Leitrim County Council with the support of the Arts Council of Ireland is thrilled to be staging the UK premiere of The Leitrim Equation, a unique production combining music, dance and poetry in one carefully crafted show at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) Studio Theatre on Sunday the 25th October as part of the Return to Camden Town Festival.
This Leitrim Equation show looks to the long tradition of Leitrim music in Ireland’s northwest to trace a wider history full of colour, of love and loss, and of leaving and coming back. From the mythical hills of Sí Beag and Sí Mór, the pits of the Arigna mines and Sliabh an Iarainn to the music of the Irish communities of London and New York; the show describes how landscape shapes us, how we live and learn, and how we find beauty in the smallest of things.
The production is the culmination of a residency in Leitrim over the last eighteen months by leading musicians Eleanor Shanley, Dave Sheridan, Padraig McGovern and John McCartin who have been researching and sourcing Leitrim music and song, and together with Dónal Lunny they will present beautiful arrangements of these tunes, some of which have not been played for over 100 years. The cast is completed by Leitrim poet, playwright and broadcaster Vincent Woods and the captivating footwork of Seán Nós dancer Edwina Guckian. With lighting design by Michael Cummins, the show also incorporates film produced by Johnny Gogan of Bandit Films.
Earlier in the evening at 5.30pm in the RADA studio, the English language version of the documentary film ‘The Godfather’ about the life and music of Leitrim fiddle player, Bryan Rooney, will be given its world premiere. London based, Bryan is one of Ireland’s most noted and respected fiddle players amongst musicians, receiving the prestigious TG4 Musician of the Year Award in 2012 and this film traces Bryan’s story from his childhood in north Leitrim and through his life in his adopted home in London.
The Leitrim Equation concert performance is at 8.00pm on Sunday 25th October in the Royal Academy of dramatic Art (RADA) Studio Theatre, 16 Chenies St, London WC1E 7EX as part of the Return to Camden Town Festival. Tickets are £15/£13 saver and they can be booked through www.leitrimequation.ie.
Also this is a link to the press page where you can download images etc http://www.leitrimequation.ie/#!press/c161y
