The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (Thursday) wished Olwen Fouéré continued success ahead of her departure this weekend to the United States for a tour of her award winning show riverrun. Olwen was one of a number of high profile Irish winners at the recent Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which Minister Humphreys attended last month.
Speaking today Minister Humphreys said: ‘This year was an incredible year for Irish artists at the Edinburgh Fringe, thanks to Culture Ireland’s showcase programme. Edinburgh is the like the world championship for theatre, and we should all be immensely proud of the success of Irish artists’.
“With her incredible performance of riverrun, Olwen Fouéré garnered the much coveted Herald Archangel Award for outstanding contribution to theatre and the Stage Award for Acting Excellence. Dead Centre’s Lippy created by Bush Moukarzel with Mark O'Halloran also attracted three awards.
“It is a great source of pride to see Irish artists winning prestigious awards and receiving well deserved critical acclaim in such a competitive environment. These awards are recognition of the talent and dedication of our artists who continue to be fantastic ambassadors for Ireland.
“Culture Ireland, which operates under by my Department, supports Irish artists at the Edinburgh festivals because it is a key opportunity to present their work to hundreds of festival and venue programmers who attend the Festivals each year in search of new work. Being selected for onward international touring creates employment for Irish artists and develops new international audiences. And, of course, our art and culture contributes hugely to Ireland’s international reputation, and helps to encourage tourists to visit these shores.
“I would like to wish Olwen every success as she sets off this weekend to perform at the high profile Next Wave Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York, before further tour dates elsewhere in the US and in Australia. Lippy will also be presented at the Abrons Arts Center in New York next month.
“I am delighted that such high profile international venues have already committed to contracting Irish artists and I know that their work will generate significant interest in Ireland, which is home to so many outstanding creative talents.”
ENDS
More about riverrun:
riverrun, Olwen Fouéré’s acclaimed adaptation of the voice of the river Liffey in James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake which was produced by TheEmergencyRoom and Galway International Arts Festival in association with Cusack Projects Limited at the Traverse Theatre.
riverrun is programmed as part of the high profile Next Wave Festival at BAM, Brooklyn, New York from 15- 30 September and is also to be presented at the Ivy League colleges Harvard and Princeton before travelling to Australia for an extensive tour from February to April 2015.
More about Lippy:
Dead Centre's Lippy created by Bush Moukarzel with Mark O'Halloran and presented at the Traverse Theatre attracted three awards - a Herald Angel Award, a Scotsman Fringe First Award and a Total Theatre Award for Innovation, Experimentation and Playing with Form.
Lippy will be presented in New York at the Abrons Arts Center, in co-production with the Irish Arts Center, 10 October - 2 November 2014 as well as in London’s Young Vic in early 2015.
Further Irish successes at Edinburgh:
The two other Culture Ireland supported shows, CoisCéim’s production of the dance piece Missing, and the Fishamble production of Swing gained hugely positive reviews and attracted significant international interest. All shows are expected to attract further international offers for presentation.
The Minister has also congratulated other Irish award winning productions at Edinburgh - the Stage Awards for Acting Excellence was also awarded to Bryan Burroughs for his performance in Pat Moylan’s production Beowulf and Guna Nua's Pondling won The Scotsman Fringe First Award