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                                News

                                Finding Your Authentic Voice – A Youth Theatre Practice Symposium - Programme Announcement!

                                20 October 2025
                                Symposium large image 1

                                With less than a month to go until our annual symposium we are thrilled to announce our programme elements.

                                Joining us over our two days at TU Dublin, East Quad, Grangegorman Campus, Dublin 7, on November 14th and 15th are some of the leading artists and thinkers working in Irish theatre, youth theatre, film, and youth work.

                                Speakers and workshop facilitators include:
                                Helena Walsh, Philip McMahon, Karen Fricker & Tanya Dean, Darren Thornton, Ciarda Tobin, Shaz Oye, Gregory Burrowes, Dr. Ciara Murphy & Brian Keegan, and Esosa Ighodara.

                                Closing date for registration is October 31st so don't delay in buying your tickets here.

                                Workshops

                                Gregory Burrowes – Sound on Film an introduction to the principles and craft of recording great sound onset.

                                Greg is an award winning sound recordist with ten years’ experience in film production. Since obtaining his MA from Trinity College, Greg has worked on over 60 funded short films, over a dozen feature films and many corporate and documentary shoots.This workshop is supported by IFI Next Generation 15-19

                                Helena Walsh– The Empowered Voice


                                Helena Walsh – is an internationally recognized voice, acting, and empowerment coach with 30+ years of experience. She works with individuals and global communities that are driven by the desire for individual and collective, compassionate change.

                                Dr. Ciara Murphy & Brian Keegan – Discover Your Voice: Professional Studio Acting Workshop


                                Dr Ciara L. Murphy
                                is Lecturer in Drama, teaching on the B.A. (Hons) in Drama (Performance) programme at the TU Dublin Conservatoire.Ciara completed her PhD in Drama, Theatre, and Performance in 2020 at the University of Galway.

                                With a background in contemporary music composition, sound design and linguistics, Brian Keegan has composed contemporary classical music for live performance and has collaborated with artists in the areas of dance, film and theatre.

                                Esosa Ighodara – Representation and Storytelling


                                Esosa Ighodaro is a Nigerian-Irish writer, director, and vocalist whose multidisciplinary work spans theatre and screen. With over a decade of experience as a professional actor, she brings a rich performance background to her storytelling, which centres Black voices and explores identity, belonging, and cultural memory—the shared histories, traditions, and experiences that shape how communities understand themselves.

                                Speakers Include:

                                Phillip McMahon. Dublin based playwright, director and co-founder and co-director of cultural juggernauts THISISPOPBABY.

                                Aoife Sweeney O’Connor. Performer, writer, and maker from Donegal. Aoife is the producer and host of the acclaimed queer cabaret EGG.

                                Jen Cummins. T.D. for Dublin South-Central. A passionate advocate for education and youth work, Jen has worked as a youth worker, youth theatre worker.

                                Darren Thornton Playwright, screenwriter, film, TV and theatre director from Drogheda. Established the award-winning Calipo Theatre Company. His first feature film A DATE FOR MAD MARY , won an IFTA for best Irish feature film. His latest film FOUR MOTHERS is currently on release and won the Audience award at LFF in 2024.

                                And Even More...

                                Our Saturday Sessions include workshops with Karen Fricker & Tanya Dean on Finding Authentic Youth Voice through Theatre Criticism, an exploration of Youth Theatre on Film with Ciarda Tobin from the Irish Film Institute and panel chaired by Shaz Oye, Director of Equality and Access at the Lir Academy.

                                Youth theatres members will take to the stage with the annual Playshare Showcase and Lara Coady will guide our Emerging Voices participants as they reflect on their Symposium Experience.

                                The timetable and full programme can be viewed here:
                                Symposium-Timetable-2025-Oct-21-version.pdf

                                Speakers-Presenters-and-Workshops.pdf

                                • Dates
                                  Nov 14th and 15th
                                • Venue
                                  TU Dublin, East Quad, Grangegorman Campus, Dublin 7
                                • Further Information
                                  Register here before October 31st. Limited Tickets Available.
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