Where's my jumper? Fadó Fadó Costumes by Joan Hickson

I am very happy to be involved in the production of Siamsa Tíre’s "Fadó Fadó", especially as I very much enjoyed working on "Tearmann" one of their previous shows.

My brief has been to design costumes which are true to the period from 1900 to 1950. I was especially attracted to the different patterns for the ladies’ dresses, blouses and skirts. I like the layering of clothing in the use of aprons, housecoats and hand knitted cardigans, particularly those worn in the 30s, 40s and 50s, an Ireland where people made their own clothes. Some of the cardigans and blouses are vintage finds, while the rest of the knitwear is hand knit and hand crochet by a very talented lady here in Cork.

 

A variety of colours and textures are used in the men's tailoring. Stripes and check shirts are being used and, as with the women's costumes, the men can wear their outfits in different ways - a tie can be added or a waistcoat can be unbuttoned or the shirt sleeves rolled up to give a casual look.

 

I have thoroughly enjoyed working on the project and I am looking forward to seeing the performers singing and dancing on the beautiful set in my costume designs.

Third generation at Siamsa ... Meet Dave Heaslip!

My grandfather Liam Heaslip was among the group who founded Siamsa Tire many years ago. My father Pierce Heaslip also joined, and here I am, the third generation to carry on the tradition.

 David with his grandfather and father taken about ten years ago.

I too, like many of my friends today, started my Siamsa life in Teach Siamsa in Finuge. Being from Tralee, I would get the bus that left from St. Brendan's church (on a Thursday night, I think it was) that would collect a group of us and take us to and from Finuge.  I did my training and made it to the main theatre where I did further training in song and dance at the Monday night classes.
 

As the King in Clann Lir, taking in 2011       (Photo by Maurice Gunning)

I loved every minute of the training and once I got on stage during the summer season I couldn't get enough of it. I loved the Irish dancing and still have the love for it today. Through the years I've toured with Siamsa nationally and internationally. One particular tour that I've fantastic memories of was the tour to America in 1999 when I was eleven years old. History had repeated itself. When my father was that age he also travelled to America with his father with Siamsa.
 



David in the centre in a scene from San Am Fadó / Fadó Faó taken in 2006  (Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan)



 



Growing up in Siamsa is something I would never change. The skills I have, the friends I've gained, the experiences of a life time. Today I am on a twelve month career break from my job at Tesco Ireland in Tralee Square. I've taken the opportunity to do some travelling and I'm currently living in Perth Western Australia. It is the first summer season I've not taken part in since I've started and I do really miss the stage!

 Slán. 

Dave Heaslip

 

From Siamsa to the Rose of Tralee... It's Oliver Hurley!

When asked to put  some thoughts and memories of Siamsa Tíre into no more than 300 words it seemed an impossible task, as it  has being such a big part of my life for over 30 years. 

Siamsa Tíre is where I learned my craft, it is where I got my grounding in many aspects of theatre, as well as allowing me the freedom to be creative. It has given me the opportunity to travel the world, to experience and appreciate other cultures , it’s where I met my wife and even now I am fortunate that Siamsa Tíre is very much part of my children’s lives. Having retired from Siamsa nine years ago, my passion for theatre is a strong as ever. Apart from my position as General Manager of the Rose of Tralee International festival, I run my own stage school in Tralee and I also direct several shows from Musicals to panto annually, so theatre is still very much part of my daily life. 
 

Final touches before going on stage!

Highlights have been many: at the age of eleven I was privileged to perform on Broadway, in 1987 I travelled to the Netherlands and performed for Queen Beatrice on the occasion of her birthday, in 1988 we undertook a tour of Australia, the World Expo at Seville, Spain in 1992, and in 2000, we travelled to Hanover, Germany where we received a standing ovation from 4000 people, which went on long after we had left the outdoor auditorium. 

Siamsa Tíre program for world expo in Seville

 During my time as Artistic Director from 2000 – 2005, the company embarked on three very successful national tours which for me was an important dimension to my directorship - to bring folk theatre to the Irish theatre-goers on an annual basis, just like Druid or the Abbey theatre companies. We performed in venues from the Town Hall Theatre in Galway, to the Cork Opera House, with exceptional box office sales and outstanding critical and audience reaction. Thus, confirming that folk theatre is not just for the foreign tourist but has a wide appeal to theatre audiences in Ireland and that the delivery of a summer season should not be our only focus. 

 

Oileán - Celebrating the Blasket Islands

One of my proudest moments  as Artistic Director was  in 2003 when we created Oileán- A Celebration of the Blasket Islands, which I am glad to see is still very much part of the repertoire, and now features my children as performers.  
Even though I no longer work at Siamsa Tíre, I am happy to say that Siamsa has made me who I am in many respects.  It gave me a clear focus in my youth, it trained me in all aspects of theatre, and it gave me friends for life.

Oliver on stage his wife Geraldine holding the "baby" in Ding Dong Dedero (1991)

They say folk is about the people and it is certainly the people that I met through Siamsa that shaped my path in life and gave me a sense of place; from Fr Pat Ahern for all the inspiration, to Fr Tom Hickey and the late Muiris Curtain for always giving that gentle push along the way, and of course, the late Martin Whelan for believing in me.  I am a firm believer that when creative forces come together greatness can happen, indeed I always remember the professional company who created Oileán with me - if it were not for this passionate group of creators believing in the idea and in my directorship we may not have created such a beautiful piece of theatre. So, it is people that have  made my experience with Siamsa Tíre as special as it is, the fellow performers, the creators, the carriers of our rich tradition and to my friends, here’s to another 40 years of the jigs and the reels. 

London Calling... Susie Griffin

I grew up in Tralee and as a child I always had an awareness of Siamsa. Like most Irish children, I was taught Tin-Whistle at school. I was fortunate enough to be taught by the legendary Seanie O’Mahoney who suggested I audition for Finuge which was where young children trained in the styles of song, dance and storytelling necessary to perform with the company. But I had no interest. I enjoyed performing in Musicals but if I’m honest, I had written it off as being “diddly-aye”. How naïve I was!! 

This beautiful promotional shot on the Blasket Islands for Oileán was taken by Kerry photographer Valerie O'Sullivan

My Godmother, an Irish dancing teacher took me to see the Siamsa Christmas Show in 1994. It was the first time I had seen the Company perform. I left the theatre that night wishing I was involved. The style of Irish dance fused with styles such as Spanish was so exciting. The music so exhilarating and the standard so professional. I couldn’t believe I had disregarded it all those years.

Ignorance is indeed bliss. But at almost 13 years of age, I knew I would be too old to train at Finuge and training was something I needed. I went to one Irish dancing lesson when I was four years old and had given it up in favour of playing with Star-Wars toys!! 
 

My mind was made up. I was given the opportunity to work with Fr. Pat Ahern in 1995 on a pageant. He asked me to sing a solo as part of the show. This was my “in”. 

“Father, can I talk to you about Siamsa? I’d like to audition but I might be too old.” 

“Have you Irish Dancing?” 

“No.” 

“Start learning.” 
 

I auditioned for Fr. Pat a few months later but he said no. I needed more time to get my dancing to a professional standard.  Fr. Pat then retired and Oliver Hurley was appointed Artistic Director. Oliver was a huge influence on my attitude towards performing, striking the balance of the serious side but knowing when to have fun with it too. Eventually in 1997, I made the cut and began classes in the theatre.  

 

I went on to finish school and spent two summers working for the company as a full-time member, including devising new shows. There’s nothing like seeing a scene that you’ve developed with another performer in rehearsals being performed in front of an audience.  
 

In nine years I toured four times, recorded two albums,  and  devised Oileán and Samhain, as well as being an original company member in Clann Lir and Oisín. 

Susie as Eva Peron in a European touring production of Evita!

I left Ireland in 2006 to pursue my Masters in Musical Theatre. I learned so much in Drama School, but the fundamentals of being in a professional company, for me, came from Siamsa. I learned how to give my energy to performing six nights a week, I learned how being part of a touring company works.,I learned to think on my feet, and I learned that some of the best friendships are forged when people are allowed to “play”. 
 

I live in London now and love it. One day recently however, when I discovered that Sean Ahern had retired from the company and I had missed a momentous event in the history of Siamsa and in the life of a man that I have always admired, I cried wishing to be there for one more night to stand on the stage with him again.  

That’s what Siamsa means to me. The nostalgia. The memories. Realising how special it was then… and now.

 

During her time at Siamsa Tíre, Susie performed in San Am Fadó, Oileán, Christmas show, Gobán Saor, Sean agus Nua, Clann Lir, Samhain, Oisín and Tobar na Scéalta!