- Second Age Theatre Company
"Second Age Theatre Company exists to promote an awareness and love of classical theatre for all, but especially the young."
THE COMPANY
Second Age Theatre Company was established in 1989 by
Alan Stanford , Ronan Smith, Brian O'Donoghue and Martin Drury as a response to the demand from Second Level schools for a dedicated production company to present curriculum based texts, especially those of Shakespeare. At that time, ad hoc productions were occasionally staged but of an uneven quality and at irregular intervals. It was felt by the company founders that something more permanent was required and offering a more complete package to the students. Since then Second Age has offered regular productions of the major texts for study and in a time frame suited to the study programme of the schools.Second Age focuses on producing Shakespeare and contemporary Irish classics for young audiences with particular emphasis on the plays being studied by Second Level Leaving Certificate students. As well as performing in Dublin, the company tours throughout Ireland at least once a year.
Since 1989 half a million second level students will have gained their first experience of serious professional theatre and of Shakespeare at a Second Age Production. In addition, the company has built a considerable following among theatre audiences for its productions and is now a regular feature of the Irish theatre circuit.
=PRODUCTIONS AND SERVICES=
=Shakespeare=The principal writer in the Second Age cannon has always been Shakespeare. The company’s primary production in January/February, is always the play set for study in fifth year for senior cycle studies. This tends to work on a four year cycle of Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth and Othello. In addition the company has presented at various times, productions of
Romeo and Juliet ,As You Like It andThe Merchant of Venice . Each time the cycle is re-visited a brand new production is created for that year.Other plays
Other plays on the Leaving certificate syllabus are also staged when resources permit and have included,
Plough and the Stars ,Playboy of the Western World ,Philadelphia, Here I Come! andHow Many Miles to Babylon .Resource information
The Company produces a resource pack and notes for schools on all of its productions. These are provided free of charge to all schools who attend the performance. In addition, post show discussions are offered with members of the cast after all matinee performances and visits are made on an ad hoc basis to schools by the Artistic Director whenever possible.
More information on Second Age Theatre Company is available on the company website listed below.
Productions
As You Like It :1989 Othello :1990 Macbeth :1990 Playboy of the Western World :1991 Hamlet :1991 King Lear :1992 The Plough and the Stars :1993 Othello :1993 The Merchant of Venice :1994 Macbeth :1994 Hamlet :1995 The Field :1996 King Lear :1996 The Merchant of Venice :1997 Othello :1997 Romeo and Juiliet :1998 Macbeth :1998 Hamlet :1999 King Lear :2001 Macbeth :2002 Romeo and Juilet :2002 Macbeth :2003 Hamlet :2004 King Lear :2005 How Many Miles to Babylon? :2006 Macbeth :2006 How Many Miles to Babylon? :2006 Othello :2007 Philadelphia, Here I Come! :2007 Macbeth :2008 Current Productions
Having toured
Othello withJohnny Lee Davenport andMaeve Fitzgerald in spring 2007, Second Age are now preparing to produce theBrian Friel playPhiladelphia Here I Come! in Autumn 2007.Alumni
Many Irish and international actors such as
Barry McGovern ,Orla Fitzgerald , andJohnny Lee Davenport have worked with Second Age Theatre Company since its foundation in 1989.External links
* http://www.secondage.com
* http://www.lindakeating.blogspot.com
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
