Innovations Theatre School Arklow

Innovations Theatre School Arklow was originally founded in 1998 as the Performing Arts Stage School, in Avova and is currently comprised of approximately 100 students.

This year we will be based in the Bridge Christian Community Centre, on the Wexford Road, classes meet every Wednesday, with seven- to twelve-year-olds attending from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and thirteen- to eighteen-year-olds from 6. p.m. to 8 p.m. The school is divided into six classes, all named after famous theatrical clowns – Columbine, Scapino, Pierrot, Harlequin, Scaramouche and Pagliacci. The school year lasts from September to June, with annual Christmas and Spring shows in between. The type of annual shows presented range from big stage shows such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, to broad variety shows, and even the likes of Shakespeare.

In 2004, 16 senior students toured Alaska, USA with their show An Croí: Irish Heart. The students travelled 1,500 miles and presented 19 performances in 13 days! In 2008 another group brought the show to the USA again, this time to the city of Mitchell, South Dakota.

Students of Innovations Theatre School also benefit from our associations with various casting agencies, including Morgan The Agency, which provides management for models, and the Hubbard Casting Agency, which is responsible for casting all kinds of movies, from small Irish films like Angela's Ashes and The Commitments, to international blockbusters such as The Da Vinci Code, King Kong, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.  As well as our own blosoming Innovations Agency.

Teachers

Lindsey Aherne Singing Teacher

Anne McIntyre Dance Teacher

Laura Kitt Drama Teacher

Awards

Student of the Year

Peter McGann 2006 Student of the Year

Shauna Crooke 2007 Student of the Year

Diwerke Schwartz 2008 Student of the Year

Mark McGann 2009 Student of the Year

Jessica Davis 2010 Student of the Year

The Student of the Year Award is an annual award that goes to the student who has made substantial progress during the year, who has shown real focus, determination and desire to achieve. The teachers vote from a shortlist of five or six nominees, and the winner is announced on the last night of the Spring show.

PACE (Performing Arts Certificate of Excellence) Award

Stephen Duignan 2006 PACE Winner

The PACE is not an annual award – it is given only when an exceptional student occasionally arises. The winner must excel in all three disciplines (i.e. singing, dancing, acting), must contribute in other ways behind the scenes, must be willing to muck in with the non-glamorous jobs (i.e. sweeping the hall, minding the younger children, putting up posters) must be well liked by the students and must be a unanimous decision by the teachers.

PACE also stands for Professionalism, Achievement, Contribution and Excellence.

The Deirdre Short Memorial Award for Most Promising Student

Tanis Tonge 2006 Winner of the Deirdre Short Memorial Award

Conal O'Shiel 2007 Winner of the Deirdre Short Memorial Award

Emma Foster 2008 Winner of the Deirdre Short Memorial Award

Jonny Holden 2009 Winner of the Deirdre Short Memorial Award

Karla Tracey 2010 Winner of the Deirdre Short Memorial Award

This perpetual award is presented to the student who shows most promise in the area of performing arts.

This special award is named after Deirdre Short who joined the precursor to Innovations, Performing Arts Stage School Avoca, in September 1999. She became recognised as one of the finest character actresses in the school, notably as Ma Jong in the original production of Hoodwinks, as the sheep thief in The Confessional, and the beleaguered secretary of St. Peter in A Little Christmas Show.

Deirdre passed away on December 16th 2005 at the age of 16 and is dearly missed by all those students and teachers who knew her so well.

Return to About Us

Arklow's Upcoming Productions

The Nutcracker    2010

Avoca's Past Productions

White Hot and Different May 2006

A truly innovative variety show, White, Hot and Different shocked and surprised audiences who had to agree, it certainly was different!

It's Christmas! December 2006

Full of festive songs, drama and dance, Innovations Theatre School's It's Christmas! concert proved to be the perfect way to get ready for the holiday season!

Once Upon A Time... April 2007       

Once Upon A Time revealed not everyone lived happily ever after...

A Christmas Carol December 2007

Charles Dickens' timeless Christmas tale brought to life on stage!

The Wizard of Oz January 2009