Students light up the Alley!

Over the summer months you would expect a theatre to "go dark", repair, refresh and prepare for the Autumn season.

As always we never follow the crowd at the Alley and we have all been busy with three major courses doing the summer. Our biggest project so far has been Border Youth, supported by IFI and worked in conjunction with the Balor DCA. Over 40 children both sides of the Donegal/Tyrone border have been taking part in a music and drama camp, which ends this week with a gala performance at the Alley in front of all their parents, friends and family.

we have also worked on Border Crossings, a major Trad Music camp, in association with the An Grainnan Theatre in Letterkenny. This is the first year of the project, which I really hope will build on the fantastic foundations already built upon this year.

Lastly, the Technical Department have been busy training over 12 local people int he dark arts of theatre lighting and sound. The students came from all different backgrounds, some were already working in industry, one was a teacher looking to help with the school shows, 3 were attending Queen's University and some were long term unemployed. Whatever their skills at the start of the course, the group finished the course with a host of new skills, confidence and new friends in the arts. For pics of the students on the course check at the Alley Facebook page, simply click here.


The full story!!!

Over the last two weeks Strabane’s Alley Theatre has been the training centre for over 12 sound and lighting engineers, who have been benefiting from a unique new technical course, supported by Concensus and in association with Derry’s Playhouse Theatre.

The Alley’s Technical Officer, Andrew Orr and his qualified technical team took over 12 participants through a groundbreaking OCN Level 2 Sound and Lighting Qualification, the first time this qualification has been held in Strabane.

“The course participants came from all backgrounds with varying amounts of technical experience in arts venue” commented the Technical officer for the Alley Theatre, Andrew Orr. “As the programme developed you could see the confidence and skill levels increase with every student and I was delighted that on the final session everyone passed the course with top marks.”

“In Northern Ireland the vast majority of people live with a 30 minute drive time of a major arts centre. These centres are a hub of creativity and are now major employers within Northern Ireland. With the announcement of the City of Culture status coming to Derry~Londonderry and arts centres like the Alley Theatre in every major town in the province, the opportunity for employment and further experience for students on our scheme is tremendous. I would like to thank all the participants on the scheme for working so hard and congratulate them on their achievements and personally thank Concensus and the Playhouse theatre for their support during this course.

“Concensus, a new initiative supporting community and voluntary, trade union and other organisations in developing new services, resources, and approaches with the participation of members of their client groups” commented Rosaleen Gallagher from Concensus, who are funding this new initiative at the Alley Theatre, Strabane.

“While the prospectus describes a range of activities for all learners at all levels and backgrounds, two themes that are common to all: participation and sustainable communities. Through a range of activities Concensus supports the participation of learner’s in identifying and addressing local issues through significant but nonetheless achievable local- or issued based – actions. All activities are learner led and learners may achieve recognized certification for their process. We are delighted with the success of this recent OCN Level 2 in Sound and Lighting Course at the Alley and hope the participants succeed in achieving further training, experience and employment in the future.”

John Kerr, Alley Theatre Manager concluded “This OCN Level 2 in Sound and Lighting qualification was only made possible due to the funding and support from Concensus and the Playhouse Theatre, therefore on behalf of the students I would like to thank them for their support. This groundbreaking course will now leave an educational legacy with all the participants, which they can now build upon in their new roles or courses. For more information about the scheme check out the latest new page on www.alley-theatre.com.