KCLR will record a series of dramatic monologues next week with actors from the Carlow Little Theatre Society as a conclusion to the current Writer-in-Residence, Marc-Ivan O’Gorman‘s, Dramatic Writing course.
Having commenced the course in September 2021, students have examined the theory and practice of dramatic writing, focusing on screenwriting and exploring the formal and technical considerations of writing for theatre, radio and animation. The group also completed weekly assignments, including industry-standard deliverables like log-lines, outlines, and treatments, culminating in writing a dramatic monologue suitable for actor performance.
Wanting to give the students the chance to have their work ‘staged’, Marc-Ivan engaged local actors to perform the monologues and invited Monica Hayes of KCLR to record them. “For any dramatic writer, a crucial part of the creative process is collaborating with actors and directors, so I was delighted that Carlow Little Theatre agreed to come on board”, says Marc-Ivan.
Last week, actors from Carlow Little Theatre performed the monologues, six of which will be shortlisted to be recorded by KCLR, who will broadcast them as a special feature in January.
“Irish people love radio. It’s the continuance of our oral tradition; we love telling and listening to stories. It’s also an excellent medium for dramatic writers; all you need is an actor and a microphone. KCLR has always been very supportive of my projects in the past, so I wasn’t surprised that they embraced the opportunity to collaborate with these local creative groups.”
The Carlow Writer-in-Residence programme has been delivered by Carlow College, St. Patrick’s over the last three years in partnership with Carlow County Council, Carlow County Library, and the Arts Council of Ireland. During this time, the College has welcomed novelists, short story writers; poets; dramatists; filmmakers; spoken word artists, songwriters, and, most recently, a dramatist with Carlow native Marc-Ivan O’Gorman.
