‘Professionalism and talent’ has to be witnessed
The professionalism and talent of the approximately 50 service users from Rehabcare and St Hilda's, who will be performing 'Snow White and Friends' at the Dean Crowe Theatre next month, has been commended this week by the show's director Aishling Fennell.
Aishling, who works for St Hilda's Services, has a background in stage, dance and choreography, and has been involved with the One Tribe group since it formed eight years ago, and has said the performances have improved each year. While the group had to pause its annual performance during Covid, they returned to the stage last year and are now preparing to perform their first ever panto.
"The community involvement from the guys in St Hilda's and Rehabcare has just been amazing. And even from the wider community from people who come to see them," said Aisling of the group's annual show, which you can read about here.
Aishling explained that the performance means a lot to the service users and said this was evident from the buzz in the theatre at last Friday morning's rehearsals.
"It is electric. When John started (as manager of the Dean Crowe Theatre) he didn't know about One Tribe and I went to him and said we have to get this going again, because they absolutely love it, and fair play to him he did and they're flying it and they're back for good, as it says on their t-shirts," said Aishling, referencing the specially printed t-shirts that were organised ahead of last year's show that many of the service users were wearing for their rehearsal.
"They look forward to it all week. The performance they give on the night, over the years you can see the improvement, and they're brilliant, they're really, really good," said Aishling.
Urging people to come along to the panto, whether they know any of the performers or not, she said people would be quite surprised by the professionalism and talent that they have on stage.
"They've worked their socks off and having a full house would enhance their performance. As a community, come out and support them, and just see how good they are," she added.
Kim Cronogue, a staff member at St Hilda's, who works at the service's St Mary's Hub, added: "It means so much to them. Everything is put on hold, all their courses, any other activities is put on hold for this. It gives them some community spirit as well because they have the chance to meet up with others from other services."
Kim added that once the One Tribe rehearsals begin, and even for about four weeks after the show, it is all the service users in the hub talk about.
She said for some of the service users who may be shy, being on stage allows them to come out of themselves. One of the service users in her hub has a passion for dancing, and Kim explained that being able to dance in the panto allows her to bring her talents to the fore.
"It's in them and then once they get on stage they just open up. It's beautiful to see," she said. "It's so inclusive, it doesn't matter their ages or abilities, they just come together."
Kim has worked with St Hilda's for a year and a half, and speaking about last year's show, she said: "It was the best. I've never experienced anything like it, it was amazing. It was so heartwarming and you just look and say to yourself this is why I do the job I do."
Aishling echoed Kim's sentiment about how much the performance means to those involved, and said it wouldn't be possible without the funding they receive from Westmeath County Council's Arts Office through the Creative Ireland programme.
Creative Ireland is an all-of-government culture and wellbeing programme, which aims to inspire and transform people, places and communities through creativity. It is committed to the vision that every person in Ireland should have the opportunity to realise their full creative potential.
"Through Creative Ireland, they (Westmeath County Council) have funded the project from the word go, they have funded the project. Thank God we've still been able to get it every year from them," explained Aishling.
"It wouldn't be possible to do it without it," she added, explaining that without the funding any performance would take place in a hall and wouldn't have the same professional vibes.