Before the previously posted reviews of ‘Trainspotting’ began to flood in, before the devious junkie’s even had a chance to go through “post-show-blues” and “cold turkey”, Devious Theatre had already announced our next production; ‘Smitten’.

Here’s the official Devious word on the show;

“Smitten depicts a tragicomic series of loosely interlinked vignettes set in Kilkenny City over a succession of rainy summer nights. The play takes its cues from the short stories of Raymond Carver and the films of Woody Allen (the early funny ones that is). The characters at the core of Smitten are trying to get their bearings in life, each stuck in their own limbo. The realities of adult life are dealing a harsh blow to the best laid plans, in a way that leaves them totally smitten… in all the meanings of the word.

Alcoholism. Pregnancy. Testicular Cancer. Apathy. Doomed Relationships.
Sock Puppets. Those elusive mystery girls. How to dance to Bruce Springsteen. And rain. Lots of rain. Smitten functions as a theatrical collage, with intertwining narratives and varying forms of narrative giving life to the comic and often tragic stories that litter the rainy streets of Kilkenny City.” Read More…

Here’s my two words; “It’s Awesome!”.

We’re already knee-deep in rehearsals as well as preparing promotional material for the show, with just five-weeks until the opening night. Thankfully, I’ll have a lot more time to be snapping behind-the-scenes on this production and will hopefully get to blog through-out as well. I’ll also get another opportunity to work with Paddy “the photoshop wizard” Dunne on some promo material. Awesome!

This series of slow-shutter shots was more of an experiment for shots to come, I’m hoping to do individual character promo shots closer to the show. Taken at rehearsals, camera on a tripod, 50mm lens (cheers Ken, I ordered my own over 4 weeks ago!), trying different speeds between 10″ to 30″, using the remote with flash-bursts as the shutter opened and closed, also using the natural light beams coming in through the windows as the sun went down. Quite simply it creates nice trails, different saturation levels and levels of movement as people move around the room. Just a test but more to come. You can check out more of my behind-the-scenes snaps from ‘Smitten’ rehearsals here on the Devious Theatre Bebo.

Tickets for Smitten are being sold in Rollercoaster Records, Kieran Street from 21st of July and they are 10EURO. The show runs August 20 – 23 and starts 8pm nightly. For more information and updates, check out www.devioustheatre.com

Another one from the long list of reviews, this one thanks to Aisling Hurley in the Kilkenny Voice;

“A brilliant night of Trainspotting”

A BRAVE and edgy production of Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting by Kilkenny’s Devious Theatre Company finished an almost sell-out run at Kilkenny’s Watergate Theatre on Saturday.

Based on the novel that also inspired the 1996 hit film of the same name, the play centred on the lives of a group of young heroin users living in Edinburgh, Scotland, during the 1980s. The fantastically gritty posters depicting characters in a variety of disturbing situations and the warning that the show contained scenes of a graphic nature suggested that the show would be one that Kilkenny theatre-goers would remember for some time.

It did not disappoint.

Ross Costigan delivered a strong performance as lead character and narrator Mark Renton. His portrayal of the unscrupulous but likeable anti-hero was a deviation from some of the more confrontational roles he has recently played and proved that the Kilkenny actor has an extremely bright future. Other performances of note were those by Maria Murray in the role of Alison and Stephen Colfer who played Danny ‘Spud’ Murphy. Both young actors impressed the audience with their delivery of almost seamless monologues containing difficult subject matter relating to bodily functions.

The sensitive direction by Niamh Moroney and John Morton allowed the audience to wrestle between sympathy for the characters and complete despair that they would allow themselves end up in such a situation. Full marks are also due to the cast for deciding to include the humiliating and sometimes difficult scenes where Spud soils the bed sheets in a friend’s house, where Renton searches through an overflowing toilet for opium suppositories and where Tommy (played by Ken McGuire) shoots heroin into his genitals.

With this production, The Devious Theatre Company achieved everything that they set out to – to offer Kilkenny audiences theatre that is fresh, exciting and a little bit deviant. Other cast members included Niall Sheehy as Begbie, Paul Young as Johnny ‘Mother Superior’ Swan, John Morton as Sick Boy, Suzanne O’Brien as Dianne, Simone Kelly as Lizzie, Mairead Kiernan as June and Michael Murphy as a variety of characters. The theatre group’s next show ‘Smitten’ will run in Cleere’s Theatre, Parliament Street in August. The play, written by John Morton, is set in Kilkenny and is a tragicomic series of vignettes set over a depressingly rainy summer.

You can read my extremely long re-cap of ‘Trainspotting’ here in a previous post.

Another review of ‘Trainspotting‘, this time thanks to Liam Murphy of the Munster Express;

The Devious Theatre Company returned in punk and grotesque glory to The Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny with a high-octane production of Trainspotting by Shock Jock, Irvine Welsh. Following on from last year’s weird musical, Cannibal - the Musical, this young and exciting theatre company went full-tilt into-your-face with the theatrical version of the 1993 hit novel that brought a Tarantino-style fame to Leith-born writer, Welsh. Welsh means to shock and be disgusting and further books like Filth Porno and Glue added to the reputation to compel and repulse in often equal measure.

The Litmus test or acid test of companies who take on this play is the famous toilet scene where Renton retrieves his heroin suppositories from a stinking toilet bowl or the waitress/tampon/tomato soup scene. And Devious Theatre Company caught that visceral mood of revulsion and attraction so well. A young adult audience gasped at the unflinching depiction and at the same time were gagging for it and gagging from it.

John Morton and Niamh Moroney’s direction caught the mood so well without in any way over glamorising the despair of the characters lost in a toxic fog of hopes and shite. Eddie Brennan’s set design was grim and grimy. Gerry Taylor’s lighting was stark and edgy as required. Alan Dawson’s sound design was a punk paradise of hard tunes for hard times. A song There Is A Light That Never Goes Out was new to me but it underlined the sliver of hope in such an unredemptive play.

The ensemble cast were excellent and never flinched from the awfulness of the context and never sank into cheap laughter-seeking. Ross Costigan as Renton dominated the production with a powerful physical performance that was very impressive. Maria Murray as Alison was equally powerful and she chilled me to the bone with biting realism. Ken McGuire was a convincing Tommy and his descent into degradation was powerful. Suzanne O’Brien was a significant Dianne as was Mairead Kiernan in a series of cameos. Michael Murphy played about ten parts and he was spot-on at all times. Simone Kelly looked great as Lizzie and caught the caring and uncaring female very well.

Niall Sheehy was the edgy psychopath, Begbie who would stab his father and shag his ma but he tended to rush the accent. John Morton was a fine Sick Boy. Phil Young excelled as Mother Superior and Stephen Colfer evoked sympathy for the bewildered Spud. The ending of the play is a little bit of a cop-out but Devious gave it a theatrical value as the cast repeatedly changed The Lord’s Prayer. This was a production that led us into temptation and also delivered us from evil.

You can read my extremely long re-cap of ‘Trainspotting’ here in a previous post.

Here’s another awesome review for ‘Trainspotting‘. It was published in Gerry Moran’s column in the July 2nd edition of the Kilkenny People;

THE OLD ORDER IS CHANGING, YIELDING PLACE TO NEW.

When, exactly, does the old order yield to the young? When, for instance, did the fifties finally surrender to the swinging sixties? When did showbands succumb to beat groups and discos? It’s never quite black or white but there comes a moment, I believe, when you just know something has changed.

I experienced one of those moments recently in our wonderful Watergate Theatre, I say wonderful for two reasons: one, it is a wonderful amenity (and thank you Tommy Martin for you vision and drive which gave Kilkenny the Watergate) and two, the production I was at was nothing short of wonderful. At least this writer thought so.

The production in question was Trainspotting, an adaptation of Scottish author Irvine Welsh’s 1993 novel of the same name, by the Devious Theatre Company. “The Devious Theatre Company” according to the programme notes, “was formed in May 2006 by some theatre loving Kilkennyians who had a desire to bring fresh and different works to the local stage”.

Trainspotting is decidedly different. John B Keane it is not. Brian Friel it is not. Hugh Leonard it is not. Trainspotting is a production you bring your elderly aunt to if you want to ease her into an early grave. It’s a production you bring your mother to if you want to make her feel decidedly uneasy. As for elderly uncles and fathers - they’ll probably tell you they’ve seen it all and heard it all before. Men are like that. Full of s***.

Trainspotting is also full of s***. Literally. And more. A hell of a lot more. Only to be expected from a play about drugs and disillusionment in a depressed Edinburgh of the bleak, recessionary 80s. This play is rough, raw, coarse and down-right crude. But that’s what made it such a courageous, and successful, production.

The performances were far from flawless (just like this column) but it was passionate, it was vibrant, it was honest. I applaud all involved with the production - the crew, the directors: Niamh Moroney & John Morton and the cast: Ross Costigan, Ken McGuire, Niall Sheehy, Maria Murray, Stephen Colfer, Paul Young, John Morton, Suzanne O’Brien, Simone Kelly, Mariead Keirnan, Micheal Murphy, Paddy Dunne. And I have no difficulty whatsoever in singling out Ross Costigan who was the linchpin, the nucleus, the centre of gravity of the play. The guy was marvellous. Full stop.

Regarding theatre in Kilkenny - I have been privileged to come up in an era of the New Theatre Group, Pan Players, Theatre Unlimited, Kats, Bickerstaffe, Barnstorm to name but a few - all of whom made, and some of whom continue to make, a huge and enriching contribution to theatre life in our city.

But Thursday night last I felt that a new order has arrived. A new batch of actors. A young batch, a fresh batch, a vibrant batch. And I felt privileged to be sitting there, witnessing the arrival of this new order.

My friend and fellow columnist, John Cleere, who knows a thing or two about theatre (it’s not for nothing we have Cleere’s Theatre just across from the Watergate) wrote the following about the Devious Theatre Company recently: “The Devious Theatre could be as important to Kilkenny as Druid Theatre have been to Galway and Red Kettle to Waterford, given the proper encouragement and support”. I couldn’t agree more.

But you know something - even if the Devious Theatre Company never win acclaim, they are to be applauded for what they are doing now. For starters they’re putting bums on seats - and I thought it was wonderful to see so many young people in the Watergate last week. Such a change from the regular fuddy-duddies (like myself).

They’re also doing what they set out to do - they’re bringing fresh and different works to the local stage. And they do it with such energy and such enthusiasm. And it was that energy, that enthusiasm emanating from the stage, that made us, the audience, realise that this was something special. That this theatre group, this collection of youngsters, this collection if like-minded individuals, who love what they’re doing, who love theatre, will be around for a long time to come.

Watch out for the Devious Theatre Company. They’re good. They’re very good. They’re the future of theatre in Kilkenny.

You can read my extremely long re-cap of ‘Trainspotting’ here.

Our first review of ‘Trainspotting‘, thanks to former owner of Cleere’s Theatre - John Cleere. This review was published in the ‘Cleere Thinking’ column in the June 26th Edition of the Kilkenny Advertiser.

TRAINSPOTTING AT THE WATERGATE THEATRE

Have you ever watched the high wire act at the circus? Part of the fascination is wondering will someone slip and crash to the ground.

The Devious Theatre Company took the high wire this week when they tackled Irvine Welsh’s ‘Trainspotting’. This was risky stuff, the film is familiar to the mainly young audience, so they needed to bring something fresh to their stage adaptation.

I’m glad to say there are no shattered bones or broken artistic reputations to report. For anyone unfamiliar with the book or film, this is the story of a bunch pretty hopeless cases living very close to, if not completely over, the edge in Edinburgh. This isn’t the Edinburgh seen by visitors to the arts festival or rugby internationals. We are down in the underbelly where unemployment, alcohol and heroin are boss.

So, in a week that the country has been officially declared to be in a recession, is this the type of show that we really need? Actually I think it is. Along with a dose of reality there are plenty of laughs, especially once you come to terms with the near perfect Scottish accents.

The play has a cast of 11, some playing multiple roles. This is a big undertaking, but the company use two directors, Niamh Moroney and John Morton, to knock it into shape. I caught the opening night where there were just a couple of slow moments, but this should be ironed out by now.

With such a large cast it’s probably unfair to single out any individual performance, but in this case Ross Costigan deserves special mention. He is on stage for most of the show and you just know that this is the part he always wanted as he makes his journey through the hell of heroin addiction and back out again.

By the way, if you are easily offended this is probably not the play for you, although thousands of people seem to have no problem guffawing away to much more distasteful material from Tommy Tiernan.

Earlier in the day I attended the AGM of Kilkenny Tourism where the County Manager, Joe Crockett, outlined the importance of arts and culture to the future of Kilkenny. The Devious Theatre could be as important to Kilkenny as Druid Theatre have been to Galway or Red Kettle to Waterford, given the proper encouragement and support.

‘Trainspotting’ continues at The Watergate until Saturday June 28. ‘Not to be missed’, as the reviewers love to say.

You can read my extremely long re-cap of ‘Trainspotting’ here in my previous post.

College results were released on Tuesday and I’m very proud to announce that I now hold a BA Honours Degree in Communications and Public Relations, receiving 1st Class Honours.

Over the course of the last four years (I also have a Diploma in Print Journalism) I’ve studied a very broad range of subjects; Journalistic Research & Writing, Public Relations, Media Analysis, I.T, Shorthand, Publishing, Law, Marketing, Social Psychology, Management, Politics, Communications, Cultural Sociology, Visual Communications, Contemporary Irish Literature, T.V studio practice, radio studio practice and of course my thesis; “An investigation into the use of MySpace as a P.R tool for independent musicians in the Irish music industry”.

During that time I’ve also gained extensive experience working with countless musicians, theatre companies and film-makers. Along with podcasting, blogging and of course photography. So please, somebody, GIVE ME A JOB!!!!!!!!!!

I’m currently working with several bands and musicians at various levels, everything from gig & promo shoots to E.P launches, management and national tours (I do believe you’ll find one of our press releases in the latest edition of HotPress). If your want to hire me to work with your band then just get in touch, either here or send me an email or send me a message on MySpace or Bebo.

I’ve worked with tattoo artists, body-painters, models, makeup/special FX artists and event managers. In the next few weeks you’ll be seeing a whole new batch of my work appearing from local to national levels. If you want to work with me on a project or just step in front of my lens then please just let me know. Finally, to once again repeat the point of this blog, please, somebody, GIVE ME A JOB!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, Oss237.com - Ross Costigan Photography celebrates it’s second birthday today. Looking back on the last couple of years I’m amazed by how quickly it has flown by and how far my adventures behind the lens have taken me.

Three years ago, I started getting really into photography, with a background in film-making I got frustrated by the long process of creating things and photography meant I didn’t have to wait. Around about the same time, KenMc was setting up KilkennyMusic.com and asked me to come on board as the Resident Photographer. Combining my passion for music and my growing passion for photography, I’d never shot a gig before but how could I say no!? And in return he set up Oss237.com. He later went on to give me a loan of his Nikon D70 (for over a year) and continues to give me technical support and listen to my stupid questions on a daily basis!?

After countless hours; thinking, day-dreaming, cursing to myself, thousands of shots, hours of practicing, trying to figure things out, learning rules and trying to break them, I’ve slowly but surely developed as a photographer. I now have over 1000 live shots on display in the KilkennyMusic Galleries. My shots have been used by hundreds of bands and musicians on websites, myspace & bebo profiles, albums, E.P’s and posters. I was short-listed for an Irish Blog Award. I’ve gotten regional, national and international publications. My work with KKM has expanded into PR work, podcasting, blogging and generally being surrounded by awesome music and musicians every day.

Today Oss237.com reached 62,000 hits. Over the last two years I’ve posted just over 200 of my favourite shots, capturing not only my adventures and work, but my progress as a photographer. I’ve received hundreds of comments and feedback from people all over the world. I’ve worked with bands, musicians, other photographers, models, tattoo artists, makeup artists, fire-dancers, teachers, students, film-makers, artists, bloggers and generally got to meet the most awesome people from all over the country.

All the time just doing something that I love doing!? And whilst I’m well aware that I still have an awful lot to learn, I’m just looking forward to it and wondering where it will take me next.

Two years in, I have to say a huge thanks to KenMc for everything basically. I also have to thank my long suffering housemates Sla and Daw (Happy Birthday dude!), they complete my technical support and also answer my stupid questions on a daily basis. Finally, thanks to all the people who have visited the site, checked out my work, continue to do so and the people who have commented and shared their opinions or thoughts. Your feedback is always welcome and provides me with a constant encouragement to learn more.

I’ve been waiting three weeks to be able to announce this, as Devious Theatre release individual character posters for our third production; Irvine Welsh’s ‘Trainspotting‘, my poster came out this week.

I’ll be playing greedy, self loathing, nihilistic anti-hero Mark ‘Rentboy’ Renton in the WaterGate Theatre the 24th - 28th of June. In the Devious tradition, a truly awesome series of posters are being created for the show, once again due to the skilled hands of Paddy ‘that was from Jaws!’ Dunne. The man behind the posters for ‘Heart Shaped Vinyl‘ and ‘Cannibal! the musical‘. His work continues to amaze me.

Tickets are now on sale for the show and booking is starting to pick up so make sure and book your tickets early through the WaterGate Theatre: 056 77 61674.

I’ve spent the last few weeks getting to grips with my character; reading the script, reading the book, listening to the audiobook, watching the film, working on my Scottish accent, reading about how to do Scottish accents, talking to myself out loud in Scottish, reading about heroin use and generally transforming myself into a Scottish junkie. It’s easily the most challenging role I’ve ever played, but I love a good challenge.

Over the coming weeks I’ll be posting updates on rehearsals and P.R work we’re doing for the show, and make sure to keep an eye on the Devious Theatre website for more updates, news and of course more character posters.

Book tickets for Devious Theatre’s ‘TrainSpotting’ on 056 77 61674.

Ross Costigan as ‘Jack Street’. Photograph by Shane Hatton

Vultures Episode 2: ‘The Scarlet Lady Vanishes‘ went online last Sunday, following the Cast & Crew premiere in Cleeres Theatre on Saturday Night.

For anybody not in the know, ‘Vultures’ is the flagship production by Mycrofilms, it’s a web-based sitcom, that’s FREE TO WATCH on www.vulturespi.com. It follows the adventures of the three hapless detectives of Vultures Private Investigators.

The pilot episode, ‘The Kris Kringle Konundrum‘ premiered Christmas Eve and now Vultour, McGrain, Tennyson and the gang are back, with a few new characters in tow as they ‘get up in the guts’ of an Agatha Christie style murder-mystery, once again written by John Morton and Paddy Dunne.

Aside from providing behind-the-scenes shots for the show, I’m also the 1st A.D and play urban preacher ‘Jack Street’. As shooting for episode 2 took place just before my exams, it meant I wasn’t around for a lot of shooting but I did manage to get some behind-the-scenes snaps, with plenty more to be added to Vulturespi.com very soon. I don’t want to give away any of the plot until people have seen the show.

Mycrofilms have just received funding from the Arts Office, meaning we’ll be able to shoot four more episodes to complete the 1st series. Pre-production has already begun on episode three and it’s looking like we’ll be shooting it in July (more on that later) after Devious Theatre’s production of TrainSpotting (more on that later).

But for now check out check out ‘Vultures : The Scarlet Lady Vanishes‘; it’s got action, it’s got suspense, it’s got love, it’s got hookers. “And it’s still better than that film, the one with the bugs in space!”

So college is officially over… it still hasn’t really sunk in. I’ve tried several times to write this blog post, but it’s hard to capture how I feel right now. I’m overwhelmed with thoughts, memories and mixed emotions.

Four years ago, if somebody told me that I would have completed a Diploma in Print Journalism and then a BA Hons Degree in Communications & Public Relations, I would have thought they were crazy. I wasn’t the academic type. Going back into education as a mature student, I was worried I wouldn’t fit in, hell I have trouble fitting in most places, let alone because of age.

On my first day in I.T Carlow, I hesitantly walked into a room with 60 complete strangers, people from all over the country and different walks of life. I nearly died when we all had to stand up and introduce ourselves. I didn’t want to go back the next day… but I’m so glad I did.

Aside from studying a broad range of subjects and finally getting an idea of what I want to do in life, I’ve spent the last three years with the most amazing people you could ever wish to meet. I have so many different stories and memories of time with them, that I could probably set up a new blog with daily posts (maybe I will!?).

Although we were all completely different, I was accepted by them for who I was and formed friendships that I know will last my entire life. I doubt any of them actually know how much of an impact they made on me. It’s hard to pick a favourite memory from the past three years, but I can safely say I have at least one fond memory of every single person in my class, and so many people I met through them. Days spent in the TV studio or in the canteen, endless days in the library studying or trying to avoid study. Insane nights out, pub crawls and parties. The laughter. The tears. The stress. The relief. The sessions. The moments. The whole thing!

This year was easily our most stressful, as we went from projects to essays, PR Campaigns to design projects, presentations to speeches, radio adverts to video documentaries, interviews, a thesis and then finally exams. 13 hour days in the library, reading novels, plays, poetry and endless amounts of notes. By the end, we spent a lot of time wishing it would all be over, in hindsight, I can see myself spending alot more time wishing it had never ended.

I can safely say the reason I got out of bed every morning, spent hours commuting and stuck in traffic, spent days hungry because of the lack of vegetarian options, or the reason I even managed to complete the course at all is because I was doing it with these people.

Now that it’s all over and we finished it off with the expectedly awesome celebrations, I’m kind of lost. We’ve said our goodbyes, we’re all heading off in different directions. Only the 2nd class to complete the course, we’re a new breed. My class was packed full of people with different interests, talents and skills. I have no doubt I’ll see my classmates changing the ways things are done in every area of life from politics to sports, music and entertainment, you name it and somebody was good at it. I feel privileged to have spent time with them.

The above class photo was taken at the Portal statue outside I.T Carlow, just after we finished our first exam, the beginning of the end. Although not any type of artistic shot I’m posting it on the site because I want to share it with people. Firstly for anybody who wasn’t in my class, I want you to see the faces of all the people who changed my life and where I’m going in life.

Secondly, for my classmates to have (thanks for all the memories). I have a list of contacts but not all of you are on it, so if you want a large version of the shot for printing or want to meet up in the real world, then just let me know. I also have thousands of photos from the last three years and now I have time to go back and sort them out, so make sure and add my bebo or myspace profile. Finally if any of you do read this then leave a comment, I’d love to know you favourite memory or thoughts.

I’m already looking forward to the class reunion…