Performing Arts graduate and recipient of the first IT Sligo Yeats Design Residency at the Abbey Theatre, Lydia Concannon, was responsible for set design on Love in a Glass Jar and Ribbons, two shows that ran during the Short Play Season at the Peacock Theatre last week.
Lydia, who is 22 and from Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, completed the four year honours Performing Arts programme before taking up a six month residency at the Abbey Theatre last September.
Since then she has been involved in four shows, worked with international designers, actors and theatre makers, produced a number of window displays at the Theatre.
Her design debut has been a highlight, she said. “The project was a collaboration of talent, old and new, and as well as it being my own debut, it was a debut for resident director Oonagh Murphy, lighting designer Eoin Stapleton and actor Chris Newman. It challenging and intense, as it was a low budget show; however this meant we all had to support each other as a creative team.
“I was delighted with the end result and the experience I have gained has been great,” she said. “I learned a lot through the Performing Arts course at IT Sligo and being rewarded the scholarship meant that I could support myself for the six months and gain invaluable experience into the working world of theatre.”
A review in the Irish Independent said that; ‘Set and lighting from Lydia Concannon and Eoin Stapleton respectively are in beautiful harmony’
To learn more about the BA in Performing Arts click here. To learn more about the IT Sligo Yeats Design Residency click here.
Caption for above photo: Set design by Lydia Concannon at the Peacock Theatre.
Caption for below photo: Lydia pictured with Gavin Harding, Technical Director, Abbey Theatre and Frank Conway, Theatre Design Lecturer at IT Sligo.
