"RADE's innovative programme of combatting substance abuse through art introduces addicts to their own genius, their own best selves, it focuses on the buzz that living a positive life can bring,a buzz that is genuine and life enhancing"
President Mary McAleese
2011 was a very busy year for RADE
The last of ‘The Day’ trilogy of short films, Birthday, was made and screened in the IFI cinema. ‘The Day’ trilogy was written and directed by Pom Boyd over three years, working with different RADE participants each year. All films were shot in Dublin.
‘The Day’ trilogy was screened at the Cork Film Festival in the Triscal Centre and as part of Dublin Culture Night.
View the behind-the-scenes documentary above.
Watch the short film in full here:
President Michael D. Higgins and Mrs. Sabina Higgins visit RADE
Particpants, President and Mrs. Higgins
RADE were delighted to host the President and his wife on Friday 25th November in RADE’s premises. It was a great honour, particularly given his long history as a powerful voice supporting the two significant areas that affect our programme: the Arts and the underclass.
RADE participants performed a short 10-minute theatre piece, Get Stoned, for the President and exhibited their artwork. Artists and community leaders were in attendance on the day.
Beautifully painted individual pieces of art
Pushing out the Boat, an exhibition of artwork by the participants under the guidance of artist Eoghan O’ Neill and John Devoy was officially opened by Cllr Críona Ní Dhálaigh in June 2011 at The Atrium, Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Woodquay, D8. The work remained on exhibition for 2 weeks.
The group worked tirelessly over the winter months to produce unique pieces of art that have allowed them to work collectively as a group and on their own.
Birthday ends the ‘Day Trilogy’ of films
Somewhere in the Wild West – or is it a Dublin suburb? – a family gather, dressed in their best cowboy/girl gear, for a surprise party. Eldest sister Margo is up to ninety, husband John-Wayne is no help and seems distracted, other sister Eliza is upset, and why won’t little sister Sadie say who the father of her unborn baby is? Seen from the point of view of the yet-to-be-born baby, Birthday is a funny, gritty and spiritually uplifting story.
This was Pom Boyd’s final short film with RADE. The film was shot over five days in The Lodge, Coolmine Therapeutic Community, with tents and benches borrowed from the Merchants Quay Scouts. Coolmine residences, staff and especially the kitchen took wonderful care of us all week.
Birthday was launched by President Michael D. Higgins on Tuesday 11th October in the Irish Film Institute Cinema, Temple Bar.
Social Inclusion Week in Dublin City Council
Get Stoned, written and directed by Mick Egan, was performed at the Woodquay Venue. The production was later performed at the International Drug Conference in Dublin and at RADE’s Open Theatre Week in the OLV Building. This production enabled a number of participants to perform both acting and singing. Jenna learnt how to play the ukulele for these performances.
A collection of stories, artwork and images
Frontier Folk is a collection of stories and artwork from the RADE programme 2011. Malcolm MacClancy and Dominique Cleary facilitated the creative writing programme, while artists Eoghan O’Neill and John Devoy were responsible for the visual arts. This publication coincided with our short film Birthday.
RTÉ Radio 1 Arena show interviewed Darren and Jenna, who both shared some of their stories over the airwaves.
Read stories from Frontier Folk
