Kildare youth theatre acquires former cinema
Inside the old cinema
AFTER finally securing their ‘forever’ home after 27 years of existence, the renowned Greise Youth Theatre (GYT) from Ballitore now begins their next challenge – funding the renovation of the old cinema which has been lying derelict on Cockpit Lane for over four decades.
Next week, in time for Heritage Week, the GYT will release a short film on Facebook and Instagram to raise awareness about their upcoming project, but have already got one star onside – ‘Usual Suspect’ Gabriel Byrne – an actor who spent his childhood summers on a farm outside the village.
“Ballitore is a little village where my father grew up and I have a very strong connection with it,” said the Golden Globe winner in a recent interview in the national press.
“As a child, I used to go there during the summer, and I still visit.
“There’s an amazing woman there called Leish Burke and 25 years ago, she started a drama group Griese Youth Theatre (GYT) in the village.
“She saw that there was a need for somewhere for kids to go, that wasn’t hanging around chippers, and she moved in to try to rectify this.
“The great thing about a drama group is that it brings people together and they work together but not in a wishy-washy way.
“I am one of their patrons.
“They put on plays, make films and on their 25th anniversary, a developer gave them the old picture house in the village which they are going to restore.
“They have taken possession of the old cinema and are turning it into an arts club. It’s just what every town needs — a leader, somebody who inspires young kids to do stuff and to open them up to ideas”.
So the spoke to artistic director Leish – a former drama teacher in the 90s who set up it with librarian Mary Malone in 1999 - for some background into her ongoing successes with the GYT.
“Back in 2005 we made a short film (about the 1921 Civil War).
“Even though the old cinema was derelict for years, Griese Youth Theatre were very welcome users of the building during the lifetime of Sally and Pat O Connor, and according to son Brian it was Sally's wish that it would eventually go to the youth theatre.
When it did come up for sale we were not in a position to purchase it and it was sold on to various owners. It did come back around to us via the housing developer Soroban Ltd'
You’d think that was the end of it, but transpires it is only the beginning.
“Oh, it is not done up at all,” said Leish.
“There has been a lot of to-ing and fro-ing. Is it doable?
“We first put in a stage back in 2005, but we can now start to really refurbish it, because we own it now.
“It’s in a nice spot and has loads of potential, because it’s important to conserve.
“We would love to be able to use it as a film club eventually as well, and for other community activities, but with a particular focus on the young”.
Well, a premises, an enthusiastic bunch of a young people, a hugely committed director and Gabriel Byrne are not bad places to start the next chapter of the GYT!
