Ellie Hanan Moran takes a look through UCD alumni’s new shows in Smock Alley’s 2023 Scene & Heard Festival.
Every year since 2016, the Smock Alley Theatre hosts a festival called Scene & Heard – a festival of new works. Artists of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcomed to put on their new works there – be that a rehearsed reading, a work in progress they want feedback on or totally new artists trying their hand at their first public works. The festival accepts art across a wide range of genres, from theatre, comedy and dance to poetry, circus and visual art. The only strong requirement is that the work is original and new.
When you attend a show that is part of the Scene & Heard festival, you are asked to fill out a small form before the show on your expectations going in, and another small form after about what you thought of the show and whether you would be interested in a full-length production. This feedback is used to help the artists involved learn what their audiences liked and didn’t like, and whether the work is worth expanding. If a show receives a lot of positive feedback and call for a full-length show, we may see the show pop up again down the line – this time more fully realised and ready for a proper run.
As it is a popular platform for new artists attempting to get their work seen and engaged with, many UCD alumni involved in the performing arts have had work in the festival over the years. This year is no different.
Staged at 2pm on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th of February was The CRISPR Show!, an interactive and educational show explaining the science and ethics of genetic editing. The show was written and directed by UCD alumna Marissa Wyll, and performed by UCD alumni Bronagh McMullan, Carla Fusciardi Wallace and Rachel O’Sullivan. The show was originally written as part of Marissa’s thesis for her MA in Theatre Practice from UCD. Marissa’s background is in both theatre and science, having simultaneously achieved both a BS and a BA from Western Washington University before her MA in UCD. Bronagh graduated from UCD with a BSc in Chemistry and Biophysical Chemistry, and was also very active in UCD Dramsoc during her time here. Carla graduated from UCD with a Bachelors in Civil Law, and is also an alumna of the UCD Ad Astra Performing Arts Academy. Finally, Rachel graduated from UCD with a BSc in Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology, and alongside Carla, is also an alumna of the UCD Ad Astra Performing Arts Academy. The team were brought together by their shared passion for theatre and science – two things that aren’t often shown together, but as The CRISPR Show! proved, really ought to be! It is wonderful to see UCD alumni creating work in the Dublin theatre scene, and more exciting again when the work is so interesting and fun to engage with.
This group is not the only one in the Scene & Heard that hails from UCD. Jaxbanded Theatre Company, created by Ois O’Donoghue and Ruairí Nicholl, identify their company as “a new Irish theatre company that seeks to celebrate the imperfect, the human and the now”. Ois and Ruairí are both UCD graduates; Ruairí with a BA in History and Ois with a BA in English and Drama and an MA in Theatre Practice. Both were active UCD Dramsoc members during their time here, while Ruairí was also an active member of UCD Musical society. Jaxbanded Theatre Company have two works in the Scene & Heard Festival this year. Both productions have a core set of team members: Jodie Doyle, Amy Dunne and Daniel Culleton, all UCD alumni who were heavily involved in Dramsoc.
The first of the two shows, Sentimental: A New Gig Musical has been in the works for several years now, with Ruairí writing the songs while Ois wrote the dialogue. A section of the show was staged at 9:45PM on Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th of February. As it progressed, Ois took the role of director, Ruairí was cast as John, Sarah Moran-Nolan as Jez, and Morgan Buckley as Proc. The show is set during a global catastrophe, when two ex-bandmates are invited back to the club where they first met. Sarah and Morgan, along with the crew involved in the Scene & Heard production, are all UCD and Dramsoc alumni, and in Sarah’s case, Musical Society alumni too. I was lucky enough to see this show on its first of two nights in Smock Alley. I was blown away by the writing, humour and emotion of the show. The use of an original soundtrack was exciting to see. The extended version of the musical includes a vast amount more songs than could be fit into the small excerpt seen in the Scene & Heard festival. Having seen how well the performance in Smock Alley went, I can’t wait to see how the rest of the soundtrack comes together onstage. I have seen all three actors perform multiple times over the years and as always, I was very impressed with their characterisation, wonderful singing voices and humorous delivery.
Jaxbanded’s second show in the festival is called HYPER. Its tagline reads “Voice. Gender. Hyperpop. Let’s Get F*cked.” The show is an exploration of transness and music. As well as the core production team members, the show also features UCD and Dramsoc alumni Fiona Larmon and Christopher O’Shaughnessy. In HYPER, Ois will be not only directing, but also performing alongside her cast members Fiona and Christopher. At the time of writing, this show is still to come. HYPER is on at 9:45PM on Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd of February. I have purchased mine already and knowing the kind of talents existing among the cast and crew, I am extremely excited to see the show.
The Scene & Heard Festival runs from the 9th to the 25th of February. Support your local artists by attending a show or two and providing expectations and feedback before and after each show.
Every year since 2016, the Smock Alley Theatre hosts a festival called Scene & Heard – a festival of new works. Artists of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcomed to put on their new works there – be that a rehearsed reading, a work in progress they want feedback on or totally new artists trying their hand at their first public works. The festival accepts art across a wide range of genres, from theatre, comedy and dance to poetry, circus and visual art. The only strong requirement is that the work is original and new.
When you attend a show that is part of the Scene & Heard festival, you are asked to fill out a small form before the show on your expectations going in, and another small form after about what you thought of the show and whether you would be interested in a full-length production. This feedback is used to help the artists involved learn what their audiences liked and didn’t like, and whether the work is worth expanding. If a show receives a lot of positive feedback and call for a full-length show, we may see the show pop up again down the line – this time more fully realised and ready for a proper run.
As it is a popular platform for new artists attempting to get their work seen and engaged with, many UCD alumni involved in the performing arts have had work in the festival over the years. This year is no different.
Staged at 2pm on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th of February was The CRISPR Show!, an interactive and educational show explaining the science and ethics of genetic editing. The show was written and directed by UCD alumna Marissa Wyll, and performed by UCD alumni Bronagh McMullan, Carla Fusciardi Wallace and Rachel O’Sullivan. The show was originally written as part of Marissa’s thesis for her MA in Theatre Practice from UCD. Marissa’s background is in both theatre and science, having simultaneously achieved both a BS and a BA from Western Washington University before her MA in UCD. Bronagh graduated from UCD with a BSc in Chemistry and Biophysical Chemistry, and was also very active in UCD Dramsoc during her time here. Carla graduated from UCD with a Bachelors in Civil Law, and is also an alumna of the UCD Ad Astra Performing Arts Academy. Finally, Rachel graduated from UCD with a BSc in Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology, and alongside Carla, is also an alumna of the UCD Ad Astra Performing Arts Academy. The team were brought together by their shared passion for theatre and science – two things that aren’t often shown together, but as The CRISPR Show! proved, really ought to be! It is wonderful to see UCD alumni creating work in the Dublin theatre scene, and more exciting again when the work is so interesting and fun to engage with.
This group is not the only one in the Scene & Heard that hails from UCD. Jaxbanded Theatre Company, created by Ois O’Donoghue and Ruairí Nicholl, identify their company as “a new Irish theatre company that seeks to celebrate the imperfect, the human and the now”. Ois and Ruairí are both UCD graduates; Ruairí with a BA in History and Ois with a BA in English and Drama and an MA in Theatre Practice. Both were active UCD Dramsoc members during their time here, while Ruairí was also an active member of UCD Musical society. Jaxbanded Theatre Company have two works in the Scene & Heard Festival this year. Both productions have a core set of team members: Jodie Doyle, Amy Dunne and Daniel Culleton, all UCD alumni who were heavily involved in Dramsoc.
The first of the two shows, Sentimental: A New Gig Musical has been in the works for several years now, with Ruairí writing the songs while Ois wrote the dialogue. A section of the show was staged at 9:45PM on Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th of February. As it progressed, Ois took the role of director, Ruairí was cast as John, Sarah Moran-Nolan as Jez, and Morgan Buckley as Proc. The show is set during a global catastrophe, when two ex-bandmates are invited back to the club where they first met. Sarah and Morgan, along with the crew involved in the Scene & Heard production, are all UCD and Dramsoc alumni, and in Sarah’s case, Musical Society alumni too. I was lucky enough to see this show on its first of two nights in Smock Alley. I was blown away by the writing, humour and emotion of the show. The use of an original soundtrack was exciting to see. The extended version of the musical includes a vast amount more songs than could be fit into the small excerpt seen in the Scene & Heard festival. Having seen how well the performance in Smock Alley went, I can’t wait to see how the rest of the soundtrack comes together onstage. I have seen all three actors perform multiple times over the years and as always, I was very impressed with their characterisation, wonderful singing voices and humorous delivery.
Jaxbanded’s second show in the festival was called HYPER, and was staged at 9:45PM on Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd of February. Its tagline reads “Voice. Gender. Hyperpop. Let’s Get F*cked.” The show is an exploration of transness and music. As well as the core production team members, the show also features UCD and Dramsoc alumni Fiona Larmon and Christopher O’Shaughnessy. HYPER was written by Ois as part of her thesis for her MA in the Theatre Practice, the same MA that aforementioned Marissa Wyll wrote her The CRISPR! Show. Having written the show, Ois also directed and acted in it, playing the inner thoughts of the character Saoirse, speaking through voice modulators. Onstage, Saoirse was played by Fiona Larmon. The character is a trans woman in a band with her lifelong friend, Conall, played by Christopher O’Shaughnessy. Having not played since before her transition, she uses voice modulators onstage out of fear of how she will be seen for her natural voice. Her concerns lie in the way people who see her and people who hear her might not view her appearance and voice as matching up. She explains, “maybe I want people to hear Ronnie Drew, but still see Lady Gaga” (paraphrased). The show begins and ends letting the audience know that the show isn’t for them, it’s not for or about cis, straight people. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t listen. If anything, it means they should pay extra attention. By the time the play ended, people all around me were tearing up or crying, making it profoundly clear how seen it made those who relate feel. It was an incredible show, balancing funny and moving aspects beautifully. I really hope Jaxbanded get the opportunity to stage a full version of both of their shows, so I can see more of the brilliant work they have to offer, and nag everyone I know into seeing them too.
All in all, the UCD alumni involved in this year’s Scene & Heard Festival did an incredible job and show great promise for their careers in the arts as they continue to put work out into the world. I can’t wait to see what they do next!