfast)

 

 

2002

 

MACBETH by William Shakespeare (a co-production with Crooked House; March / April, Riverbank; Theatre Royal, Waterford; Garage Theatre, Monaghan; directed by Peter Hussey)

 

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM by William Shakespeare (8 - 12 May and 20 - 22 June 2002; directed by Darren Donohue & Yvonne O' Hara)

 

 

2001

 

TAINTED LOVE: Scenes to Get Hot About Dec 17th 2001; seven scenes from various plays performed all over Riverbank; directed by Yvonne O’ Hara & Darren Donohue)

 

 

1999

 

I LIKE BLACKBIRDS, I DO devised and directed by the members (WP) (Blue Room, VTOS, Newbridge. May 1999)

 

 

1998

 

MIXED NUTS: scene studies from contemporary plays (directed by Hugh Mc Ginley and Darren Donohue; Blue Room, VTOS. May 1998)

 

 

1997

 

OVER THE WALL by James Saunders (May 1997– the first KYT show, directed by Anne Mekitarian; Blue Room, VTOS)

 

 

1996

Kildare Youth Theatre founded in September by Peter Hussey of Crooked House. We employed Anne Mekitarian to be its first Drama Facilitator. It was then known as Kildare Youth Theatre @ Crooked House. Workshops occurred every Wednesday for 2 hours after school. There were 14 in the first group.