Linenhall Arts Centre reveal new artist in residence

MARY-LOU McCarthy has been announced as the recipient of a new Arts for Young Audiences Residency with the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar.

The residency provides the artist with the opportunity to expand and develop her practice in a supportive environment and is the latest artists' support introduced by the Linenhall in 2020.

Mary-Lou will be working on Squawker, a project which focuses on active listening. Throughout the six-week duration of the residency she will work with local schools, consult with experts and collaborate with other artists as part of her work to develop narrative, performance and physical elements for exciting active listening events for young audiences.

Mary-Lou is an actor, writer and theatre-maker working across multiple disciplines including theatre, film, television and radio. She has toured nationally and internationally with stage work in Europe, Russia and the US.

She is passionate about creating work for young audiences and stage credits include BigKidLittleKid (Anna Newell/The Civic), Bees! A Musical (The Ark/Willfredd) The Foolhardy Three (Curious State/Spraoi) and Me, Mollser (Abbey Theatre). Screen credits include Wolf (Feline Films), Fair City (RTÉ), An Klondike (Seasons 1 and 2,TG4) and Aifric (TG4).

Mary-Lou is a committee member of Theatre for Young Audiences Ireland, and an advocate for the making and performing of innovative work for young people across Ireland.

Speaking about the residency, Mary-Lou said: “I'm really excited to be an artist in residence at the Linenhall Arts Centre. I'll be embarking on a new piece of work for primary school children entitled Squawker. It's an aural project exploring sound in the classroom and during the residency I will be working with different primary schools and artists to develop the idea further.

“We will be doing R&D sharing in February 2021, and I am really looking forward to the work and play ahead!”

Orla Henihan, arts access officer at the Linenhall Arts Centre, said: “Children are central to our work at the Linenhall. This residency, which offers considerable support to the artist, reflects our commitment to children and will include opportunities for children to inform Mary Lou’s work. We really look forward to working with Mary-Lou and supporting the work that emerges.”

The Linenhall Arts Centre will continue to focus resources on residencies and artists support as they navigate the challenges that 2020 has brought to the arts sector. These supports will bring a new energy to the Linenhall's work, in both its service to artists and the community.

The Arts for Young Audiences Residency at the Linenhall Arts Centre runs from mid-December 2020 to early February 2021.