Irish Theatre Summer Studio Offers Unique Dramatic, Cultural and Historical Experience

VILLANOVA, Pa. - This summer, Villanova Theatre graduate student Grace Acquilano participated in the prestigious Irish Summer Studio at The Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.

This three-week intensive program begins in Galway, Ireland, where students can conduct independent research on a chosen topic using the Abbey Theatre archives at the University of Galway library. The course culminates in three major writing assignments: an artist’s reflection, a performance review of a production currently playing in Ireland and a final research paper. The research component allows students the potential opportunity to publish their work after the program.

The final two weeks of the program take place in Dublin, where students participate in various classes at The Lir Academy taught by working Irish theatre artists and practitioners such as acting, playwriting, directing, voice and scene studies focusing on a specific Irish playwright. Villanova Theatre professor and Irish Summer Studio program coordinator, Bess Rowen, PhD, accompanies Villanova students and teaches a course on Irish theatre history. Dr. Rowen’s class contextualizes significant events in Ireland’s history, such as the Easter Rising in 1916, Ireland’s independence (1921, the Irish Civil War (1922-1923), The Troubles (the 1960s-1998) and The Celtic Tiger (1995-2007) by pairing them with plays that offer insight into these events such as Cathleen ni Houlihan (W.B. Yeats), The Rising of the Moon (Lady Augusta Gregory), The Plough of the Stars (Sean O’Casey) and Translations (Brian Friel).

“Before beginning preparations for this program, I had only encountered two Irish plays in my prior education, Riders to the Sea by John Millington Synge and Rising of the Moon by Lady Augusta Gregory,” says Acquilano. “Though these are great Irish plays, I was shocked that I had not been exposed to more, considering Ireland's vast dramatic canon. I am grateful for the opportunity to study such beautiful plays that I hope to incorporate into my future career as a theatre educator someday.”

Additionally, the program seeks to immerse students in Ireland’s culture by allowing them to tour some of Ireland’s most memorable sights, such as the Cliffs of Moher, the Aran Islands, Glendalough, Wicklow and Kilkenny. This year, students witnessed a traditional sheep demonstration in the county of Wicklow and saw a production of Riverdance, a world-renowned Irish step-dancing recital. Acquilano notes how these day trips and excursions contributed to her research paper and overall studies in the program.

“Much of my independent research in The Abbey Theatre archives focused on J. M. Synge’s one-act tragedy Riders to the Sea, which happens to be the only Irish play that takes place on the Aran Islands,” she says. “After visiting the smallest of the three Aran Islands, Inisheer, and traveling along the waters that Maurya’s husband and sons would have traveled on, I have a deeper understanding of how the ocean played a pivotal role in the rural life of those living on the Aran Islands in the early 20th century.”

Acquilano, originally from Staten Island, N.Y., earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and English from College of the Holy Cross and aspires to work in theatre marketing and education. Acquilano is currently the full-time Marketing and PR graduate assistant for Villanova Theatre. Much of her work involves promoting Villanova’s production season and helping with program recruitment. She hopes to complete her graduate thesis in Education Dramaturgy this upcoming academic year. She looks forward to incorporating the tools and skills she picked up in Ireland to help her achieve this goal.

Acquilano credits the Villanova Theatre graduate program with preparing her for the Irish Summer Studio experience.

“The Villanova Theatre program’s diverse course offerings and extensive production opportunities prepare students to be well-rounded theatre makers and scholars,” she says. “Much of my studies from my first year led to my success in the classroom at the Lir. I felt confident in collaborating with current Irish theatre artists and contributing to an engaging classroom environment.”