A feast of literary and theatre events are in store at Tipperary arts festival
Clonmel Junction Arts Festival
Clonmel Junction Arts Festival has an impressive selection of theatre, works in progress and literary events for audiences to select from this July.
Mr Bergmann of Deadman’s Point
The multi-award-winning Nth Degree Productions are bringing ‘Mr Bergmann of Deadman’s Point’, a play by Ronan Dempsey, to Clonmel on Thursday 10th July at 7pm in STAC Chapel.
Ireland’s most famous unidentified man, Peter Bergmann, appears on stage in Clonmel for one night only.
After three mysterious days in Sligo town involving fake names, non-existent addresses and a vanishing act for all his possessions, he’s found deceased at Deadman’s Point, Sligo. All has gone to plan for him until he has a very unexpected encounter with an embalmer, who is in a race against time to cement his legacy.
A mysterious and comic tale of personal angst, which explores reputation and legacy – this promises to be one intriguing encounter you won’t want to miss.
Asylum Productions in Development
Asylum Productions are set to occupy 15 O'Connell Street. Using Annerley Jewellers as their base, Asylum are inviting the people of Clonmel to come and share their stories of the town centre's past and help us to reimagine its brighter future.
Following on from the success of the company's 2023 sell-out show ‘Everything Must GO!’, they will once again work with Clonmel-native creatives Aideen Wylde and Éanna Grogan on the early ideas for a new show, ‘Gutted’ - a re-examination of the ongoing dereliction crisis in smalltown Ireland in conversation with the people of Clonmel.
From 9th July to 12th July, the company will occupy one of the many vacant shop units on O’Connell Street, and invite (or coax!) folks in for an impromptu cup of tea and a chat about the state of civic space! What can be done? What do the townspeople of today need from its centre? What does pride of place even mean anyway?!
‘Gutted’ is the first phase of the creation of a new show for Clonmel Junction Festival in two years’ time.
Works in Progress and New Works
An important aspect of Clonmel Junction Arts Festival is to offer a platform for artists and new works.
Anseo Anois Theatre, an award-winning theatre company producing work that is curious, contemporary and character-driven, will perform ‘Keeping Vigil’, a work in progress presentation at Baker’s Bar on Friday 4th July at 7pm. Three friends reunite in their hometown on the eve of a funeral to stay awake overnight and keep vigil over the body. A bittersweet reunion that becomes a nostalgic trip down memory lane, will this night bring them back together or tear them apart?
‘When All the World is Quiet’
‘When All the World is Quiet’, a rehearsed reading of a new play by Aoife Delany Reade, offers an exploration of individual responsibility in the face of colonialism on Tuesday 8th July at 8.30pm in STAC Chapel – do you join the fight for independence, or choose isolation, hoping Ireland can rebuild itself one day?
Eve O’Mahony brings a rehearsed reading of her new play, ‘The Doll’s Hospital’, to Clonmel on Saturday 12th July at 7pm, inviting audiences into the world of two sisters Bunty and Nancy. By day the sisters run a doll’s hospital for local children in a dilapidated pub where the door has been closed to customers since their father’s death, ‘The Doll’s Hospital’ is a tragicomedy, which sees the sisters emerge from victimhood to maturity.
The celebration of words continues at this year’s festival with a Story Slam (in Baker’s Bar on Sunday 6th July at 8pm), Crime Night with Patricia Gibney (on Wednesday 9th July at 7pm in STAC Chapel), Spoken Word evening curated by Eileen Acheson (on Friday 11th July in the Main Guard at 6.30pm) and Book Club with Maggie Armstrong (on Sunday 13th July in Clonmel Library at 12pm) as well as community poem presentations. Be sure to engage with the many encounters at Clonmel Junction Arts Festival from 4th to 13th July. See www.junctionfestival.com for full details.