The Model has commissioned Wayne O’Connor, a local illustrator to develop a unique set-design for this year’s Oiche Cultur children’s event. O’Connor, a talented Sligo- based artist, has been busy working on original artwork and set-design for the miniature theatre that will animate The Model’s bi-lingual storytelling event, Cití Cailleach, taking place from 5pm on Culture Night, the 16th of September. Here at The Model, we are so excited for the debut of O’ Connor’s designs that we have decided to tantalize you all (we are known to be teases in that regard) with a few sneak previews of the artist’s illustrations. We hope that you are as impressed with them as we are!
Earlier this year, The Model collaborated with students from The Performing Arts Department, IT Sligo to create a striking replica of the toy theatre, featured in the well-loved painting The Toy Theatre (1906) by Jack B Yeats. The bespoke miniature theatre developed by the Sligo students was a beautiful homage to Yeats’ painting but now the torch has been passed to O’Conner and we can’t wait to see the finished piece!
The idea behind commissioning the theatre was inspired both by Jack B. Yeats’ ‘The Toy Theatre,’ which is a permanent piece in The Niland Collection, and the artist’s well known love of miniature theatre. The notorious artist, who lived in Devon in the early 1900’s, crafted miniature theatre’s to keep the local children entertained. He produced a series of plays featuring pirates, seafarers and a legion of circus characters. He carefully documented these miniature theatre productions, compiling notebooks full of set design notes, watercolour and ink cardboard cutout characters, illustrated by play-scripts and written in green ink. Seriously, did the man ever sleep?
In keeping with the spirit of Victorian entertainment, we invite you to join us on Culture Night at 5pm for an evening of dark and comical storytelling using our newly commissioned miniature theatre set. Come and be enchanted by this hilarious tale of a mischievous witch called Cití Cailleach, who adores everything black. However, she does find herself in a spot of trouble with her black cat Smúróg! The tale of Cití Cailleach, from the series Winnie the Witch, written by Valerie Thomas, has been translated into the Irish language by Liam Mac Cóil. These sessions are suitable for children ages 5-11 years. Children under 5 years are very welcome but must be accompanied by parents/guardians. This is a bi-lingual event and is performed in both the English and Irish language. This event has been generously supported and funded by Foras na Gaeilge.