Over 150 members of the community involved in reimagining of Kilkenny Witch Trials
Venues include Kilkenny Castle and the graveyard at the Medieval Mile Museum, bookended by two large outdoor spectacles - The Demon Dance on the Parade
Retiree Richard Dooley has been involved with the Kilkenny Choir for a number of years and also enjoys singing with St Canice’s Choir.
He’s never been involved in a theatre production but was curious when he say Asylum Productions’ call-out for volunteers for a community choir, dance group and cast as part of The Alice Project.
Something about the reimagining of the Kilkenny Witch Trials, the tale of Dame Alice Kyteler and the Trials of 1324, jumped out at him, particularly when he learnt that The Alice Project is to be presented in five parts in various locations in Kilkenny City in August as part of Kilkenny Arts Festival, funded under Kilkenny County Council’s Public Arts Programme.
“I was reluctant initially to join the community choir as I have lots of family commitments at the moment and knew I might miss one or two Thursday night rehearsals for that reason,” the former HSE employee and former army man said.
“But something inside me said, give it a go. I’ve never done anything like this in my life but am very happy to be involved with the community choir and be part of something special in Kilkenny.
“I’ve absolutely no regrets. I love the lively engagement and it’s fantastic to be in the community choir while also involved with actors, dancers and a fantastic crew in the reimagining of a piece of Kilkenny history told with a modern flavour. I can’t wait to see it all take shape,” Mr Dooley, from Rathmoyle, said as the first full rehearsal took place recently.
Mr Dooley is just one of close to 150 people of all ages from all backgrounds are involved in The Alice Project, Line Producer, Joe Murphy, explained.
“We’ve a great mix of people, some very familiar faces who have been involved in countless local productions, including two of the five Alice episodes last year. But we’ve lots of new people too,” he said.
“It’s great to see people stepping out of their comfort zone, watch new friendships blossoming and see people come out of their shell, try something new. Lots of the people here now meet up outside of rehearsals, socialise together etc. It’s what community engagement and public arts is all about.”
The Alice Project is an intimate storytelling in various locations. Venues include Kilkenny Castle and the graveyard at the Medieval Mile Museum, bookended by two large outdoor spectacles - The Demon Dance on the Parade, and culminating in The Burning (The Words of Petronella) set on the grounds of St Kieran’s College on Saturday, August 15. Tickets for the various episodes of the much-anticipated production can be booked on the Kilkenny Arts Festival website, www.kilkennyarts.ie.
The team includes a community cast of actors, a community dancer troop, a community choir and a rowdy band of reveller actors. They’re all being put through their paces under the expert and watchful eye of a collective of makers which also includes writer Clare Monnelly, Medb Lambert and Fern Kealy, with directors Dónal Gallagher and Janice de Bróite, choreography by Cindy Cummings, Muireann Ryan as Choral Director and music by Dave Holland.
It all promises to be spectacular, Dónal Gallagher says. “We’re telling the story of Alice, but in a contemporary world. We tell the story in five episodes. The first episode is the first night of Kilkenny Arts Festival and episodes 2, 3 and 4 take place in various locations around the city. The grand finale, takes place on the front steps of St Kieran’s College. Each piece is designed like theatre tapas and we’re delighted with how it’s all progressing.”
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The Alice Project is one of five community-rooted projects commissioned by Kilkenny County Council’s Public Arts Programme 2024-2027, and funded by the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage. Additional funding for the long-awaited performances during Kilkenny Arts Festival has been provided by The Arts Council.
A second Public Arts Programme Kilkenny commission, Fearghus Ó Conchúir’s cinematic dance film ‘All to Play For’ will be screened in The Watergate Theatre on Monday August 10. It will play at intervals on the big screen from 12 noon to 2pm and entry is free
Other projects commissioned under the initiative continue into next year. They are Córa, by Michael Gallen, a multi-disciplinary project blending choral music, documentary, poetry, design, and animation to craft an evocative film about the heritage of Irish healing practices.
Pauline O’ Connell’s project, From Hide to Heel, also continues into 2027. It explores and celebrates the intertwined leather and shoemaking traditions in Kilkenny. It tells the story of Padmore and Barnes, the boot factory in Kilkenny.