2011 Synge Summer School, 30 June - 3 July, Ireland

2011 Synge Summer School
30 June - 3 July, Ireland

ABOUT the 2011 SYNGE SUMMER SCHOOL

The Synge Summer School is a gathering of people who are enthusiastic about Irish theatre and drama. Each year, we welcome participants from many different professions (academics, students, teachers, public servants, theatre practitioners, journalists, and people from many other walks of life), and from many different countries (Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia, Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, China, Japan, and elsewhere).

Participants attend a series of talks, seminars, and social events over the course of a long weekend (from Thursday afternoon to Sunday evening) in the beautiful setting of Avondale House in County Wicklow.

Lectures are given by leading scholars of Irish drama. They focus not only the works of J.M Synge but also on other Irish dramatists and performances.

Lectures usually last for between 45 minutes and an hour, and are followed by about 30 minutes of discussion, which all participants are welcome to contribute to, if they wish. Lectures are intended to be accessible to both academic and non-academic audiences. A reading list will be provided: it is not essential to read any of the play on the list in advance, but doing so may enhance your appreciation of the lectures.

Seminars
This year, we are offering four seminars; participants select one from that list. A seminar is a small group of people (usually no more than eight), who will meet twice (on Friday and Saturday mornings) to discuss a specific theme. The discussion will be led for about 90 minutes by a dedicated specialist, who will ensure that all participants have an opportunity to share their views with each other. Seminar participants should read the recommended plays in advance (again, a reading list will be provided). Seminars are intended to take place in a relaxed, friendly and informal setting; as with the lectures, they will prove rewarding for both academic and non-academic participants.

Social events.
These include:
A visit to the Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray to see two plays by Una McKevitt, one of the most exciting young theatre-artists currently working in Ireland. Her play Victor and Gord was a prize-winner at the 2008 Dublin Fringe Festival, and 565+ was one of the hits of the 2009 Dublin Theatre Festival.

Participants will also have a chance to hear Colm Toibin deliver a memoir-style lecture about Irish theatre in the 1980s.

There will also be a tour of Avondale House (the home of Charles Stewart Parnell and the venue for the School) and of Synge country.

For further information and applications, please visit the Summer School's website here