Bealtaine Festival 2012 Set for Roscommon Arts Centre This Summer

Roscommon Arts Centre is shortly announcing its Summer 2012 line-up with details of many events already available online at www.roscommonartscentre.ie.

The new Summer Programme of Events will be published in the coming weeks with copies delivered to homes across the region and also available in shops and businesses. A highlight of the early summer programme is the nationwide Bealtaine Festival celebrating creativity in older age. The theme for the 2012 Bealtaine Festival is ‘What kind of old do you want to be?’ It recognises that older people are not one homogeneous group; they are individuals with widely differing talents, interests and needs and we hope that our programme reflects this. Throughout May Roscommon Arts Centre has arranged a series of free workshops in music and singing as well as book-making. All our workshops are free of charge and available to everyone aged 50 and over. Alongside the workshops & classes, the arts centre has programmed some wonderful evenings of theatre, comedy and music, many of these events with special over 50s ticket prices to celebrate Bealtaine. More details are available through Roscommon Arts Centre’s box office on 090 6625824 and early registration for classes is highly recommended as places are limited.

Making Hand-Made Books
with Andrew Kelly for over 50s
Learn the art of how to create handmade books of all shapes and sizes to take home and keep. Artist Andrew Kelly has a masters in book-making and will be on hand to teach absolute beginners this wonderful technique. All materials will be supplied - although you should bring along an apron! Spaces limited, so early booking advisable via Roscommon Arts Centre’s box office. Classes take place on Wednesday afternoons (9th – 30th May inclusive) from 2pm – 5pm.

Traditional Singing and Tin Whistle Classes
with Pauline Hanly and John Wynne for over 50s
Pauline Hanly, All Ireland champion winner and tutor will welcome all budding singers to the arts centre for free Thursday morning traditional singing classes. Featuring songs like Sliabh Bán and The West's Awake along with Percy French compositions such as Phil the Fluter's Ball these classes are specifically designed to be informal and welcoming to those aged over 50.

Local well known musician John Wynne will lend his advice and expertise to all budding tin whistle players for a series of free afternoon classes at the Arts Centre during May. A perfect opportunity to enjoy some fun on a mid-week afternoon at the Arts Centre. These once-weekly classes are perfect for those trying the tin whistle for the first time or indeed those with a little more experience.

Both tin whistle and singing classes begin at the arts centre on Thursday 3rd May. Details on all class dates and times are available through Roscommon Arts Centre’s box office on 090 6625824 and as places are limited early booking is highly recommended.

Theatre, Comedy and Music nights this May
Programmed specifically for the Bealtaine Festival, Kin celebrates the relationships we have as grown-up adults with our aging parents. Donna Rutherford’s acclaimed production KIN comes to Roscommon on Thursday 3rd May as part of a five date nationwide tour after receiving outstanding reviews during a tour of UK venues last year.

KIN explores the fear, sorrow, anger, guilt and frustration – but also the love, trust and laughter to be found as middle-aged children negotiate the changes in their relationships with parents. In moving close-ups, performers reveal to camera concerns of their own ageing while dealing with their parent’s increasingly glacial pace of life.

With Wimbledon just around the corner, Love All (Wednesday 9th May) is a comedy about love, murder and ………tennis! Based on the true(ish) and terrible tale of Irish sporting legend Vere St. Ledger Goold and his mercenary wife Marie Violet - an extraordinary globe-trotting journey from the heady heights of sporting stardom to complete catastrophe. Love All delivers an hilarious, rapid-fire, homicidal train ride from passion to pandemonium.... And if you’re lucky you might even get strawberries and cream along the way!

Legendary actor Des Keogh makes a welcome return to the arts centre on Friday 18th May to star in The Love Hungry Farmer. Adapted from work by John B. Keane, The Love Hungry Farmer is the story of John Bosco who is so desperately in need of a woman that he hires the help of a local matchmaker, to no avail. A heart-warming comedy, true to the style of John B. this will be one not to be missed,

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