3. ST - Hawks Well theatre
May 13, 2021, 04:16 PM
https://www.racontour.com/sligo-town-audio-guide/
The north west's best venue for theatre, music, dance, comedy and the main Yeats summer school events. Once you've had a look at what's on offer, press '4' on your device to hear of Sligo's past as you walk to the cathedral some 200 metres further along the wall.
The curious name of the theatre comes from a 1917 one act play by Yeats - there is an actual hawk's well near Coolaney south west of Sligo. From the theatre's website, here's more information about the theatre's history:
'The history of the Hawk's Well Theatre began in Sligo's long and deep tradition of amateur dramatics. Sligo had a theatre as far back as 1750, according to Wood-Martins' History of Sligo, and often "her Majesty's servants from the Theatre Royal, Crow Street …. visited Sligo, even during the Dublin season, showing that in those days the townsfolk appreciated the Drama, for in some instances the company remained during several months".
The dream of a "Theatre for Sligo" was the aim of many people in Sligo, particularly those associated with the amateur drama movement locally and especially members of Sligo Drama Circle. Sligo Drama Circle was founded in 1956 to promote higher standards in local drama and to increase the range of plays available to Sligo audiences. In 1966 the Drama Circle was invited to perform plays by Yeats as part of the programme of the Yeats Summer School. This led to the setting up of what became known as the "Little Theatre" project or "A Theatre for Sligo" project. The Drama Circle presented summer seasons of plays, the proceeds of which went towards this visionary project. Though faced with many setbacks the Drama Circle made a great stride forward in 1974 when it successfully lobbied the then Bishop Dr. Dominic Conway to grant them the plot of land on Temple Street where the current Hawk's Well stands. On the strength of this the company focused on raising funds to begin construction: sourcing funding possibilities, courting Sligo's business community for support and seeking professional advice on possible government grant options. At the same time, the Irish government was mounting a concerted effort to de-centralise the arts in Ireland. There were already a number of strong Irish touring companies and other permanently housed companies, eager to tour. The changing face and rising profile of the arts in Ireland meant that theatre companies were eager to arrange regional tours and anxious to have access to the best possible facilities. When the Sligo Drama Circle's plan for a theatre in Sligo was presented to the Arts Council of Ireland, the Arts Council saw an opportunity and made them an offer.
The Arts Council along with North West Tourism, The Sligo County Council, and Sligo Borough Council recognised the need for a designated, well-equipped cultural centre in Sligo and offered to find the funding to build and maintain a theatre on the Temple Street site. They stipulated that the theatre would be professionally run according to Arts Council standards and would have a remit broad enough to facilitate the touring professional performing artists as well as community arts groups. The Sligo Drama Circle agreed, signed over the land and soon after construction began on the first purpose-built theatre west of the Shannon. When the Hawk's Well opened in January 1982, it was a fulfilment of the dreams of many Artists and drama lovers in the area. The establishment of the theatre was seen by many as an acknowledgement of the richness of the many Arts in Sligo and indeed in Connaught'.
(c) Hawkswell theatre
http://www.hawkswell.com
The curious name of the theatre comes from a 1917 one act play by Yeats - there is an actual hawk's well near Coolaney south west of Sligo. From the theatre's website, here's more information about the theatre's history:
'The history of the Hawk's Well Theatre began in Sligo's long and deep tradition of amateur dramatics. Sligo had a theatre as far back as 1750, according to Wood-Martins' History of Sligo, and often "her Majesty's servants from the Theatre Royal, Crow Street …. visited Sligo, even during the Dublin season, showing that in those days the townsfolk appreciated the Drama, for in some instances the company remained during several months".
The dream of a "Theatre for Sligo" was the aim of many people in Sligo, particularly those associated with the amateur drama movement locally and especially members of Sligo Drama Circle. Sligo Drama Circle was founded in 1956 to promote higher standards in local drama and to increase the range of plays available to Sligo audiences. In 1966 the Drama Circle was invited to perform plays by Yeats as part of the programme of the Yeats Summer School. This led to the setting up of what became known as the "Little Theatre" project or "A Theatre for Sligo" project. The Drama Circle presented summer seasons of plays, the proceeds of which went towards this visionary project. Though faced with many setbacks the Drama Circle made a great stride forward in 1974 when it successfully lobbied the then Bishop Dr. Dominic Conway to grant them the plot of land on Temple Street where the current Hawk's Well stands. On the strength of this the company focused on raising funds to begin construction: sourcing funding possibilities, courting Sligo's business community for support and seeking professional advice on possible government grant options. At the same time, the Irish government was mounting a concerted effort to de-centralise the arts in Ireland. There were already a number of strong Irish touring companies and other permanently housed companies, eager to tour. The changing face and rising profile of the arts in Ireland meant that theatre companies were eager to arrange regional tours and anxious to have access to the best possible facilities. When the Sligo Drama Circle's plan for a theatre in Sligo was presented to the Arts Council of Ireland, the Arts Council saw an opportunity and made them an offer.
The Arts Council along with North West Tourism, The Sligo County Council, and Sligo Borough Council recognised the need for a designated, well-equipped cultural centre in Sligo and offered to find the funding to build and maintain a theatre on the Temple Street site. They stipulated that the theatre would be professionally run according to Arts Council standards and would have a remit broad enough to facilitate the touring professional performing artists as well as community arts groups. The Sligo Drama Circle agreed, signed over the land and soon after construction began on the first purpose-built theatre west of the Shannon. When the Hawk's Well opened in January 1982, it was a fulfilment of the dreams of many Artists and drama lovers in the area. The establishment of the theatre was seen by many as an acknowledgement of the richness of the many Arts in Sligo and indeed in Connaught'.
(c) Hawkswell theatre
http://www.hawkswell.com