Leaders and Assistants
Jaimie Carswell. Facilitator, Senior Carrick on Shannon Youth Theatre (Leitrim Village)
Jaimie Carswell is an actor, musician, and clown with over 30 years professional experience. He has a degree in playwriting from Birmingham University, a theatre degree from Trinity College Dublin, and completed the 2-year professional degree at the prestigious Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris. He is a busy working actor and has worked with some of the top Irish theatre companies as well as in film, TV, and radio. Jaimie was recently in the hit show Dream Factory with Lords of Strut and is currently working with Fidget Feet Aerial Dance on their show House. A multi-award-winning artist Jaimie has worked professionally in London, Paris, and New York where his original show Cirque de Légume enjoyed a successful run off-Broadway. Jaimie is the founding director of the Irish National Clown Orchestra and has been a regular teacher at the Performing Arts School Galway where he directed several shows for young performers including The Frog Prince, The Addams Family, and the musical version of Legally Blonde.
Sinead Quinn. Facilitator, Junior Carrick on Shannon Youth Theatre (Leitrim Village)
Sinead Quinn is a primary School teacher with a diploma in Special Education and a master's degree in Drama Studies from Queen's University, Belfast. She combines her academic expertise with a genuine passion for drama. With her extensive experience as a primary school teacher, she excels as a facilitator, encouraging students’ self-expression and creativity. Sinead has directed and produced several plays with the Breffni Players in The Dock and other regional venues. Sinead has also been responsible for coordinating and directing many school plays and after school drama workshops.
Emily Sachs-Eldridge, Assistant Facillitator (Leitrim village)
Emily Sachs Eldridge is the assistant facilitator in Carrick-on-Shannon Youth Theatre. Emily started her youth theatre journey as a teenager and instantly fell in love with all thing’s drama. She was delighted to have the opportunity to work as an assistant with the youth theatre back in 2005 and has enjoyed being involved in various branches of the Leitrim youth theatre, working with a number of facilitators and a huge number of participants. She enjoys seeing the young people blossom as they progress through the workshops.
Maura Williamson, Facilitator, Junior & Senior Bright Sparks (The Dock)
Maura Williamson has over twenty years of experience as a youth theatre facilitator, with particular expertise and experience working with individuals with special needs. Maura obtained her Master of Arts in Dramatherapy from the National University of Ireland Maynooth in 2006, and a Diploma in Counselling Skills from St. Patrick's College in Maynooth, Co. Kildare in 1996. Throughout her career, Maura has worked as a drama facilitator, therapist, and mentor in various settings, including schools, youth groups, health centres, family centres, and community groups. As the founder of Carrigallen Youth Theatre and the Creative Voice group in Cavan, Maura has been instrumental in ensuring that every child has the opportunity to unlock their creative potential. Her with within the community has been acknowledged through many accolades such as the Leitrim Council Council Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts.
Gavin Sweeney, Assistant facilitator, Junior & Senior Bright Sparks (The Dock)
Gavin graduated with a BFA in Performing Arts from the American College Dublin in 2018. He also completed an internship at Galway Community College in 2012, where he served as a drama facilitator and gained a level 6 certificate in Television production in 2013. Gavin has been accepted to NUIM to study Youth Theatre facilitation, which is delivered by Youth Theatre Ireland. Having been a part of Carrick Youth Theatre since 2007, Gavin understands the transformative power of creative environments for young individuals. He was selected for the National Youth Theatre in 2009 where he performed on the Peacock stage in The Seagull, by Anton Chekhov. That same year he was awarded the Junior Bursary at Sligo Feis Cheoil. In 2011 he came 2nd in the All-Ireland School Talent Competition and in 2014 he won "Northwest Got Talent". Gavin is an active member of the Breffni players and has acted in numerous plays in Leitrim and beyond.
Mia Blake, Assistant facilitator, Junior & Senior Bright Sparks (The Dock)
Mia Blake's passion for the theatre was ignited during her time as a member of Leitrim Youth Theatre. Now, she is eagerly embracing her new role as Assistant Youth Theatre Leader, a position she's excited to take on. Mia recently completed her studies at Sligo ATU, graduating with a BA (Hons) in Performing Arts. Mia also has a level 5 certificate in Special needs from Portobello College. She has volunteered in kids camps in Barretstown and assisted arts camps in the Hawks Well Theatre in Sligo. Mia has secured a spot in the Youth Theatre Ireland facilitation course at NUIM, showcasing her dedication to continuous learning. Mia possesses a wide range of skills, including stage management, technical theatre expertise, and creative coordination. Mia is an active member of the Breffni Players, where she has worked as Stage Manager and Technical Operator. Not only is Mia dedicated to honing her craft, but she also demonstrates a strong commitment to community engagement.
Tori Lee, Facilitator, Junior Group (Manorhamilton)
Tori Lee has worked with children and drama for over 10 years. She specialises in the ages 3- 12 years, running classes and workshops in Countries Leitrim, Sligo and Cavan and is educated in Early Years Education, Drama, Theatre Studies and Performing Arts. Tori worked for a couple of years behind the scenes for Second Age Theatre Company in Dublin, they specialised in Shakespeare for schools, and she helped prepare teachers notes on their production of King Lear starring and directed by Alan Stanford that year. Locally she has worked with and performed with The Rabbit’s Riot Theatre Company and performed with Splódar Theatre Company. Before the pandemic Tori ran a Silent Movie Summer Camp for children aged 8-12 years old at The Glens Centre, Manorhamilton. The participants were introduced to the world of the silent movie and within the week, created, starred in and previewed their own 40-minute Silent Movie in The Glens Centre. Tori likes the art of Storytelling and likes to encourage the children to tell their own stories. She has performed a mixture of world stories and her own stories over the last few years. Tori has been facilitating the Junior Youth Theatre in The Glens Centre since 2015 enjoying every minute working with the amazing and talented youth of the area. Every individual brings their own story and their own character to the class, and it is wonderful to see what emerges in each class.
Treasa Nealon, Facilitator, Senior Group (Manorhamilton)
Treasa is a writer, playwright and theatre maker from Leitrim. She has a BA in performing arts form ATU Sligo. She is co-founder of The Rabbit's Riot Theatre Company. She has had several plays produced in Ireland and the UK. She is currently a participant of Irish Theatre Institute’s Six in the Virtual Attic Artists Supports Programme. She has worked with the Junior and Senior Manorhamilton Youth Theatre over several years. She most recently co-wrote and co-directed The Glenanders and Lights! Camera! Detention! with the Senior Youth Theatre.
Patrick McEneaney, Facillitator (Carrigallen)
Patrick is the founder and Artistic Director of Exit Does Theatre, which develops professional and community theatre across the Northwest. Patrick holds a BA in Performing Arts from ATU Sligo and has worked as an actor for twenty years. In 2016, he established Exit Does Theatre, and since then, he has produced numerous community arts productions, collaborating with people of all ages and abilities. He is currently producing and performing in Moytura, a theatre production for children that premiered at the Glens Centre in Manorhamilton as part of the Cruinniú na nÓg festival. Additionally, he is performing in the one-man show Ante Beckett, which will be featured at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August.
Regina Kiernan, Assistant Facilitator (Carrigallen)
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