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FIA delegates at Smock Alley Theatre
FIA delegates enjoying dinner in the historic Smock Alley Theatre Dublin, on Thursday 4th June.
FIA Live Performance Conference
For the second time in its history the International Federation of Actor (FIA) and its worldwide members gather for a 4-day international conference on live performance.
Hosted by FIA member unions Irish Equity and Equity Northern Ireland, – the event will gather some 200 performers, union and industry representatives from around the world with the aim of discussing challenges, trends and best practices in the live performance sector. From June 4th to June 6th 2015 in the city of Dublin, Ireland, almost 50 speakers from different backgrounds and countries will take the floor to uphold the rights of performers and their role in society.
Prior to the event, FIA carried out a wide survey among its members with a view to best capturing the variety of national situations regarding the live performance sector and published a status report revealing the challenges, constant evolutions, but also the tremendous vitality the sector is witnessing.
Ferne Downey, FIA President, commented:
“The live performance sector remains at the heart of the entertainment industry. Despite the constant growth of the audiovisual sector, live performance continues to be the main source of employment for performers. Discussing current trends and new challenges forartists working in live performance is definitely a priority.”
The Federation and the unions hosting the event – Irish Equity and Equity Northern Ireland – are honoured by the presence of two distinguished guests at the conference opening session: the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, and the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure,Carál Ní Chuilín on Wednesday 4 June and welcome all participants under a single motto: Performing live, acting together.
Stephen Rea BAFTA TV award
Irish Equity Congratulates Stephen Rea on winning his BAFTA TV award for best supporting actor for his role in the popular British political spy thriller series [Read more…]
Brían Ó Súilleabháin – Youth member
Brían Ó Súilleabháin is a graduate of the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama and has a First Class Honours BA in Drama Performance. He has trained at both the Gaiety School of Acting and Bow Street Academy. As an actor he has toured theatres across Ireland, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg, performing in productions of Shakespeare, children’s theatre and contemporary Irish drama. He is a native Irish speaker, avid cyclist and an accomplished trombone player. As a new member of Equity, he hopes to serve as a strong voice for the concerns of young actors and performers.
Joyce Campion – 1923-2014
Joyce Elaine Campion was born in Ireland in 1923 into a loving family. Her father was a clergyman who fell in love with her mother when he heard her sing beautifully. Joyce was born on her mother’s birthday and was soon joined by her brother and best friend, Brian (later, also a clergyman), with whom she got up to countless escapades, often fondly recounted.
She attended Alexandra College where, accordingly to her diary at age 11, she adored riding (Prince and Quicksilver were her favourite horses), played hockey, appeared in The Pied Piper and was frequently disciplined for talking too much.
Joyce fell in love with the theatre and it fell in love with her. She began her professional life in Ireland and England but spent most of it in Canada and occasionally the U.S. No ill, no misfortune could overwhelm if ‘Doctor Theatre’ was present in her life. Indeed, after suffering a devastating fall during a rehearsal for a play I was directing in 1995, Joyce’s determination to return to her beloved profession not only resulted in her rejoining the production later in the season but led to many more years of delightful performances. As her director and close friend, I was deeply distressed by her injury and remain eternally grateful for her recovery. We were all thrilled to see her subsequent triumphs – amoung them her literally scent-stealing maid Saunders in Fallen Angels and her miraculously appropriate final role, Anfisa, in Three Sisters.
Joyce never retired, regarding herself as an actor to the end. Though her last years were very difficult, she always found comfort in talking about the theatre, reciting her beloved Yeates and amusing her friends with the comic poem ‘If I Were a Lady’. And there were many friends – deservedly so. All of us miss her and will livingly remember her great generosity, her fierce loyalty, her irreverent wit and her joy in being a working actor.
by Marti Maraden
Fair Internet for Performers
Make the Internet Fair for Performers: Sign the petition: Performers bring life and soul to artistic works. Without them, Europe would not enjoy the vibrant cultural scene it does today and the creative content sector, which makes a vital contribution to Europe’s economy, would simply not exist. However, performers are still not properly rewarded when their performances are exploited on digital media. SIGN THE PETITION TODAY
Irish Equity Executive Meeting
Members of the Equity Executive planning to action the new policy motions agreed at the recent Irish Equity AGM on Sunday 29th March.
Irish Equity AGM
Irish Equity President Padraig Murray, making his address to the well attended Irish Equity Annual General Meeting held on Sunday, 29th March, in the Liberty Hall Theatre. In his address, Murray outlined the work of the union to date and appealed for a unity of purpose and direction from the membership. His call was well received by the members who voted to set aside their previous motion from 2012 to leave SIPTU in favour of Equity UK. This decision was taken by the membership in conjunction with a number of strong policy motions to drive Irish Equity forward along with a commitment to continue to build on the collegiate relationship that has been established with Equity UK and to continue with the work of the Ireland/UK Action Group.
