Showing posts with label Ambrose the Pig. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ambrose the Pig. Show all posts

Friday, 9 October 2009

Another first for the Alley!

For a venue which is not based in a city, the Alley Theatre certainly punches above its weight in terms of quality, style and marketing. This week the Alley once again scooped other Northern Ireland venues with the recording of a podcast in Irish, another first! The podcast was recorded in the Falls Road in a wonderful cultural centre, which is home to Aisling Ghear Theatre group. This groundbreaking theatre group will be performing at the Alley on November 18th as part of our celebration of the life and work of Flann O'Brien, one of Ireland's leading literary figuires and a famous son of Strabane .

The play, "The Poor Mouth" will be perfromed in Irish, and relates to the story of one, Bonaparte O'Coonassa - ‘son of Michealangelo, son of Patrick, son of Owen, son of Sarah, son of Thomas, son of Maire, born in a cabin in a fictitious village called Corkadoragha in Western Ireland. From the front door of this ‘small lime-white house situated in the corner of the Glen’ you could (allegedly) see - Gweedore, Connemara, Galway, the island of Aran and The Great Blaskets!!! Famed as much for its beauty as the abject poverty of its residents, the daily fare consists of potatoes which they shared with a horse called Charlie, a bunch of sheep ‘a slim thighed cow’, a clutch of chickens and Ambrose the pig!! Ambrose has now been immortalized for future generations by the Alley Theatre sculpture, “Where Dreams Go”, the 8 ft bronze pig outside the Alley, which is known lovingly as Ambrose by locals.

“The play will be performed in Irish, offering a wonderful opportunity for fluent Irish speakers and those learning the language to immerse themselves in the wit and humour of Strabane’s most favourite literary son” commented Nathan Flatman from the Alley. “For non-Irish speakers like myself, the Alley will be providing Irish translation headsets, allowing the patron to follow the play in English, breaking down language barriers for those interested in seeing a fantastic Flann O’Brien play performed live on stage.”

“To highlight the forthcoming play, Flann’s background and the superb cast, including actors from television’s “The Tudors” and hit Irish film’s, the Alley has produced a free podcast at http://alleytheatre.podbean.com/ in both English and Irish for patrons looking to get the inside scoop.”


The Alley podcast site is now working really well and is not only providing a service to our local patrons, but also web broswers around the world interested in Flann himself. Why not check it out for your self at http://alleytheatre.podbean.com/

Tuesday, 14 April 2009

8ft Pigs are always great for free PR!


The Alley Theatre has a massive secret weapon in promoting our venue as a fun, cutting edge, family venue, a 8ft bronze statue called "Where Dreams Go" AKA Ambrose the Alley pig.

Now the most celebrated pig in Ireland, Ambrose has featured on BBC Newsline, local, regional and national press. The Alley's mascot was also "highly commended" for his entry in the recent Foyle Civic Trust Awards

Please see an article which ran int he Derry Journal in Jan 2009

Published Date: 06 January 2009
Derry Journal
http://www.derryjournal.com/strabane/Ambrose-the-Pig-makes-wishes.4845217.jp
By Erin Hutcheon

Pigs might fly in Derry - but in Strabane they make your wishes come true.
The residents of Strabane have taken a pig to their hearts, and believe it may have magical powers.Ambrose the Pig is a sculpture which stands proudly in the grounds of The Alley Theatre in Strabane. And he's become so popular that children in Strabane believe he has "magical powers."All you have to do is put your finger in one of the Celtic swirls and follow the lines and all your wishes can come true!It's believed the legend of Ambrose as a wishing pig is because of his stance - looking at the sky, musing and making a wish.Only make sure you don't tell him any porkies because there's no telling what Ambrose will do.

Nathan Flatman, Marketing and Development Officer at The Alley says the pig has become a phenomenon."The name Ambrose is after a character in the works of Strabane's most famous literary son Flann O' Brien," he explained."Everyday I witness young children walking with their parents and making wishes at the pig."Ambrose has also been a popular backdrop for several photo shoots, from top production companies performing at The Alley, to awareness events. Even a bride and groom who married in the town had their wedding photos taken with Ambrose!The Alley Theatre and adjoining Strabane Community Library were built on the site of the town's former cattle market at Abercorn Square.