Hawk’s Well Celebrates Community Creativity at “Show Up & Show Off” Annual Showcase
Last Friday evening on May 1st, Hawk’s Well Theatre came alive with music, movement, drama and celebration as over 100 participants from the theatre’s vibrant community workshop programmes took centre stage for this year’s Show Up & Show Off showcase. The annual event highlighted the extraordinary talent, creativity and commitment of participants involved in Hawk’s Well’s wide-ranging community arts programmes, reaffirming the theatre’s role as a welcoming creative home for people of all ages and abilities across the region.
The evening opened with a warm welcome from MC Brendan and Hawk’s Well Programme Manager Maeve McGowan, who spoke about the importance of community at the heart of the theatre’s work before the curtain rose on a lively and uplifting performance from the SHINE Adult Dance Group, led by Ingrid McLoughlin. Performing energetic routines to Only Happy When I’m Dancing and I Can Dance, the group set the tone for a joyful evening of celebration and self-expression.
Audiences were then treated to a performance by the SHINE Adult Drama Programme, directed by Isabel Claffey and Sinead O’Donnell-Carey. The performance showcased the confidence, creativity and teamwork developed through the programme. The first half also featured the Ukulele Improvers group, led by Lisa Cannon, who delighted audiences with two upbeat musical performances, while the Pop Up Community Choir, under the direction of Michele Feeney, filled the auditorium with song in a heartfelt choral performance accompanied by Niamh Crowley.
Following the interval, Brendan welcomed audiences back and introduced participants from Sinéad Conway’s Find Your Voice workshops. Linda and Rhona Kerlin, a mother-and-daughter duo, delivered a touching rendition of The Maid of Cuilmore, demonstrating the power of music and storytelling to connect generations.
The second half continued with performances from the Hawk’s Well Community Adult Orchestra, led by Niamh Crowley. The orchestra performed a selection of pieces that reflected the dedication and progress of its members, drawing enthusiastic applause from the audience.
The evening concluded with a moving finale as the Community Choir joined the orchestra on stage for a collaborative performance of Dreams, bringing together performers from across the programme in a fitting celebration of community, creativity and connection.
Show Up & Show Off once again demonstrated the incredible impact of Hawk’s Well Theatre’s community programmes, which provide opportunities for participants to develop skills, build friendships and express themselves through the arts in a supportive and inclusive environment.
As a Theatre for the People, Hawk’s Well Theatre continues to place community at the centre of its work, creating spaces where everyone has the opportunity to show up, take part and shine.
