Irish Aphasia Theatre Project

Local artist Gráinne Hallahan has been awarded a prestigious Artist in the Community Scheme award, managed by Create, for her ground breaking Irish Aphasia Theatre Project.

Grainne, from Dublin 15 is an emerging theatre maker who has worked in Dublin as a theatre director, writer, and facilitator and nationally and internationally as an actor and assistant director to large theatre companies. Her practice first came to light in Fingal through the council’s recent public art commissioning programme Infrastructure 2018-2021, where she was selected as a worthy recipient of the programme’s Emerging Practice Award. She was supported to situate the development of her idea with Draiocht and the Blanchardstown Library while making future connections through Connolly Hospital so we are delighted to see her getting national recognition.

Gráinne has been exploring a developmental theatre method which supports those who have been affected with the condition, Aphasia. Aphasia affects people in different ways but relates to their ability to communicate after either an acquired brain injury or stroke. It can affect any age group and at any stage of life. Grainne has already piloted some research into the condition and the positive effects that interaction through theatre can have on participants.

She will be expanding on this enquiry through workshops in Draiocht with interested individuals this October- March.

Grainne, recently trained with longstanding, Canadian co Théatre Aphasique, in Montréal.Théatre Aphasique are a very successful theatre company located on site at a hospital in Montréal and have been running theatre workshops and productions with people who have aphasia for over 20 years. She also ran some of the pilot theatre workshops for Trinity College in Spring 2017 .With her research in the Irish context she is bringing the benefits of that learning to Fingal and we are hugely inspired by the future potential of it to become part of the Arts in Health landscape.

The artist and her collaborators are currently in the process of reaching out to potential participants and as part of this Grainne intends to host a very special taster workshop,in Draiocht on Friday 12th of October 6.15Pm – 7.30pm where those affected or families with those affected with Aphasia interested can meet with the artist and engage in this method in a fun and supportive environment. The session will follow with a ticket to see  Draiocht’s Home Theatre Performance commencing at 8pm free of charge  as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival where refreshments and a warm welcome will be extended to all those who have a curiosity in the potential of the project for them.

Participants will engage on the evening with:
Gráinne Hallahan- Theatre Maker and Facilitator, 
Áine Ní Laoghaire- Actor and facilitator,
Robbie Blake- Composer and Vocal specialist and 
Jessie Keenan- Choreographer and Dancer.

OPEN NIGHT Workshop 12th of October
Starts 6.15pm (Sign up) – 7.30pm
Home Theatre Performance Starts at 8pm

*Places are limited booking is essential*

For further information and booking contact Grainne, on (086) 062 1393 or Email hallahag@tcd.ie.
Follow the project on Twitter:@Irishaphasiatheatre or join us on Facebook: Irish Aphasia Theatre