Annual Report 2011 - Roscommon County Council

Libraries, Arts, Culture and Heritage
Roscommon Arts Centre
Roscommon Arts Centre played host to an ambitious programme and despite the current
economic climate, it programmed almost 140 events in the auditorium, workshop and gallery
spaces and retained attendances of an average 60% at ticketed events.
2011 marked the Arts Centre’s 10th anniversary and to celebrate, the Arts Centre welcomed
the world renowned Druid Theatre Company and the Abbey Theatre to Roscommon for their
debut performances. In October, the first ever Theatre Company in Residence was staged -
Monkeyshine Theatre Company, who worked with students in Corrigeenroe National School
on the production of a new piece of theatre entitled Losh, before embarking on a tour of other
venues nationwide.
The Arts Centre also worked with the renowned aerial dance company Fidget Feet and
students of the Presentation College on a collaborative dance performance project entitled
Hang On.
The Arts Centre co-produced its fifth professional theatre production The Seafarer with
colleagues in Nomad Theatre Network and for the fourth year, the production has been
nominated for an Irish Times Theatre Award. The Roscommon Drama Festival ensured that
once again Roscommon Arts Centre was recognised as a centre for excellence for the
presentation of amateur drama in 2011 and they continued to promote Roscommon as a
vibrant home for amateur drama companies on the national stage, with over 1,500 people
attending the festival this year.
Swimming with My Mother, CoisCéim
Dance Theatre, featuring dancer
David Bolger and his mother Madge.
Performed at Roscommon Arst Centre,
May 2011 as part of the Bealtaine Festival
2011, celebrating creativity in older age.
Annual Report 2011 57