Craic Theatre Podcast

Gerry Cunningham, a proud Clonmore man, is a teacher, musician, songwriter, band leader, choirmaster, producer, playwright and Gael. For Dandercast he took the dander along the banks of The Blackwater river which marks the border between Armagh and Tyrone near the national trust property The Argory in the company of "Oul Han" Brian Mill and Oliver Corr MUSIC: The Block Set by More Power to Your Elbow 

Teacher, playwright, and actor Mark Shields  takes a dander with us down the Coalisland Canal from the Moor Bridge on a March morning to chat with Oul Han Declan McGrath recorded and produced by Oliver Corr 

Oul Han Shane Coleman former Clonoe sportsman Tommy Corr as they dander down The School Rampart in Derrylaughan Co Tyrone Tommy was a Gaelic footballer for Clonoe O'Rahilly's GFC as well as Tyrone minors and under 21's He was a six times All Ireland senior boxing champion representing Ireland at tournaments all over the world.  He won bronze  medals at Commonwealth Games and World Championships as well as representing Ireland at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984

In June 2021 "The Oul Hans" Dec McGrath, Shane Coleman, Seón og Coleman, Brian Mills and Liam McIlvenna embark on a 26 mile Mighty Marathon  Hike along the North Coast raising funds in aid of of Macmillan Cancer Care. All are veterans of the local theatre scene in Mid Ulster having performed in numerous shows for The Craic Theatre, The Bardic Theatre, Castlehill Theatre Group and The River Tall Community Theatre Group. In this first episode "A Leap of Faith" Dec McGrath goes walking and chatting with Oul Han founder & mature student Shane Coleman as he prepares for the mighty hike fundraiser. PLEASE LISTEN TO THE END TO CATCH SOME SPECIAL BONUS MATERIAL!!You can donate to this great cause at this link https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/oulhans?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=oulhans&utm_campaign=pfp-share&utm_term=10bc302696cf4ce7b01bfde086f35db8&__FB_PRIVATE_TRACKING__=%7B%22loggedout_browser_id%22%3A%220668bfae41d69d0f0842dce14156a41817847d7d%22%7D&fbclid=IwAR2grLOp65yjmrENsaD9JoULN3a_oQwNLUqUObYcGh69HwzG-nno8lWt2SQ

This is an extract from a stage play written by Mark Shields to celebrate the Industrial heritage of Coalisland Co Tyrone. It features members of the Craic Theatre Players It was produced by The Craic Theatre in association with Lough Neagh Partnership. The CastTommy McIlvennaPatrick McLernonStacey HetheringtonRonan HamillLiam McIlvennaTracy TimlinAoife CorrDecky KellyTony GervinDeclan McGrathRonan Johnson Claire McCroryShane ColemanHolly FoyFrank FeeMalachy QuinnDirected & Written by Mark ShieldsProduced by Oliver Corr Music by Cuig, Blackwater Ceili Band, Lee Lynch, and Micheál Ó Súilleabháin

Craic theatre -One act wednesdays - episode 2A chance meeting in a Dublin city park sees two office workers discover that they have much more in common than lunchtime concerts and ham & cheese sandwichesWith Claire McCrory as Kate and Brian Mills as WilliamThis short play contains adult themesPlease support The Craic Theatre Coalisland by sponsoring a seat. To find out more click on this link https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/craicartscentre/t-kxgerdNOW MORE THAN EVER WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT Craic Theatre would like to acknowledge the support of Mid Ulster Council and the Arts Council NI with this production 

Frank has been a stalwart of the local theatre scene for many, many years going back to the days of Coalisland Dramatic Society based at the old Parochial Centre in Coalisland with credits in “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “The Man Who Came to Dinner”. For the Bardic Theatre Donaghmore he played many roles including in Brian Friel's “Lovers,” JB Keane's classic “The Field” and the long running Wesley Burrow's comedy “Affluence”. For the Craic Theatre. Frank has played in many of the Sam Cree comedies as well as in Friel's “Translations” and “Freedom of the City” and the Martin McDonagh play “A Skull in Connemara”. And most recently as Canon Mick Byrne in Friel's Philadelphia Here I Come     Craic Theatre would like to acknowledge the support of Mid Ulster Council and the Arts Council NI with this podcast

It was announced last week that The Craic Theatre had been nominated in 5 categories for our production of Little Shop of Horrors in the AIMS (Association of Irish Musical Societies) Awards.  Best Director Sean O'Neill, Best Musical Director Roisin Corr, Best Actress Kim Gildernew, Best Technical Theatre Production and Best Overall Show. So we have gather Sean Roisin and Kim along with  set designer Fiona McNaney for an online celebration of this achievement. Craic Theatre would like to acknowledge the support of Mid Ulster Council and the Arts Council NI with this podcast

The Zoo Story by Edward Albee presented as part of One Act Wednesday featuring Conor Begley as Jerry and Declan McGrath as Peter directed by Claire McCrory It was rehearsed and recorded under the social distancing restrictions because of Covid -19 Craic Theatre would like to acknowledge the support of Mid Ulster Council and the Arts Council NI with this podcast

Claire Murray who had had a long association with Craic going back to our very first production back in 1995 the willie Russell musical play Our Day Out Memoralble she played the part of Mona in Owen McCafferty's adaptation  of Days of Wine and Roses alongside Nigel O'Neill . In 2013 she established Blunt Fringe production company specialising in musical theatre Claire is currently  Head of Development & Marketing at The Lyric Theatre, Belfast. Craic Theatre would like to acknowledge the support of Mid Ulster Council and the Arts Council NI with this podcast

Tony Devlin is the artistic director of Brassneck Theatre Company. He has worked as an actor, director and television presenter for many years. Formed in April 2007, Brassneck Theatre Company was created in order to satisfy the huge appetite in West Belfast for quality, professional theatre. The name came from what we had to go through in order to set up a company and produce a play. With no funding or resources, we were forced to beg, borrow and steal (well not quite), with a fair amount of ‘Brassneck' in order to see this venture through.Craic Theatre would like to acknowledge the support of Mid Ulster Council and the Arts Council NI with this podcast

Niamh Flanagan is the Executive Director of Theatre and Dance NI. Dance Resource Base (DRB) and TheatreNI (TNI) Have recently merged to form Theatre and Dance NI This is the representative body to support and develop theatre and the performing arts for all in Northern Ireland including in its widest terms the areas of drama, physical theatre, dance, circus, street theatre, musical theatre and opera.Craic Theatre would like to acknowledge the support of Mid Ulster Council and the Arts Council NI with this podcast

Molly  is currently completing a PhD on the social value of youth drama groups in rural areas. As part of her MA studies at Queens she used The craic Youth Theatre as a case study. She has worked in Arts Research and Consultancy has been a Drama workshop facilitator and is a Board member with Theatre & Dance NI.Craic Theatre would like to acknowledge the support of Mid Ulster Council and the Arts Council NI with this podcast 

Based in Belfast, Sheena is a dance artist whose interest lies with contemporary dance field and community dance practice. Since graduating in 2008 with a BA (Hons) in Performing Arts–Dance from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts LIPA she has worked across the UK and Ireland as well as internationally and received a Lisa Ullmann Scholarship in 2010, SIAP Travel Award (2009)and a SIAP International Fund (2012) from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.Craic Theatre would like to acknowledge the support of Mid Ulster Council and the Arts Council NI with this podcast

Actor, director and musician Declan McGrath. Dec is a member of the Craic Theatre board and has appeared in many productions over the years including The Righteous Are Bold, Calamity Jane, Stella By Starlight, Make Mine a Musical and Lights Out. He is a founding member of Castlehill Theatre Company and has played a key role in all their productions most recently in The Kings of The Kilburn High Road and Factory Girls. For the Bardic Theatre he directed the musical Annie to great acclaim earlier this year. He is a gifted musician and singer Craic Theatre would like to acknowledge the support of Mid Ulster Council and the Arts Council NI with this podcast

MARIA CONNOLLYMaria Connolly trained at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama inLondon 1991-1994, where she received The Kenneth Branagh RenaissanceAward for most promising actor from Northern Ireland. She was awarded anIrish Times Best Actress nomination for her performance in PROBLEMCHILD for Prime Cut Productions.Maria began acting when she was 15 with the Ulster Youth Theatre under theleadership of David Grant. She performed in The National Theatre of Londonwhen she was 16, starting a career that has lasted over 30 years. Maria hasworked extensively in Northern Irish theatre, particularly focusing on new writingcreating roles in productions that have been revived and returned to audiencesin Northern Ireland and further afield.After an extensive Irish tour and selling out the Lyric Theatre Belfast and thenThe Grand Opera House, Maria performed internationally the solo show TWOSORE LEGS by Brenda Murphy for Green Shoot Productions. She performedTwo Sore Legs in New York at the Cuala Festival and was chosen to perform inBrussels by The Arts Council representing NI's best of the arts in the EU. Sheperformed at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015 where she was Lorna Diamond's(The Scotsman) pick of the festival.Maria performed the role of ‘Alice' in Patrick J O'Reilly's critically acclaimedTHE MAN WHO FELL TO PIECES, for Tinderbox, which hopes to have it'sthird revival in the near future.Maria has collaborated with many theatre companies and writers in Belfast.She works extensively with Paula McFetridge from Kabosh Theatre Company,most recently on Vincent Higgins' ‘A Bellaghy Tale,' celebrating the work and‘Homeplace' of Seamus Heaney. With Paula, Maria also created the role of‘Lady Annie' at Hillsborough Castle, developing collaborations and connectionsand strengthening her passion for site specific theatre.Maria played Arlene Foster in Rosemary Jenkinson's ‘Michelle and Arlene' seriesof satirical comedies. Maria is delighted to be performing in Rosemary'snew play this year ‘Dream, Sleep, Connect' with C21 theatre company.Maria has worked extensively with and continues to collaborate and create rolesby playwright Martin Lynch performing in ‘Dancing Shoes,' History of ThePeace,' ‘We'll walk Hand in Hand' and ‘Meeting at Menin Gate.'Maria has just completed recording a 6 part sitcom for BBC Radio Ulster writtenby up and coming Northern Irish writer Ciaran Bartlett. Maria recentlyfilmed a new Sitcom ‘Familiar,' for Hare and Tortoise, directed by Simon Delaney.Maria attended script writing for the theatre, training under the direction ofJackie Doyle, formally of Prime Cut Productions. There she trained in scriptdevelopment with Graham Whybrow, formally from the Royal Court Theatre inLondon and Patrick Marber, the award winning writer of ‘Closer.' She participatedin a series of workshops organised by Replay Theatre Company designedto train emerging writers from Northern Ireland to write for children/ youngadults. Maria's participation on the course led to the commission of 2 playsfrom Replay Theatre Company.Maria since went on to write for Tinderbox Theatre Company, Kabosh TheatreCompany, BBC Radio 4 and Radio Ulster.Craic Theatre would like to acknowledge the support of Mid Ulster Council and the Arts Council NI with this podcast

Aoibh Johnson and Cahal Clarke are theatre practitioners currently living and work in Australia. Their show "The Daughters of Róisín" played this year at the Adelaide Fringe Festival to rave reviews. Aoibh has been a member of the Craic Theatre for many many years and prior to moving to Adelaide was a drama facilitator for the Youth Theatre. She is an actor and writer. Cahal is from Belfast and is a director, actor and musician.  Craic Theatre would like to acknowledge the support of Mid Ulster Council and the Arts Council NI with this podcast

Mark shields is a member of the Craic Theatre Board. He is head of drama at St Patrick's Academy Dungannon. He has acted in numerous plays over the years for all the local companies and in recent years has had several of his own plays on the Craic stage including Inheritance, Extra Time and Coalisland Tales, Grafted, Crafted Woven and Spun. He is currently writing his first novel. Craic Theatre would like to acknowledge the support of Mid Ulster Council and the Arts Council NI with this podcast

Interview with traditional musician and artist Barry Kerr ogininally from Lurgan Co Armagh but now living and working in Dublin. Kerr's career in music and visual arts spans twenty years, including performing with the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra on their tour of the USAunder conductor David Brophy. He has also collaborated with musicians such as Steve Cooney and Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and has had his original compositions recorded by artists such as Beoga, Aoife Scott, Brian Finnegan and Kate Rusby. He first performed at the Craic Theatre Coalisland in 2005 in a play by Brian Moore called "The Session" produced by Dubblejoint Theatre Company. Craic Theatre would like to acknowledge the support of Mid Ulster Council and the Arts Council NI with this podcast