Carpet Theatre (formerly BDNC Theatre) has been producing new and devised work since 2002. The company’s sixteen diverse and successful shows, have toured in Ireland, Wales, Bulgaria, Romania, and the Czech Republic. Artistic Director Ciarán Taylor trained at Ecole Jacques Lecoq and the University of Kent. ‘Carpet theatre’ can be performed where there is space to play and people to watch. With a range of styles (including physical theatre, bouffon and mask) and incorporating devised music, the company seeks connection with audiences, respecting their desire to understand, engaging their feelings and opening doors to the mysterious. Through collaboration and co-production Carpet Theatre create work for theatre and non-theatre spaces.

Pigeon (2012) is character-mask play without words, about a man who crumbling under financial strain goes into DIY overdrive trying to hold his house and his family together. Funded by the Arts Council and co-produced with Mermaid Arts Centre, it was devised by Ciarán Taylor with upbeat music by Steve Wickham, Mischa O’Mahony and Jack Cawley.

The Blanch a hit satirical bouffon comedy about shopping was inspired by the Blanchardstown Centre and is due to tour to India 2013. Originally commission by Fingal County Council In 2008, it played at Dublin Fringe 2009 and toured twelve venues in Ireland (2010-2011).

Pierrot 2000’s updates the former seaside tradition of ‘Pierrot Troupes’ for a fresh outdoor classic physical comedy and music show. Commissioned by Mermaid Arts Centre Bray and performed at Bray’s Arcadia Festival and Wicklow Arts Festival the show’s central double act both aided and hindered by their long-suffering musical accompanist struggle to put on a show for the expectant crowd, with hilarious results. Due to perform in Dublin 2013.

Ferry Tales (June 09) was a site-specific performance with live music in Dublin Port Ferry Terminal, which started with a bus journey from Busaras, and was sponsored by the Dublin Port Company.

In 2008 Carpet Theatre was commissioned to devise a site-specific performance Wexford Fire Station Tour, which explored the experience of fire fighters through movement and live music and included a team of fire fighters performing a smoke and hose drill.

50 Ways to Leave Dún Laoghaire was created by Carpet Theatre as part of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council’s Place and Identity programme of Per Cent for Art commissions in July 2008. It was very successful promenade performance in Dun Laoghaire Ferry Terminal. Exploring themes of departure and return and our complex relations with Britain, it featured a live score.

Two for Dinner for Two (Project Arts Centre, Dublin, Galway, Wexford, Sofia, NTF Bucharest 2007) is a movement play about relationships in collaboration with Concorde Contemporary Music Ensemble featuring live music and live cooking. It was invited to National Theatre Festival in Bucharest in 2007.

Other work includes:The Trick and Burning Love (2012) a double-bill of Grand Guignol adaptations; Hang-Gliding a double-bill of fantastical Welsh plays; Spellbound (Faoi Gheasa) (2004) a melodrama inspired by Irish mythology; mask play Wheel (2002) inspired by Flann O’Brien; Hyde and Jekyll (2003); absurd and dark comedy Melty Mack (2002); A Family Affair (2002) which transferred a contemporary French comedy to an upwardly mobile Ireland; and Bridie and Violet's Visiting Hour a context-specific mask performance for hospitals (2004).

Carpet Theatre TEAM

Artistic Director	Ciarán Taylor
Administrator	Lisa Murphy