Academic Lead for UCD Creative Futures Academy Dr Nicolas Pillai reflects on the launch of the Trapdoor and his hopes for the future.
After years of mysterious construction activity echoing from the shell of the old DramSoc theatre in the Newman Basement, the secret was unveiled on Tuesday February 27th with a red carpet, a glitzy neon sign, and a host of celebrated academics and guests from across the UCD creative space and beyond. The event marked the launch of the Trapdoor, UCD's new premiere performance and creativity space – a state of the art theatre box complete with Hollywood riggings, a floor-to-ceiling projection screen and all manner of state-of-the-art creative production equipment.
The Observer sat down with Dr Nicolas Pillai, academic lead for UCD creative Futures Academy, and one of the many individuals who oversaw the Trapdoor's development, to discuss the Trapdoors purpose and plans for the future.
One of the cornerstones of the UCD Creative Futures Academy and the new Trapdoor is their partnership with the Dublin International Film Festival(DIFF). Asked about this partnership, Dr Pillai asserted his desire to make teaching more "outward facing … So that involves working with a lot of industry partners … and we were very lucky in that Grainne Humphries who is the CEO of DIFF comes in and teaches one of our CFA modules with cinema creatives."
Arguably one of the landmark achievements of this partnership, especially for UCD students, was the visit of acclaimed filmmaker Steve McQueen to UCD campus. The oscar-winner was the new Trapdoor's first guest, and an incredible coup for the UCD CFA. Asked how he secured the creative's visit Pillai said;
"He's an artist I've admired for many, many years, and it was made possible through our partnership with DIFF, particularly Grainne Humphries, it's a conversation I started with Grainne probably about a year and a half ago … and since then, we've been talking with Steve's team …shaping what the events going to be."
Dr Pillai highlighted a desire to steer the event away from the traditional question-and-answer interview style … "Steve has always wanted this to be an event with him interacting with students, meeting with students … it could have been me just talking with Steven in an interview situation. I never wanted that to be the case. I wanted students on stage."
Our conversation turned towards the increasing growth of the Irish film industry on the international stage, and how the new Trapdoor can act as a springboard for students; helping launch them into the creative industry. "It's a really exciting time to be someone who's looking to get into the creative industry … what I hope is that this is a kind of laboratory for students who want to try out new skills, who want to dip their toe into the water of creativity, want to develop their own shows … … and those be the first steps into creative careers."
Dr Pillai discussed the selection of the UCD DramSoc theatre for the Trapdoor as an intention to honour the space's creative history and to "stand on the shoulders of giants." Pillai went on to detail the Trapdoor's embryonic nature. "We don't know yet what's going to happen with that space … students will teach us how to use the space."
"What I hope is that this is a kind of laboratory for students who want to try out new skills, who want to dip their toe into the waters of creativity."
Before the Trapdoor had even officially launched, they had begun collaborations with theatre companies and filmmaking crews, collaborations which involve UCD students and will provide them with hands-on experience in creative areas "... were developing work with a theatre company, ThisIsPopBaby. They're gonna be developing a show with Trapdoor, there's going to be some student involvement there. There's also a documentary film that's started filming. So, there's lots on the horizon."
"We don't know yet what's going to happen with that space … students will teach us how to use the space."