June Máiréad Ní Chróinín Announced as new Druid Artist in Residence at NUI Galway

The Discipline for Drama and Theatre Studies at NUI Galway and Druid Theatre, are pleased to announce the appointment of a new Druid Artist in Residence, Dr Máiréad Ní Chróinín, as part of their ongoing Druid Academy partnership. 

Working in close partnership with Adjunct Professor and Druid Artistic Director, Dr Garry Hynes and other Druid artists, Dr Ní Chróinín will coordinate the Druid Academy partnership with NUI Galway. Borne out of a vision of Galway as a location for the creation of excellent theatre, the Druid Academy communicates the Druid approach to Drama and Theatre Studies undergraduate and postgraduate students: focusing on ensemble as a mode of performance, rigorous critical analysis of theatre, by both practitioners and audiences, and an awareness of the importance of audience, in a variety of locations: locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. The classes cover a range of topics ranging from casting, to direction, to set design, complementing third level drama and theatre training at NUI Galway.

A Galway native, Máiréad Ní Chróinín established Moonfish Theatre, with her sister Ionia, in 2006. The company has created work in English and Irish, toured their work nationally and internationally, presenting at festivals including the Edinburgh Fringe, Galway Theatre Festival, Galway International Arts Festival, Dublin Theatre Festival and the Dublin Fringe. Moonfish’s acclaimed, bi-lingual adaptation of Joseph O'Connor's Star of the Sea toured twice in Ireland in 2015 and 2017, and toured to the US in 2018. Their upcoming show, Redemption Falls, is freely adapted from the novel by Joseph O'Connor, and is a co-production with Galway International Arts Festival, the Abbey Theatre, and Town Hall Theatre, Galway. It will have its World Premiere in An Taibhdhearc during the 2019 Galway International Arts Festival and will transfer to the Peacock stage at the Abbey Theatre during Dublin Theatre Festival 2019.

Dr Ní Chróinín’s extensive and varied experience in the professional arts industry will make her an especially valuable contributor to Drama and Theatre Studies' new MA in Producing and Curation, which will welcome its first class in autumn 2019.  

Dr Charlotte McIvor, head of discipline in Drama and Theatre Studies at NUI Galway says: “The chance to work with the Druid Academy stands out as one of the most distinctive features of our academic programmes and we are thrilled to be continuing this partnership through this exciting appointment. Dr Ní Chróinín’s career to date epitomises the values of Druid Theatre through her own commitment to working rigorously as part of an ensemble and creating theatre that responds directly to the West of Ireland past, present and future but aims to travel much further. Her intellectual depth and artistic bravery make her an ideal match for dialogue with Druid, and we all look forward to seeing what comes out of this working relationship.” 

Dr Máiréad Ní Chróinín said: “As the co-director of an independent theatre company based in the West, Druid has been a huge inspiration and I am very excited to now work with them directly and with NUI Galway.” 

Garry Hynes, Druid Artistic Director, commented: “The Druid Academy was borne out of a vision to foster a new generation of theatre makers in the west of Ireland. Dr Ní Chróinín’s dedication and experience make her the ideal candidate to continue our commitment to this key relationship between Druid and NUI Galway.”

For more information about Drama and Theatre Studies programmes at NUI Galway, please visit, http://www.nuigalway.ie/drama/postgrad/madt/  and to learn more about the Druid Academy partnership, visit http://www.druid.ie/get-involved/druid-academy-at-nui-galway.

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