Bursary Award for Drama & Theatre Studies Graduate
Click Picture to Enlarge
Bursary Award for Drama & Theatre Studies Graduate
21.01.2011

Sarah Louise McColgan, a graduate from UCC’s Drama and Theatre course was recently awarded the 2010 Pat Murray Bursary. The Bursary, funded by The Everyman Palace Theatre, Thomas Crosbie Holdings and Cork City Council, is designed to facilitate a young theatre artist through specialised study, or work placement by providing financial support to the value of €14,000.

The bursary was inaugurated to commemorate the work of the very gifted Cork designer Pat Murray, who was a former member of the Arts Council, was resident designer with the Irish National Ballet and worked in theatre at all levels, locally, nationally and internationally.

The bursary was presented to Sarah by Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr. John Kelleher in the Council Chamber of the City Hall just before Christmas.  Sarah, who is specialising in lighting design, is using the bursary to complete specialist training in the Technical Theatre and Stage Management programme at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.  She follows in the footsteps of a previous DTS graduate, Adam McElderry, who completed the same course following on his UCC degree.  As part of their undergraduate programme both students got their initial training in Technical Theatre with Kath Geraghty (Technical Manager of the Granary Theatre at the time). 

Remarkably, Sarah is the second Drama & Theatre Studies graduate to win this prestigious award.  The 2008 inaugural Pat Murray Bursary was awarded to Deirdre Dwyer in 2008 by Tony Award winner Bob Crowley.   Deirdre was one of the first students to complete the BA DTS degree and, helped by the award, is now completing her postgraduate training in design with the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama while building a very successful career in design here and in the UK.  Deirdre has returned to UCC to teach a design module for DTS students this year.

Sarah McColgan, on receiving the Bursary, said: "I was extremely happy and surprised to receive this bursary award. To have this grant to help me to finish my studies is an amazing financial relief and means I can concentrate one hundred percent on getting the best out of the facilities and teaching at RADA. I couldn't be more grateful to those involved with this bursary and I'm so glad that there is something like this available to help theatre makers get off the ground."

Picture: Sarah McColgan (award winner, centre) with Maeve Lewis (Granary Theatre, on left) and Ger FitzGibbon (Head of Drama & Theatre Studies) at the award ceremony in the City Hall.

 

 



<<Previous ItemNext Item>>

« Back to 2011 Press Releases