Great boost for Longford as newly refurbished Shawbrook Film Studio Theatre opens

It was a hectic weekend at Shawbrook school of dance as the centre of artistic motion added a new string to their bow.

Saturday was the official opening of the Shawbrook Film Studio Theatre as the school transformed their blackbox studio theatre into a cinema.

The activity commenced the previous day when they hosted the opening night of the Still Voice’s Dance Films festival.

All the films that have been made in Shawbrook were played on a loop throughout the Saturday as a part of the Shawbrook Winter Film Fest.

“At Shawbrook we are always looking for new ways to engage with artists and audiences and are excited to share our new venture. The official opening of our newly refurbished Shawbrook Film Studio Theatre was a day of connection and celebration. This day is a momentous occasion,” Anica Dawson said of the opening.

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The team have worked to transform the Shawbrook Film Studio Theatre into a state-of-the-art facility. The Opening Event was a day of connection and discovery with an exciting lineup of activities and events over the day.

On the day there was an Open House that brought guests on a behind-the-scenes tour of the studio and all the spaces where the creative magic happens.

The Film Screenings featured wonderful dance films which have been created in Shawbrook in the newly upgraded film studio theatre.

Speaking on the launch, Cllr Paul Ross said: “This internationally recognised centre of excellence for dance, performance and arts now has further enhanced its offering with a theatre.

“This really is a unique place set deep in the heart of the country but little over an hour from Dublin and Galway and a wonderful success story over the last 40 years. Best wishes to Philip and Anica and the team with this new venture.”

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The official opening was performed by Lisa McLoughlin. Lisa is a dance lecturer in the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in the University of Limerick. She trained professionally at the Rambert School, London.

Lisa's dance career has spanning 18 years seeing her perform in Australia, China, USA, Poland, Cyprus, France, Germany and Ireland with companies such as the Liz Roche Dance Company, Daghdha, Coisceim, Catapult Dance company, Marguerite Donlon and Dancers, Citog, IMDT and Opera Ireland.

Poet and writer and documentary maker Manchán Magan also spoke at the launch. Manchán has strong Longford connections and has written books on his travels in Africa, India and South America and two novels.

He writes occasionally for The Irish Times on culture and travel, presents the RTÉ podcast The Almanac of Ireland, and is author of the award-winning, best-selling Thirty-Two Words For Field, and Listen to the Land Speak.

On her Social Media platformer the driving force behind Shawbrook, Anica Dawson, said “What a weekend we had! The culminating months of planning and hard manual labour. Thank you Manchán and everyone who came to Still Voices, it was a joy.”

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