2007 » Ireland » Architecture section

Small Is Beautiful

The demography of Ireland has changed dramatically in the last ten years with the creation of new communities across the country and the rapid expansion of small towns and suburbs. One result of this population change has been a rise in cultural activities and the construction of new venues to house them, often in places where no arts or performance facilities existed before. Ireland’s participation in the architectural section of PQ 07 will focus on two smaller theatres built in the last four years, both incorporated into multi-functional developments and a unique venue created for an audience of one. The Source Arts Centre and Library, Thurles – a 240-seat theatre in a new arts centre that includes a library, an exhibition space and a cafe/bar. Solstice Arts Centre, Navan- a 320-seat theatre in a new arts centre including three galleries, a multi-purpose studio and café. The third exhibit is a unique venue created for Pan Pan’s One – healing with theatre with an “auditorium” consisting of 100 rooms, each housing a single actor and audience member. This radical re-organisation of the performance relationship challenges conventional ideas of theatre as a communal experience in acommunal space.

Ireland's first official entry to PQ is the initiative of a dedicated voluntary board with support from Culture Ireland and The Arts Council and managed by Irish Theatre Institute.