A jam-packed programme of events and initiatives has been unveiled at Theatre Royal for 2023 which will bring the highest calibre of local, national and international entertainment to Waterford audiences.
Some of the highlights planned include a return of the Shakespeare Review for Leaving Cert students, directed by Jamie Beamish; working with new Waterford-based theatre collective Shakespeare Squared on an outdoor promenade production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in the Viking Triangle; continued partnership with SETU Music and Theatre Studies lecturers and students; and performances from a variety of touring shows such as Irish folk band The High Kings, Irish National Opera with Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, Ukrainian National Ballet with Swan Lake and three time Juno Award-winning singer songwriter Ron Sexsmith.
Theatre Royal will also soon announce details of a new artistic residency, while the Live@TheRoyal live music initiative, developed to help connect musicians with audiences post-Covid, will feature a programme of gigs that includes Irish artists Lisa Hannigan, Paul Noonan, Gemma Hayes and much more.
Theatre Royal’s new three-year strategy was recently ratified by the board of management and aims to position the theatre as a sustainably-focused organisation that delivers high quality, multi-faceted live programming whilst also increasing supports and opportunities for arts professionals and nurturing emerging artists.
This is being driven by Theatre Director Mary Boland and Commercial Director Nora Widger. The past year has seen significant change to the board of Theatre Royal, with the appointment of a new chairperson, Gabrielle Cummins (Beat 102-103 CEO) and addition of Colette Byrne (former Kilkenny County Council Manager), David Francis Moore (Carlow Arts Festival programme director) and Deirdre McSweeney (Newtown Junior School principal). The strong team of Barbara Drohan, Orm Kenny, cllrs Seamus Ryan and Joe Kelly completes the current board.
Gabrielle Cummins has paid tribute to outgoing chairperson Anne Marie Caufield: “Anne Marie and her fellow board helped steer the ship through some exceptionally challenging times. I wish to thank Anne Marie for her valued stewardship and expertise. The theatre is well placed as we embark on this exciting, newly-developed three-year strategy. Nora, Mary and their fantastic team are rightly placing significant emphasis on diversifying to encourage further positive community engagement in areas that matter in our society, today and into the future, such as climate change and sustainability.”
To see more about upcoming events at Theatre Royal, visit www.theatreroyal.ie
