Le Cheile Project
Introduction
Crooked House has been involved in adult education since its foundation in 1993. We began life as part of a VTOS programme in 1990 (the first one in the country, located in Newbridge, County Kildare). VTOS was a state initiative to educate adults who were longterm unemployed. We ran a drama programme as part of the VTOS course and Crooked House emerged from this in 1993. Since then, we have used drama as a tool for personal and social development. Peter Hussey, our Artistic Director, has been an Associate Staff member with the Department of Adult and Community Education in Maynooth University since the late 1980s.
It is surprising therefore that we have not participated in an Erasmus+ Adult Education project until 2025. This is our first venture. Le Chéile is an Erasmus+ project that uses applied theatre as an inclusive tool in adult education to support community development and lifelong learning. It aims to open intergenerational dialogue through culture and the arts and more specifically through drama. Our aim is to develop a guidebook on using applied theatre in inclusive and diverse adult education settings.
Drama Workshops for Older People
The project sees us running theatre workshops with up to 30 adults in both Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland and in A Guarda, Pontevedra, Spain.
In Newbridge there are two groups. Houselights meet every Monday from 1.00 to 12.00 in Crooked House. There are currently 6 women participating and we are open to welcome any other adult who wishes to join. Newbridge Women’s Shed Drama group meets every Thursday from 12.00 to 14.00. There are currently 10 women participating.
In Spain 10 adults meet every Wednesday from 5.00pm to 7.00pm
The workshops began in September 2025 and will continue until May or June 2026. Our groups in Ireland will create performances for Bealtaine – the national arts festival for older people. Our Houselights project is supported by local partner, Riverbank Arts Centre, who provide their wonderful performance space for the shows. If you would like to see the performances go onto their website and book for 1st May 2026 (for the Houselights performance) or 17th and 18th June 2026 (for the Women’s Shed performance).
Workshop Content
The workshops build the confidence of the participants. They are gently led through the process of creating and devising material that can be performed in a theatrical setting. The material comes from their lived experiences, their ideas and imaginations, and their opinions and reflections on life and events.
Intergenerational Workshop
In the summer 2026 we will hold intergenerational sessions with up to 50 participants of different ages and produce two cultural and theatre events created by participants for the wider local community both in Ireland and Spain. Young people will be invited to join in with Houselights and the Women’s Shed for creative activities complimentary to both age groups.
Guidebook and Resources
As part of the project, we will develop a Guidebook for other providers in adult education on ways they can incorporate drama programmes into their work. The Guidebook will have an introduction to some of the theory of drama in adult education, along with several drama activities that can be used by tutors and educators. It will also contain other resources for using drama in this sector. When it is finished it will be available to download for free from the Reading Room section of our website.
Mid way Performances
In December 2025 both Irish groups created public events and staged them in Riverbank Arts Centre. On 8th December from 11.30am to 12.30pm the women of the Houselights group performed two short sketches and read monologues that they wrote. They performed them in the public space of the café in Riverbank. The event included music from a young Spanish guitar player. The audience sat around the café for the event. This event, directed by Mary Linehan, was an informal performance, designed to help the group become used to staging and performing material in front of a n audience. On December 16th the more experienced Women’s Shed group staged their short play in Riverbank theatre. It was directed by Yassine Barkaoui, and devised by a group of 7. The play was attended by a full house of friends, family and supporters.
Partners involved
Le Chéile is cooperation between Crooked House Theatre Company and our Spanish partner FOCO “ASOCIACIÓN PARA LA FORMACIÓN Y COOPERACIÓN EN EUROPA”.
Our partner, FOCO, is an organisation based in A Guarda that leads community-focused initiatives. They run the local Municipal Theatre School in collaboration with the city council, delivering weekly drama workshops, activities, and special projects.
They also design and implement civic values projects and workshops on themes such as LGTBI+, gender equality, inclusion, and media literacy.
In addition, FOCO is active in environmental education through creative non-formal and artistic methods. By providing activities that build skills and competences, FOCO supports participants’ personal and civic development. Their team is trained and experienced in theatre, the arts, and non-formal learning, working to improve civic engagement and create opportunities for people with fewer resources.
Funding bodies
This project is funded by Erasmus+, the European Union’s programme supporting education, training, youth, and sport across Europe. Erasmus+ promotes lifelong learning, intercultural dialogue, and opportunities for people of all ages to gain new skills and experiences. Learn more about them and the available opportunities following this link: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu
In Ireland, the project is supported by Léargas, the Irish National Agency that manages Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps and other international and European programmes in education, youth, and community development. Léargas helps connect Irish organisations and communities to European learning opportunities. Find out more at https://www.leargas.ie
