Mr. Robert Donnelly:

We are before the committee today to discuss the future of musical theatre in Ireland. Some other speakers here are more qualified professionally in that regard, but I would like to speak about my own personal experiences if that is okay. I moved to Arklow from Drogheda in 1996. It was a town that had no musical society. I joined the local society, Avonmore Musical Society, purely as a way of making friends, but it completely changed my life and I am still there 26 years later.

I had never been on stage, sang, danced or acted before, but now I have taken part in every show since. I learned how to sing, dance and act, gained loads of confidence, and served on committees in a variety of roles from committee member to PRO and to chairperson. Now I address the committee as national chairperson of AIMS. My job and that of all involved in AIMS is to continue the growth of our organisation and the musical theatre education of all our members.

As said, I started my musical theatre education when I was 21 years old, but I am delighted to say many our members are being educated in musical theatre from a very young age through a variety of dance schools, stage schools, choirs, many music festivals and mainstream schooling. We accept members of our society from the young age of six, depending on the need for them in various productions, and we have many members of transition year age and onwards. However, we do not encourage members to partake if they are in school exam years.

For over 20 years, AIMS has been running a youth summer school in Thurles, County Tipperary. The school is a week-long residential course for members aged between 15 and 18 during which they work with a director, musical director and choreographer, and stage a concert at the end of the course. We are proud to say some of our past members have gone on to star in and work on many West End shows and even appear in Hollywood movies. I am delighted to say that many of our members have gone on to join musical societies in third level colleges around Ireland with some even forming new musical societies there where none existed.

Travelling to the UK used to be the most common educational route for many of our members but I am delighted that now there are college courses available in Ireland that enable our young people to stay in Ireland to pursue their musical theatre careers. AIMS is proud to offer two bursaries each year along with the Anne O’Neill Bursary to help some of our members to progress their careers in college. We are also delighted to be able to offer a collaborative scholarship with American College Dublin for an AIMS member wishing to study musical theatre at third level.