Crossing the Line: Episode Three: Crossing The Line Festival May 2020

Blue Teapot Theatre Company is delighted to launch a digital mini-series ‘The Festival that never was, the celebration that is’ of a nine year span of work. This series encapsulates the many highlights of Crossing the Line, a network of leading European arts organisations for intellectually disabled artists and our Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture journey from inception of the bid book to present day.
Along with six partner organisations from Sweden, Poland, Netherlands, England, Wales & France, we worked towards our most ambitious project yet - Crossing The Line Festival with over 100 Irish and European artists,and theatre makers due to participate in a first for a European Capital of Culture. Programmed for May 2020, the festival was cancelled as a result of the pandemic and Blue Teapot’s flagship theatre show ‘Into the Dark Woods’ by Charlene Kelly was reimagined. We continue to develop the production and are looking forward to bringing audiences live performances once theatres re-open.
Who knows what the future will bring but we are positive we will see you soon!
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Over 100 European Artists & Company members * 11 venues across Galway City * 32 Events * 6 European Partners * 4 knowledge Talks * 8 Post-Show talks * Audiences of 4,500 * 1 Green Field Site * 1 International Networking Event * 135 Festival Team Freelancers * 112 Irish Artists & Arts Workers * 120 Volunteers * 32 Festival Ambassadors
With 2020 just around the corner, Blue Teapot unveiled their biggest, boldest and most ambitious project to date - Crossing The Line - a Pan-European Theatre Festival of outstanding work made by European artists with intellectual disabilities as part of Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture.
At the event launch in December 2019, a programme of theatre, dance, and dissemination events at multi-venues across Galway was released to the public. At the launch, City of Galway Mayor Mike Cubbard said “It’s a great honour to celebrate this launch with Blue Teapot Theatre Company who do Trojan work all year round. With Galway set to embark on a cultural journey in 2020, I am excited about the benefits for our city and county and to attend this amazing project next May”. From 20th - 23rd May 2020, the festival was not only inclusive, distinct, different; it was undoubtedly European in flavour.
Moomsteatern (Sweden), Compagnie de L’’Oiseau-Mouche(France), Theater Babel (Netherlands) Teatr 21 (Poland), Mind The Gap (England) and Hijinx (Wales) were to join Irish artists Galway’s Speckled Egg, That’s Life and Equinox, Kilkenny. Established and emerging talent of equal measure. Crossing The Line Festival was also a milestone event of a two year Creative Europe small cooperation grant project Trasna na Line.
For Blue Teapot, a new theatre production ‘Into the Dark Woods’, the debut play written by Charlene Kelly, a company actor with an intellectual disability, was to be the highlight.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic had begun to affect Ireland in early March with lockdowns put in place by mid-March, two months out from the festival opening. At a time of much uncertainty and to the utter disappointment of everyone involved, the decision was made to cancel Crossing the Line Festival.

[@craigwaters5511]

Amazing congratulations Charlene and everyone ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@craigwaters5511]

Congratulations Charlene and jenny and everyone 💕 💕

[@craigwaters7299]

Congratulations Charlene and Jenny and everyone'💞💞💞💕💞

[@craigwaters5511]

Awesome