News

Jul 25 2025

Blas Development Programme Artists Announced

Town Hall Theatre Galway this week announced the names of the artists selected to participate in Blas, the pilot Artist Development programme which the theatre is running in partnership with Theatre Artist James Riordan and Galway Theatre Festival over 7 months in 2025. Áine Ní Laoghaire, Ari Bhatti, and Hannah Bevan will receive support to develop new solo pieces of theatre to a work-in-progress stage this year, with a view to full production in 2026.

The programme will involve bespoke mentorship, masterclasses, rehearsal space and technical support and will be led by Theatre Artist James Riordan (Brú Theatre). The Town Hall has had a long-standing relationship with James, who was Theatre Artist in Residence of the building for two years and who has presented his work on the main stage. Town Hall Theatre is keen to assist in the sustainability of artists making work in Galway, welcoming the selected artists into the venue in the heart of Galway city and supporting them with all our available resources. Blas is funded by the Town Hall Patrons Award and the Arts Council.

The programme includes a stipend for each of the 3 selected artists; continuing in-person and online mentorship and support from James Riordan, along with an assortment of professional mentors; strategic and dramaturgical support; access to the Town Hall Studio; support from Galway Theatre Festival, with an eye towards presenting the finished pieces as part of the festival in the future; networking events in the city with funders, festivals, and venues; theatre tickets for shows in the Town Hall and Black Box Theatres, including Q and A’s with visiting theatre companies.

The Town Hall Theatre is Galway’s premier performing arts venue, at the epicentre of Galway’s cultural activity and providing a platform and supportive environment for artists and arts organisations. This pilot programme is part of a number of initiatives to encourage and support creative development for Galway artists, companies and producers and to assist with the creation of work by Galway artists in the performing arts; theatre, music and dance. The Town Hall Theatre online booking system features a Patron Donation option and anyone who wishes to donate to the Awards can do so here - tht.ie/patron-donation-awards/ Town Hall Theatre wishes to thank everyone who has donated in the past and looks forward to continued support for the development and creation of exciting work by artists in Galway in the future.

James Riordan(he/him) is Artistic Director of Brú Theatre. He is a writer and theatre maker from Galway and trained at LISPA (London) and the APT (Berlin).

James spent many years working in Berlin and London for companies including the ENO and Absurda Comica and was a core member of The LipSinkers (UK) for 4 years. After returning to Ireland, he set up Brú in 2018 with Jill Murray.Brú have produced 7 shows to date, and tour nationally and internationally, most recently bringing Not a Word to the Barbican centre London. In 2024 he was Resident Director with the Abbey Theatre and directed the 2023 flagship Macnas Parade, Cnámha La Loba. He was Digital Artist in Residence with the Centre for Creative Technologies at the University of Galway in 2023 and is an Irish Times Theatre Awards Best Actor nominee 2020 for his role in Brú’s Selvage.

Galway Theatre Festival, founded in 2008, is the only dedicated theatre festival in the West. GTF presents and produces high-quality, innovative and bilingual work that expands the definition of what theatre can be. The festival’s activities in theatre strengthen the West’s wider performing arts and cultural scene by fostering sustainable artist development through a lasting organisation and funding model. Through strategic partnerships with artists, audiences, arts groups, and funders, it aims to ensure a vibrant, evolving festival that champions creativity and opportunity in the region.