The Story

Amharclann na nDaoine (The People’s Theatre) is a short film written, shot and directed by Cian Ó Cíosóg, a student on the award-winning An Rinn-based WIT/ Nemeton TV Higher Diploma in Arts in Television and Media Production.

Produced during the 2021 Covid-19 lockdown, the film explores the impact of the pandemic and lockdown on the Theatre Royal – on its staff, its performers and its audiences – and demonstrates the way the theatre team adapted both its day-to-day operations and how it works with artists to ensure the survival and delivery of performing arts during one of the most challenging times in the theatre’s history.

“There’s probably not a person in Waterford who doesn’t have a connection with the Theatre Royal…”

It includes interviews with theatre manager Mary Boland and technical manager Dermot Quinn, who discuss the legacy of the theatre and describe how the theatre team retrained to shift the delivery of events to live streaming when restrictions forced the closure of venues. Also featured are veteran Tops of the Town performer Micheál Ó hUallacháin and members of local band Backroad Smoker’s Club, whose Christmas 2020 gig at the theatre had to be cancelled as a result of Covid-19 restrictions. On camera work duties at the shoot were Cian’s fellow Nemeton student Gearóid McNamara and course lecturer Deaglán de Paor.