{"id":19002,"date":"2020-10-13T11:37:20","date_gmt":"2020-10-13T10:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/?p=19002"},"modified":"2020-10-06T11:38:16","modified_gmt":"2020-10-06T10:38:16","slug":"ballycastle-composer-garth-mcconaghie-writes-score-for-cahoots-nis-new-online-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/2020\/10\/ballycastle-composer-garth-mcconaghie-writes-score-for-cahoots-nis-new-online-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Ballycastle Composer Garth McConaghie Writes Score For Cahoots NI\u2019s New Online Show"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ballycastle born Garth McConaghie is the composer, sound designer and musical director for Cahoots NI\u2019s latest immersive magical digital theatre experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The University of Wonder and Imagination is an hour-long interactive digital theatre production that allows audiences to effectively direct the performance, based on their interaction with the performers from the comfort of their own home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this ambitious and innovative undertaking, Garth is part of the Cahoots NI team broadcasting from an extensive, purpose-built set in Belfast, where magic and illusion have no boundaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garth\u2019s best known for his work as the musical director for hit TV show Derry Girls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of his involvement in the production Garth said: \u201cThe University of Wonder and Imagination is innovative and adaptive to the times we find ourselves in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople can\u2019t go to the theatre just now, So, we\u2019re bringing the theatre to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe fact that we are pushing technical boundaries in exploring new ways to tell stories and present theatre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hopefully fun and exciting, with moments of wonder and lots of heart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The show will have it\u2019s Northern Ireland premiere as part of this year\u2019s Belfast International Arts Festival running from October 22nd – 25th and 29th – November 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And whilst he\u2019s excited about the show Garth, 42, is no stranger to working with Cahoots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI first worked for Cahoots 16 years ago, way back in 2004, but I\u2019ve been working with them very regularly since I wrote the music for their wonderful show, Egg, in 2011,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI like working with Cahoots because they\u2019re a world class children\u2019s theatre company, who make shows which are as good as, or better, than any other children\u2019s theatre companies in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd the fact that they\u2019re based here in N. Ireland is something we can all be very proud of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTheir work often tours in America, Asia and elsewhere and, besides all the wonderful magic, storytelling and mesmerising imagery they create, there is an artistic honesty and genuine, huge heart at the centre of all of their work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Limited to pre-booked audience numbers per performance, guests will assemble with their fellow University students and, led by the mysterious Professor Bamberg, will embark on a journey where nothing is quite what it seems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audiences will interact with lively lecturers, experience themed rooms filled with illusion and encounter problems and puzzles in an attempt to unlock magical powers and graduate with flying colours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking about the new production, Paul Bosco Mc Eneaney, Creator\/Director of The University of Wonder and Imagination, and Artistic Director of Cahoots NI, said: \u201cWe are thrilled to be opening the doors of the University of Wonder and Imagination for enrolment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow, more than ever, we want to capture the sheer joy and wonder that theatre and live performance brings young audiences, something we so desperately miss being able to provide at this time. We have worked hard to create an experience that would act as a first step to bridge the gap between young people and live theatre that can be enjoyed at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDeveloping this production has allowed us to explore a completely new channel through which to bring magic and illusion to children and their families via digital technology. The choices our audiences make live, during the event, will shape their unique theatre experience \u2013 and that\u2019s hugely exciting for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe technology we are using for the production is intricate, but it will be seamlessly blended with physical sets and magical illusions. Our audiences haven\u2019t seen anything like this from Cahoots NI before, and we believe it will be a fun-filled, thrilling experience for children, for their families and for our cast and crew to be a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The University of Wonder and Imagination is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caoileann Curry-Thompson, Arts Development O\ufb03cer for Drama and Dance, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: \u201cDespite the enormous challenges presented to the Arts as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Cahoots NI continues to offer audiences world-class children\u2019s theatre with their latest show, The University of Wonder and Imagination, this Autumn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis latest show promises to be a wonder to behold! The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is hugely proud to support this terrific production which will be enjoyed by many online, helping to bring great art to everyone.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cahoots NI is at the forefront of Northern Irish theatre and is the leading professional theatre company producing work for children. Since beginning operations in 2001, Cahoots NI has produced original, critically acclaimed work for children including Under the Hawthorn Tree, Secrets of Space, Shh! We have a Plan and has toured its work internationally including in China and the USA.For more information go to <\/em><\/strong>cahootsni.com<\/em><\/strong><\/a> or follow Cahoots NI on social media #UniversityofWonder #CahootsNI<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ballycastle born Garth McConaghie is the composer, sound designer and musical director for Cahoots NI\u2019s latest immersive magical digital theatre experience. The University of Wonder and Imagination is an hour-long interactive digital theatre production that allows audiences to effectively direct the performance, based on their interaction with the performers from the comfort of their own … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19002"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19002"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19002\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19004,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19002\/revisions\/19004"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}