Lifelong pals Gary Comerford and Jim Rohan are proud members of KCAT Arts Centre and both feature prominently in the team of revellers and party-goers cast as part of The Alice Project, the much-anticipated reimagining of the Kilkenny Witch Trials at five locations in Kilkenny in early August.
When Asylum Theatre sent out a casting call for singers, dancers and actors for the project, the duo, who have an abundance of acting and television talent, were game to enlist and join a cast and crew of up to 150 people for The Alice Project. It is proudly supported by Kilkenny County Council under the Public Arts Programme.
“We’re playing revellers and party-goers. It’s going to be mighty craic,” Jim Rohan said. “I’m really excited about it and it will be great to have big audiences to act for. We also did The Waterboys and it is still available for people to view on the RTE Player,” he added.
Gary Comerford is equally excited about their moments in the spotlight. “We know a good few of the people who are involved here. But it’s lovely too to see new faces, meet new people,” he added.
The fun-loving duo are among close to 150 people of all ages from all backgrounds are involved in The Alice Project, Line Producer, Joe Murphy, explained. “We’ve a great mix of people, some very familiar faces who have been involved in countless local productions, including two of the five Alice episodes last year. But we’ve lots of new people too.
“It’s great to see people stepping out of their comfort zone, watch new friendships blossoming and see people come out of their shell, try something new. Lots of the people here now meet up outside of rehearsals, socialise together etc. It’s what community engagement and public arts is all about,” he said.
The Alice Project is an intimate storytelling in various locations. Venues include Kilkenny Castle and the graveyard at the Medieval Mile Museum, bookended by two large outdoor spectacles – The Demon Dance on the city’s large Parade, and culminating in The Burning, The Words of Alice, set on the grounds of St Kieran’s College on Saturday, August 15. Tickets for the various episodes of the much-anticipated production can be booked on the Kilkenny Arts Festival website, www.kilkennyarts.ie
The team includes a community cast of actors, a community dancer troop, a community choir and a rowdy band of reveller actors. They’re all being put through their paces under the expert and watchful eye of a collective of makers which also includes writer Clare Monnelly, Medb Lambert and Fern Kealy, with directors Dónal Gallagher and Janice de Bróite, choreography by Cindy Cummings, Muireann Ryan as Choral Director and music by Dave Holland.
It all promises to be spectacular, Dónal Gallagher explained. “We’re telling the story of Alice, but in a contemporary world. We tell the story in five episodes. The first episode is close to the opening night of Kilkenny Arts Festival and episodes 2, 3 and 4 take place in various locations around the city. The grand finale, takes place on the front steps of St Kieran’s College. Each piece is designed like theatre tapas and we’re delighted with how it’s all progressing.”
The Alice Project is one of five community-rooted projects commissioned by Kilkenny County Council’s Public Arts Programme 2024-2027, and funded by the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage. Additional funding for the long-awaited performances during Kilkenny Arts Festival has been provided by The Arts Council.
A second Public Arts Programme Kilkenny commission, Fearghus Ó Conchúir’s cinematic dance film ‘All to Play For’ will be screened in The Watergate Theatre on Monday August 10. It will play at intervals on the big screen from 12 noon to 2pm and entry is free
Other projects commissioned under the initiative continue into next year. They are Córa, by Michael Gallen, a multi-disciplinary project blending choral music, documentary, poetry, design, and animation to craft an evocative film about the heritage of Irish healing practices.
Pauline O’ Connell’s project, From Hide to Heel, also continues into 2027. It explores and celebrates the intertwined leather and shoemaking traditions in Kilkenny. It tells the story of Padmore and Barnes, the boot factory in Kilkenny.
