Since 1998, Shadowbox has been at the forefront of social engagement within Irish theatre.
In 2001 Shadowbox began creating and touring their own brand of visual theatre both in the Ireland and internationally. In performance, we explores visual expression in hand with exploration of real life experiences in order to stimulate and awaken audiences.
When we started out, it seemed to us that the true voices of Irish lives - particularly of the marginalized - were being ignored on much of the Irish stage. We set about recording and celebrating the lived experiences and creating in the process theatre that was both revealing and professional, enjoyable and meaningful, both for our audiences and those involved.
"We make art because we're human, not to prove we're human".
Recall and Imagine
At the same time, we wanted to explore the notions of personal history - narrative, consequence, presentation - as regards the older members of our community.
How do you present the past adequately, without nostalgia or sentimentality, but still in accord with memory? Memories were not enough for us. People have imaginations, too. We weren't satisfied until we had explored both the truth and the fiction, the lived and the desired, the hoped-for and the feared.
The result was performance and record (in book form) which we named "The Other Side of Here". The performances were titled Looking for Bang-Bang (2003) and Industrial Yarns (2007).
The past is not so foreign: it's your neighbour talking and your ear tilted to hear.
Some Highlights
In 2004 Shadowbox were featured in the RTE documentary series Would You Believe
In 2005 our production Outside was short-listed for the Judges' Special Award at the Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards. Shadowbox was specifically recommended "for the excellence of its work with actors with intellectual disabilities." We lost out to Druid in the end (who doesn't?), but the recognition we received spurred us to further ground-breaking theatre ...
Shadowbox are a Visual Theatre Company that has been creating theatre and providing training since 1998
This work has taken the company all around Ireland and to UK,Canada and Denmark.
In 2005 The company was nominated for the Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards, Judge’s Special Award.
In 2004 Shadowbox were RTE documentary series ‘Would You Believe’
is perhaps best known for it's pioneering work with actors with Intellectual Disabilities. However, Shadowbox also continues it's commitment to the exploration of new ways of presenting the emotional and instinctual Language of Theatre often inspired by real life events and experiences.
In 2001 Shadowbox was one of the first companies in Ireland to establish a professional ensemble for actors with Intellectual Disabilities, producing three international Theatre tours with the ensemble to date. The work of the company has been recognised in being Nominated for the Irish Times Theatre Awards and was profiled by RTE in the 'Would you Believe' documentary series as well as being the subject of studies in models of Arts Internationally. In 2004 the company created a Theatre in Education model in Ireland specifically employing actors with disabilities.
Shadowbox has also been developing a distinct interest in Verbatim inspired practice, exploring ways to merge this with our commitment to visual and emotional language Theatre. Shadowbox has been researching ways to develop their particular style of work to create performances giving a voice to lesser told stories.
To create exciting, visual and accessible Theatre productions, developing a distinct emotional and visual language.
To create inclusive professional employment opportunities for actors and facilitators, always with the focus on ability and creativity
To produce challenging and engaging theatre
To draw from and working alongside International collaborators/mentors
Shadowbox believe that theatre can be used as a tool for exploration, research and education through performance and workshops at the same time we are always committed to the highest practice of art.
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