Submissions invited for Draíocht redevelopment
by Peter Goulding

Eagle eyed Dublin theatre goers may have noticed that Draíocht’s summer season is a little shorter than usual this year. Showtime normally ceases for the month of August but the final performance of the aptly-titled “Over and Out” on June 21st brings the curtain down somewhat prematurely on the season’s listings.

This is of course to facilitate Draíocht’s long-awaited and much-heralded refurbishment which will see the renovation of the box office, the refurbishment of the toilets, the relocation of theatre bar, the replacement of the kitchen and part of lecture room with a new café and seating area and the introduction of outdoor seating in the side courtyard between the theatre and the library.

In addition, there are plans to install a new €500,000 “flying system,” which will enable the venue to book a wider range of acts that had hitherto been possible.

“We have a responsibility to update and upskill on a regular basis,” said Fingal County Council’s Arts Officer Rory O’Byrne. “The superb reputation that Draíocht enjoys at a national level has come about through the work of the staff at Draíocht and in Fingal County Council.

“As in many things, you are only as good as your last show, so when we can improve facilities and consequently improve the experience for those who pay money to see shows in Draíocht, we must take the opportunity to do so.

“The re-development of a new flying system and a café/ restaurant facility came about as part of our forward planning. We are constantly looking at ways to improve the facilities at Draíocht for those who perform there and those who attend as audience members,” he said.

The state of the art flying system is basically a new rigging system that will allow props or indeed performers to descend from the gods or to fly in from the wings of the stage. “Not only will it allow for faster scene changes but it will enable us to bring in a wider variety of acts than before,” explains Nicola Murphy, Draíocht’s marketing manager. “We will be able to comfortably stage shows like Peter Pan and others where a degree of mechanised stagecraft is required. It is all very exciting.

“Naturally our local groups will have access to the new stage technology and will be able to take advantage of the numerous special effects that it offers their productions. This is in line with our policy of maintaining the highest possible standards of performing theatre for the public.”

Inside the foyer area, the current training room area is to be reduced in size to facilitate the installation of a new cafeteria. This will entail opening up the side of the building facing the library and the provision of an outdoor seating area. The current bar will be shortened and swung around 90 degrees so that it faces the entrance to the auditorium.

The cafeteria has been put out to tender and the successful applicant will be named in the next two weeks. The whole refurbishment is expected to take ten weeks, with the normal autumn season of performances, activities and exhibitions beginning as usual in September. Draíocht staff, however, will not benefit from an enforced holiday, as behind-the-scenes work preparing for the new season will go on as usual.

It is understood that the utilisation of the space to the rear of Draíocht and the installation of an art-house cinema will be considered at a later date, although both ideas have been mooted previously.

In the meantime, submissions or observations with respect to the proposed development may be made in writing to: Arts Officer, Community Recreation and Amenities Department, Fingal County Council, County Hall, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin on or before Thursday 5th June 2008.

All comments, including the names and addresses of those making the comments, will form part of the statutorily required report to be presented to the monthly meeting of Fingal County Council.

 

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