The Dublin Theatre Festival announced their 2011 programme a few weeks ago and it is really rather wonderful. There are too many great shows to mention so I recommend getting hold of the programme soon and start booking! Short, special mention to The Wild Bride by Kneehigh, a company who I’ve never seen but heard a lot about, The Lulu House which stars the glorious Camille O’Sullivan and Request Programme which is the show everybody seemed to be talking about at the Kilkenny Arts Festival (at least on Twitter anyway!).

What I really want to talk about is all the great stuff hidden away under Special Events – Project Brand New have a new site-specific show there – Tear Down the Walls, The Company are showing a work in progress of their new performance Politik and there are lots of talks and discussions. All these things are free or almost free.

There are also workshops in the brand spanking new Lir Academy! These are participatory workshops and are open to all. They cost €30, which is a little bit steep for a 2 hour workshop but they are with very good people. There’s a good selection there – Movement, Clowning, Intro to Physical Theatre, Intro to Acting, Into to Voice and Text and Theatre Games and Improvisation. My top picks would be Theatre Games and Improvisation because it’s with Annie Ryan, Artistic Director of Corn Exchange who I love and Intro to Voice because I always enjoy a good voice workshop! It’s a timely reminder of how to breath and stand correctly and I always feel lovely and loose afterwards! I don’t know if that’s the best way to choose a workshop but I’m sure there are worse ways! Booking is through the Lir Academy at info @ lir.ie