O’REILLYS The Betty Ann Norton Collection 6th - 8th April 2022

6 The school, which is the longest running theatre school in Ireland, is now being run by past pupil Ciara Feely (LLCM TD) who was appointed as the new director of the school in early 2020.Teaching staff include past pupils who completed their ALCM teaching diplomas with the school: Grace Halton, Dan O’Farrell, Evie O’Brien, Vanessa Schaefer, Charlotte O’Reilly and who have qualifications and training from places such as The Lir, Conser- vatoire of Drama TUD, LeCoq, IADT. Tutors also include Lir Acting graduate Martha Breen, CIT Drama graduate Sinead McGee and DCU Film graduate Kevin O’Murchu. Current and past pupils Ellen Walters, Genevieve Holmes, Arianna Gorman, Gavin Jennings, Amelia O’Doherty are also working as teaching assistants in preparation for their teaching diploma examinations. All proceeds from the auction will benefit a trust established to suppor t the Betty Ann Nor tonTheatre School following the passing of their beloved founder Betty Ann Nor ton who established the school in 1959. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE The school hopes to use the funds to acquire a proper ty that will have rehearsal rooms, a performance studio and co-working space to be used by the school, it’s graduates and professional theatre makers as a creative hub. They aim to create a small, specialised library to house the wonderful teaching and perfor- mance archival material that Betty Ann and her late husband Michael J. Cunneen collected over the last 60 years. This space will host school activities and suppor t professional artists in a city where arts spaces are becoming increasingly rare. In addition, the school hopes to expand their scholarship programme and become involved in more community-based activities.With the easing of restrictions, they are looking forward to producing innovative and exciting live per- formances such as previous promenade plays held in OPW venues like Dublin Castle, Farmleigh House, Rathfarnham Castle and the Pearse Museum. THE BETTY ANN NORTON SCHOOL TODAY