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Irish Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
Life of 'emigrant's artist' Bernard Canavan chronicled in new documentary
OVER the past year director Sé Merry Doyle has been in the process of making a documentary about the life of the Irish artist Bernard Canavan, often referred to as The Emigrant's Artist and the Painter of The Diaspora. A special preview screening was recently held at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, London to raise funds to bring the production Theocracy - The Emigrant's Artist by Loopline Films to final completion. The event also included an art auction of Canavan's work — where four artworks were donated for auction to raise funds for the film. A new documentary focuses on the work of emigrant artist Bernard Canavan Canavan's paintings of the diaspora, capture the pain of women and men, girls and boys, leaving home; the indignity of the boat train, the harshness of the building sites, the crowded pubs where men went 'home' to drink their dinner. This was a world of subbies, piece work, being 'on the lump', digging the tunnels; as well as the peak era of the Irish nurses who formed the back bone of the NHS. Bernard Canavan's art focuses on the Irish diaspora. His works are inspired by his own personal experience of working as a navvy in England in the 1950s. Canavan's work is inspired by his own experience as a member of the Irish diaspora In 2018 the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins awarded the prestigious Presidential Award to Bernard Canavan for his contribution to Irish culture in the UK. See More: Artist, Bernard Canavan, Diaspora, Irish, Irish Cultural Centre
Irish Post
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
One-off performance of George Bernard Shaw classic celebrates playwright's birthday
A ONE-OFF performance of one of George Bernard Shaw's classic plays will be staged in June to mark the playwright's birthday. SHAW2020'S production of Village Wooing will run at the Irish Cultural Centre (ICC) in Hammersmith on July 27, just one day after what would have been Shaw's 169th birthday. Born in Dublin on July 26, 1856, Shaw remains one of Ireland's most celebrated literary figures. The ICC organisers say their commemorative event is set to 'honour his enduring legacy with a witty, incisive piece that showcases the playwright's hallmark charm, intellect, and social critique'. Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw pictured at his home in Hertfordshire, shortly before his 90th birthday in July 1946. (Pic: Getty) Directed by Jonas Cemm, and former trustee of The Shaw Society, the production of Shaw's anti-romance play stars Joe Sargent as 'A', a reserved guidebook writer, and Maryann O'Brien as 'Z', a quick-witted country shopgirl determined to draw him out of his shell. 'We are so looking forward to hosting the production of Village Wooing here at the ICC, as we know that SHAW2020 produce Bernard Shaw productions of the very best,' Rosalind Scanlon, Cultural Director of the Irish Cultural Centre, said this week. Following the show, Dublin-born actor Billy Boyle, who has starred in west end musicals such as Hello, Dolly!, Maggie May, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, will host a Q&A with the director and cast. Village Wooing runs at the Irish Cultural Centre at 2.30pm on July 27. The production then transfers to nearby Theatre at the Tabard in Chiswick for a three-week run from August 6 – 23, where it will be part of a double bill, titled SHAW vs CHEKHOV: Village Wooing & The Proposal.
