An Grianán Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids An Grianán Theatre |
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The front view of An Grianan Theatre in Letterkenny, County Donegal
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| General information | |
| Type | Theatre |
| Architectural style | Modern |
| Location | Letterkenny, County Donegal, Republic of Ireland |
| Completed | 1999 |
| Opened | October 1999 |
An Grianán Theatre (Irish: Amharclann an Ghrianáin) is the biggest theatre in County Donegal, Ireland. It's located in Letterkenny and is a popular place for many different shows. The theatre can seat 383 people.
You can watch all sorts of performances here, like plays, comedy shows, music concerts, and even pantomimes. They also have special shows for families. Besides performances, An Grianán Theatre offers workshops and classes for people who want to learn about theatre.
The theatre is a key spot for several festivals every year. It's a main partner for the Earagail Arts Festival in July, the Irish Aerial Dance Fest in June, and the Letterkenny Trad Week in January. It has also hosted Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann twice, which is a big Irish music festival.
The name "An Grianán" comes from Grianán of Aileach, which means 'Stony House of the Sun'. This is an ancient stone fort nearby that is believed to be from around 1700 BCE.
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History of An Grianán Theatre
In 1995, a politician named Seán Maloney suggested to the Minister for the Arts, Michael D. Higgins, that he should visit a special place in Letterkenny. Higgins liked the spot, called the Rectory Field, very much. He said it was the best place he had ever seen for a theatre.
Because he liked it so much, he approved a grant of £1.5 million (about €1.9 million) in February 1996 to build the theatre. A group called the North West Theatre Project then started raising more money in 1997.
An Grianán Theatre first opened its doors on Monday, October 4, 1999. The official opening happened a bit later, on November 12, 1999. The very first show performed on its stage was called Magic of the Musicals.
Major Events and Awards
The theatre has been a host for many important events:
- It hosted Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, a big Irish music festival, in 2005 and 2006.
- It also hosted the Pan Celtic Festival in 2007, which celebrates Celtic culture.
An Grianán Theatre has won awards for its design and accessibility:
- In 2007, a local design studio won a European Design Award for their work on the theatre's design.
- In 2015, the theatre won an award for being very easy to access for people with disabilities.
- In 2013, it was named the IMRO Ulster Music Venue of The Year, which is a great award for a music venue.
Performances at An Grianán Theatre
An Grianán Theatre is known for bringing many talented performers to Letterkenny.
Music Performances
Many famous musicians have played at An Grianán. The band The Frames often performs there. The Letterkenny Trad Week, which happens every January, brings in many traditional Irish musicians like Maura O’Connell and Karan Casey.
In 2000, An Grianán was the place for the very first show of a new Irish musical called Caisleain Oir. This musical is based on an Irish novel but is performed in English. It was so popular that it came back in 2001, 2005, and again in 2013.
Other notable musicians who have performed here include:
- Albert Niland
- Sharon Shannon
- Jack L
Comedy Shows
Many well-known comedians have made audiences laugh at An Grianán Theatre.
- Ardal O’Hanlon, famous for playing Father Dougal in Father Ted, performed his stand-up show here.
- Neil Delamere also brought his show The Fresh Prince of Delamare to the theatre.
Other comedians who have performed at An Grianán include:
- Des Bishop
- Tommy Tiernan
- Ardal O'Hanlon
- Dara Ó Briain
- Dylan Moran
- Ed Byrne
- Jimmy Carr
- Colin Murphy
- Neil Delamere
- Andrew Maxwell
- Brendan Grace
- Pat Shortt
- Jon Kenny
- Phil Kay
- Jason Byrne
- David O'Doherty
Drama and Dance
An Grianán also hosts amazing drama and dance performances.
- Ireland's famous dance company, Fabulous Beast, performed their show Rian UnPlugged in 2014.
- The Irish Aerial Dance Fest offers workshops and performances for three weeks every June, showing off amazing aerial dance.
Some notable plays and dances performed in 2006 included:
- Knots by CoisCeim Dance Theatre
- Like Watching Paint Dry by Ursula Mawson-Raffalt and Anthony J Faulder-Mawson
- I Miss Communism by Inez Wurth and Mark Soper
- Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (performed by Keegan Theatre Co)
- 12 Angry Men performed by Lifford Players
- Ay Carmela by José Sanchis Sinisterra
Facilities at An Grianán Theatre
An Grianán Theatre has great facilities for both the public and performers.
Public Facilities
The theatre can be used for business events, with advanced technical equipment and catering. They have projection equipment available too.
There's a café that's open all day. On show nights, it turns into a bar. You can grab a tea, coffee, or something more to eat. There's also a free car park behind the theatre.
An Grianán is very welcoming for people with disabilities. It has special seating in the auditorium, a lift, and adapted toilets. There's also a special hearing system for those who need it.
Private Facilities for Performers
The backstage area has several facilities for visiting performers. There are three dressing rooms and private bathrooms. There's also a special "green room," which is a lounge area for performers. The green room has a framed T-shirt signed by Oscar-winning songwriter Glen Hansard from The Frames, who called it ‘the best room in Ireland’.
The theatre also has a costume department with many props and costumes from past shows. There are workshop areas backstage and downstairs for creating and preparing for performances.
Exhibitions
The theatre's foyers (entrance areas) and public galleries are used as a space to show art exhibitions.
Some recent exhibitions have included:
- “Ephemera” by Robert Clarke (September 2014)
- “Fairytale Fantasies” with Samantha Robinson (October 2014)
- “Serene” by Katriona Dempsey and Valerie Würmli (February/March 2015)
In March 2015, an exhibition called Names Will Never Hurt Me was opened. It was put together by members of the LOFT LK and featured images related to mental health.
Workshops and Classes
An Grianán Theatre also helps young people get involved in theatre through its youth program.
Letterkenny Youth Theatre (LYT)
Letterkenny Youth Theatre (LYT) works with An Grianán Theatre. It usually meets on Wednesdays. LYT gives young people a chance to learn important skills like acting and stage management. They have put on many small shows in Letterkenny.
Some past shows by LYT include:
- Alien Nation (2008)
- La Vide de Picasso (2009)
- The Taming of the Shrew (2010)
In 2009, LYT performed a show they created themselves called La Vide de Picasso. In 2010, they performed The Taming of the Shrew. They also entertained crowds at the Glebe Gallery festival in 2010 by performing different monologues.
Images for kids
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A group of young people gather outside the Theatre
See also
In Spanish: Teatro An Grianán para niños
