'Time at the Well Artists' 2024 Announced!

Hawk's Well Theatre is delighted to announce the recipients of its’ annual Time at the Well bursary scheme.

Time at the Well is the Hawk’s Well Theatre’s annual Performing Artist Support Programme, offering artists a budget, stage time, technical support and mentorship to help them on their journey to bring their idea to life. This year’s residents are; actor and writer Charmaine T. Matonsi, actor, musician and theatre-maker Fiona Maria Fitzpatrick and storyteller, emerging theatre-maker, artist and performer Ben Lucent.

Charmaine T. Matonsi grew up in Zimbabwe. She has been living in Sligo since 2018, during which time she has worked with Brokentalkers (Uprooted: Who Owns the Story?) and Donal O’Kelly (The Bed), as well as performing her own work at the Hawk’s Well as part of Ladies Night and our Locals@Lunch series. During her Time at the Well, she will develop a spoken word theatre piece that explores the various experiences that go along with being a black migrant woman living in Ireland.

Fiona Maria Fitzpatrick is an actor, musician, and theatre-maker from Belturbet, Co. Cavan, now living in South Donegal. Some of her recent performances include What Are We Aetin’ Anyway (Cottage Market Cavan), Hear Me Speak! (Hawk’s Well Theatre), and Ceilia Drumshee (Dark Daughter Productions). From 2017 – 2021, she worked with Footsbarn Travelling Theatre, and she has often pounded the boards with Seamus O’Rourke, most notably touring The Cavan Curse from 2016-2018. As a musician, she has fronted various ensembles, The Messages, The Darling Buds Of, Bonita, traversing styles from Jazz to Folk. During her Time at the Well, she will develop her new play, Nothin But An Auld Weed.

Ben Lucent’s performance work began in 2019, predominantly in Drag, working with the National Gallery, Gaze Film Festival, the GCN, Threshold, Dublin Pride and Sligo Pride among others. Working in storytelling performances with puppetry, dance, creative expression and mindfulness, blending original material and popular LGBTQIA+ authors. In 2023 he trained in physical theatre with A Train from Sligo to Dublin, performing a group devised piece in the Project Arts Centre. Ben would like to use Time at the Well to develop an interactive play for children on the themes of imagination, authenticity and self-love. With a focus on an imaginative and joyful representation of LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent people to help break down stigmatisation and provide a positive, inspiring counter-narrative.

Time at the Well 2024 is proud to support the local arts scene.