The Lir, National Academy of Dramatic Art in Trinity College Dublin announces Call for Students for Bachelor in Acting Course

Posted on: 10 September 2010

After a year of planning and development, The Lir, National Academy of Dramatic Art in Trinity College Dublin, has announced that the application process is open for the inaugural 2011/2012 Bachelor in Acting course.  The landmark Academy’s aim is to train young actors, designers, directors, playwrights, stage managers and theatre technicians to the highest international standards for careers in theatre, film, TV and radio.

Prof. Brian Singleton of TCD’s School of Drama, Film and Music, the first Academic Director of The Lir, said that the audition process for the Acting course is open to everyone regardless of education or background.

Prof Brian Singleton, Academic Director of The Lir, Danielle Ryan, Cathal Ryan Trust and Ed Kemp, Director, RADA in front of a computer generated image of the façade of The Lir, National Academy of Dramatic Art in Trinity College Dublin.

“This is a really exciting day for us: a new academy, a new course, a new website, and a new building … and our commitment to ensure a bright future for the performing arts in Ireland. We expect that students will come from very diverse backgrounds and we will assess them on the basis of exceptional natural talent, not academic qualifications. Prospective students can apply via the form available at http://www.thelir.ie/.  We’ll then invite them to attend an audition in which we’ll want them to present both a classical and contemporary monologue, followed by a short interview. Those students who show natural talent and a potential for training will be invited to further rounds of auditions where they will be assessed as part of an ensemble”.

The Lir was developed by the partnership of Trinity College Dublin and the Cathal Ryan Trust and is formally associated with the world-renowned Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).   Attending the announcement, Edward Kemp, Director of RADA, said that the standards required for a world-class training institution were being set from day one.
 
“The training offered by The Lir will be of the highest level of international professional practice and will be closely linked to the ever-changing needs and directions of the industry. It will be provided by professionals with extensive experience of the industry and will be supplemented by guest lectures and workshops from leading international figures of stage and screen.”

Speaking on behalf of the Cathal Ryan Trust, Danielle Ryan, a RADA graduate, said that plans were in full swing for the opening of The Lir in the autumn of 2011.

“We’ve started the building of the refurbished, state-of-the-art premises for The Lir this week.  It’s situated in the Trinity Technology and Enterprise Campus at Grand Canal Dock and close to the exciting new cultural quarter of Dublin around the Grand Canal Theatre. Designed by Smith Kennedy Architects specifically for the range of courses, there’ll be a flexible black box studio, as well as two further performance studios, a dance studio, technical workshop, and a range of flexible teaching spaces. At night, we plan for The Lir to open its doors to the public and offer a wide variety of graduating performances, films, exhibitions, readings, and lectures,” she said.

The creation of The Lir has been widely welcomed by the industry, with leading names such as Pierce Brosnan saying it will be a massive positive step for the sector:  “What a grand idea, and one long overdue for the landscape of our country and her talent. I am sure you will do great things for many years and decades to come.”

Commenting on the announcement, Loughlin Deegan, Artistic Director of the Dublin Theatre Festival, said: “The call for students by The Lir Academy marks an historic day in the history of theatre training in Ireland. With the generosity of its vision and thoughtfulness of its programmes, the Academy itself has the potential to transform the Irish theatrical landscape in powerful and radical ways.”

Director Patrick Mason added: “The founding of the Academy is an enlightened and hugely encouraging initiative. It has the potential to enrich and enhance Irish theatre practice for generations to come. Its opening in 2011 is a very welcome development which could not have come at a better time – a bright hope on the theatrical horizon.”

The inaugural Board of The Lir has been appointed and will be chaired by communications and technology entrepreneur, Dermot McCrum. 

The board members include Michael Colgan, Harry Crosbie, Michael Marsh, Ian Mathews, Anne Mulcahy and Danielle Ryan. The academy’s Artistic Director will be appointed in early 2011.