The National Library announced details of their new Library Late series which runs from this month through May, the theme for the coming season being that of writing for stage and screen. Admission to the talks at the National Library in Kildare Street (that’ll be in Dublin, folks), is free. For the four nights, the library have lined up John Carney (Once, Bachelors Walk), Mark O’Halloran (Adam & Paul, Garage), Paul Mercier (Homeland, Down The Line – Abbey productions) and award-winning writer Mark O’Rowe (From Both Hips, Terminus, Intermission).
The theme of Writing for Stage and Screen highlights the Library’s vast collection which is an indispensable source for the history of Irish film and theatre production – from photographs of stage productions to first night reviews in newspapers, unique portrait drawings, rare theatrical ephemera and outstanding collections of manuscript papers of notable playwrights and papers relating to famous theatres.
John Carney (he who brought Once to the world), who began his career as a bassist for the rock band The Frames, is one of four leading Irish stage and screen writers to feature in the Spring Library Late series. Winner of the World Cinema Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival (2007), the Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film and the Academy Award for Best Original Song, Carney also co-wrote and co-directed the highly successful RTÉ drama series Bachelors Walk. In his interview with Sophie Gorman, arts editor of The Irish Independent on Wednesday, February 24th at 8pm, John Carney will talk about his craft.
Writer/actor Mark O’Halloran will be the Library’s guest on Wednesday, March 24th at 8pm. O’Halloran’s screenplays include Adam & Paul and the screenplay for the film Garage which was awarded the CICAE award for best film Cannes Film Festival 2007. On Monday, April 26th at 8pm television and radio broadcaster John Kelly will interview writer/director Paul Mercier. Mercier’s twelve plays include Studs, We Ourselves and Spacers in addition to Homeland and Down The Line for The Abbey. Among other work, he has also written and directed three short films including Before I Sleep, Lipservice and Tupperware.
Playwright and film writer Mark O’Rowe brings the Library’s season of stage and screen to a close on Wednesday, May 26th at 8pm. An award-winning writer his work for theatre includes From Both Hips, Howie the Rookie, Made in China and Terminus and screenplays Intermission (2003), Boy A (2007) and Perrier’s Bounty (2010).
Kick off is February 24th, again, admission is free and details are available on the National Library’s website.