The Act Of Oblivion - 10&11/02/2017

Devised by the youth theatre with Peter Hussey

Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th February 2018, Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge. 8.00pm

In our first production of 2018, Kildare Youth Theatre attempt to explore what happens when the colonised try to live alongside the coloniser. How is their shared history re-told?

In 1604, at the end of the Irish Nine Years' War, an Act of Oblivion declared that all "offences against the crown" committed before the King's accession were to be "pardoned, remitted, and utterly extinguished". But they were not forgotten.

Two short plays interweave and are told at the same time by two separate companies of young actors. In one, Charlie has organised the perfect New Year's Eve party in his campus accommodation, but his plans don't include the enigmatic Elliot who somehow seems to live there too but not even Charlie knows how or why.

In the other play Sean has the house to himself when his parents go away and he organises a rehearsal of their Irish-speaking 'phunc-rock' band but Eoghan brings a new singer. From Estonia. Who doesn't speak Irish. But who has lots of money.

Both plays run their course through, across, and in-between each other, oblivious of each other. Can a settlement to share the stage be reached?

The Act of Oblivion is a work-in-progress and we will invite audience feedback at the end of the show.

Casts

Surrender and Regrant (1537)

Séan - Séan Dowse

Cian – Cian Ó Náraigh

Eoghan – Eoghan Ó Laoghaire

‘Gloria’ (Katerina) – Katerina Kataki

Oisín – Oisín Heffernan

Laudabiliter (1155)

Charlie – Charlie Hughes-Farrell

Elliot – Elliot Nolan