Kildare youth theatre group celebrate 25 years

THE launch of Griese Youth Theatre’s (GYT) digital archive and website took place last Thursday (25 July) in the Meeting House in Ballitore, 25 years to the day since the first art and drama workshop was held in the building.

Over the past few months, GYT director and founder Leish Burke, alongside resident drama facilitator Aoife Barrett have been trawling through material on and offline.

Project editor and website creator Cathal McGuire worked closely with them to produce the archive which documents key moments of the group’s development since 1999.

At the launch Leish thanked all of the agencies who have supported the group over those years, including Kildare County Council arts & library servicess, Creative Ireland, Creative Places Athy, Youth Theatre Ireland, the Arts Council, Athy MD, Kildare Credit Union, KWETB and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media.

Leish had a special thanks for former Ballitore Librarian Mary Malone who was instrumental in setting up the group all of those years ago, and everyone was delighted to see Mary in attendance on the night.

There was a special mention for the Quakers (The Society of Friends) with whom Griese Youth Theatre share the building, and GYT caretake the building on behalf of Kildare County Council.

Above all Leish wished to acknowledge the local community of Ballitore village who has supported the group since the outset and continue to do so.

Leish mentioned that the vision for the group then and now remains to create a viable, sustainable space in the Meeting House dedicated to children’s and young people’s creativity.

Through the process of drama young people develop theatre skills, soft skills.