Staff
Ann Kavanagh
Ann Kavanagh started working with young people in drama and theatre more than thirty years ago. She has worked extensively in primary and secondary schools during this time, notably the three Loretos – the Abbey Rathfarnham, Beaufort and Crumlin. The Ann Kavanagh Theatre School has been in operation for over 30 years.
Through her experience in schools, Ann developed an interest in doing shows and plays as a means of realising the joy and confidence these can instill in children. She founded the Children’s Theatre Group in 1970 which - because her students stay with her so long! – ‘grew up’ to be called The Young People’s Theatre. Its aim is to provide theatre for young people by young people. Previous productions have included Oliver, Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, The Wizard of Oz, Nicholas Nickelby and Pocketful of Broadway.
In 1985, Ann formed Cloud Nine – an adult offshoot company featuring 22 of her original students. Shows have included Our Town, Lovers, Vinegar Tom, All My Sons, Billy Liar, Brighton Beach Memoirs and A View from the Bridge.
Ann Kavanagh has a national reputation as a drama teacher and wins remarkable commitment, loyalty, love and enthusiasm from all who work with her.
Marina Donnelly
Marina started as a student of Ann’s at the age of four.
She has performed in many Young People’s Theatre and Cloud Nine productions including Our Town, Oliver, Billy Liar and All My Sons.
Marina started teaching with Ann nineteen years ago after she had qualified from the Royal Irish Academy.During her years as a teacher with the school she has been responsible for Set,Costume & Make- Up Design on shows & has also directed The Ugly Duckling and Charlotte’s Web.
Rosemary Kratschmar
Rosemary has been involved in Drama all her life. She was a student of Ann’s for fifteen years and was a founder member of Cloud Nine Theatre and was an active participant in their earlier days.
Rosemary has appeared in various TV productions over the years. She is a very able spokeswoman on behalf of children with special needs.
Rosemary is administrator of the agency and secretary to the school.
Sarah trained with Young People’s Theatre for twelve years before becoming a tutor. She has a B.A. in Drama and Theatre Studies from the Samuel Beckett School of Drama, Trinity College Dublin as well as having completed all the R.I.A.M Speech and Drama examinations. She is also a previous winner of the Father Mathew Record Cup and bursary.
As a professional actress Sarah has worked with most of Ireland’s leading companies including Rough Magic, B*Spoke, Landmark, Pan Pan, Lane Productions and Barnstorm. She also appeared with Cloud 9 in ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’ and ‘A View from the Bridge.’
In 2002 Sarah founded her own theatre company called x-bel-air. Sarah worked as producer, director and actor with the company and had productions in the Dublin Fringe Festival for three consecutive years.
Sarah also works regularly with R.T.E Radio 1, and has recorded radio plays, short stories and documentaries. In 2008 she wrote her first radio play ‘Piano Lessons’, which was short listed for the P.J O’Connor Awards for new writing.
Sarah has choreographed shows for many schools in Dublin as well as the Y.P.T production of ‘Bugsy Malone’ in Draiocht and extracts from ‘The Boyfriend’ in the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, both of which she also directed.
Eva Bartley
After many years as a student of Young People’s Theatre Eva furthered her training in Theatre Studies at DIT. She has won many prizes in the Feis Maitiu including the Ena Mary Burke Cup. Eva is a professional actress and has appeared in many productions in the Gate Theatre and also on RTE. Eva has appeared in the Abbey Theatre’s Production of “The Reluctant Tyrant” by Tom Murphy. Second Age’s ” The Merchant of Venice”. And is currently The Voice over for Sky TV commercial.
Jane Lundon
Jane trained as an actress in the Samuel Beckett theatre, Trinity college. In her final year performing in many productions in the Samuel Beckett theatre and Peacock theatre.
After graduating Jane got involved in children’s theatre, performing in many shows and pantomimes with the Talismans theatre company which toured the country including venues such as the TF Royal and the Helix Dublin. She has also appeared in shows in Andrews Lane theatre and Smock alley theatre.
Her film and TV credits include a RTE short film “rearview”, and the independent feature film “Strange days are these”. Jane is currently featuring in the new VHI commercial.
She has also worked behind the scenes of T.O.A.S.T for RTE and regularly role-plays clients for the law society of Ireland.
Jane is a qualified speech and drama teacher, L.S.M.D and is really enjoying working with the talented students and teachers at the Young people’s theatre.
Kate Brennan
Kate trained with The Young Peoples’ Theatre for twelve years during which time she played roles including ‘Levi’ in Joseph and His Amazing Technicoloured Dreamcoat, ‘AdoAnnie’ in Oklahoma and ‘Mrs Johnston’ in Blood Brothers. She then went on to study Drama and Theatre in Trinity College Dublin where she performed in many shows with the Trinity players. She also performed in Agamemnon and the title roles in Euripides’ Bacchae and The Skriker. Kate also performed in Sonnets for an Old Century with the X-Belair Theatre Co. in the Dublin Fringe Festival ’93. Her film and TV work includes T.X. for RTE.
She has won many prizes for poetry and drama in the Feis Maitiú including The Sean O’Casey Cup, The Junior and Senior Shakespeare Cups, The Ena Mary Burke Cup and the prestigious Record Cup. She is currently filming “Dolls House” by Kirsten Sheridan.
Seán Ó Flanagáin
Seán is a past pupil of Young People’s Theatre. He has won many awards in Feis Maitiu including the Lily Kavanagh Cup for comedy. Seán recently graduated from UCD in Engineering. He is also a professional actor and has appeared in many movies from an early age and presently writes his own material for both his comedic work and his band. He is curently the face of The National Lottery.
