Theatre and performance create spaces for joy, for moments of discovery, for connection, encounter and for humanity to rediscover itself and shine through
Hello, Welcome! My name is Maria Tivnan, I am from Boyle in Roscommon but live in Galway with my family, dog and 6 hens. I am declaring myself here to be an artist scholar. I am the artistic director of Fregoli theatre since 2007 and was a co founder and co- chair of Galway theatre collective Theatre57 2019 to 2022. In January 2024 I completed a Performance as Research (practice based) PhD funded by the Irish Research Council with the University of Galway exploring how theatre and performance artists create and challenge meanings of home in Galway, Gaza and Mexico city.
Thank you for visting this site and I hope it is a worthwhile experience.
As I am exploring the theme of home, my immediate environment as a source of inspiration is very important, particulary the sea and shore. We are always on storied ground!
I am interested in home, memory, the body, space, and place. How do we find our place in the world, how do we occupy space, and how may our space be occupied?Performance is a very powerful lens from which to view space, place and belonging.
I graduated in 2004 with a BA Psychology from the University of Galway, I am very grateful for this time for the forging of great friendships and for my time with the university drama society, dramsoc. I spent far more time in the theatre than the lecture hall! In 2006 I completed an MA in Modern Drama with University College Dublin, and returned to Galway to work in theatre. In 2007 I founded Fregoli theatre with friends and worked as a youth worker with the Bohermore Community Development Project, here I co- facilitated educational programmes and taught drama classes which lead to the creation of the Bohermore Youth Drama group. This was one of the most formative times of my life. From 2009 to 2011 I completed an MA in Social Work with the University of Galway driven by my interest in people, in stories and in community. This experience, provided wonderful insight into and tools around micro and macro social relations and systems, and crisis management After two years of working in youth mental health I left social work to focus on my children and on my life long meandering relationship with theatre. Since 2022, I have been the director of the Macnas Youth Theatre, which has increased my wonder and appreciation of performing in public space, to date as a group we have performed in six outdoor performances, Con Mór, Galway, 2022, St Patrick’s Day Parade, Galway, 2023, Salmon Festival Parade, Ballina, July 2023, Walk with Crom, Athenry, September 2023, and Cnámha La Loba, Galway and Dublin October 2023.
Promotional Image for Fregoli’s Angels, August 2021
Performing with Macnas, Galway for Danse Macabre 2019. Photo by EMJ camera
This doctoral research is funded by the Irish Research Council
