Pintsized Productions & American Bar 2023
Context
Pintsized is a professional theatre company dedicated to enabling emerging artists to build their skills and professional careers, engaging and entertaining new audiences in intimate alternative venues.
The American Bar is an authentic old style pub in the heart of Belfast’s Sailortown, alive with impromptu music sessions, poetry and gigs.
Challenge
Through their project, Sailortown Living History pop-up theatre, the partners hoped to increase footfall into The American Bar and into the greater area, with people viewing the venue as a hub for arts and culture and for the audience to return there for other arts activities throughout the year. Their ambition was to showcase local emerging writing, acting and directing talent through stories telling the rich history of the Sailortown area and its people.
“We at Pintsized Productions have had the honour of being the In-House Theatre company for The American Bar for a few years now and the support we have been given is truly immeasurable. As a “pintsized” company being offered a space to help nurture emerging talent, create exciting productions, keep our equipment safe and secure and to invite audiences to come and sample our work is exactly what is required to ensure the company thrives.”
Emma McCabe, Pintsized Productions
Solution
Using The American Bar as rehearsal space and with a great response to a call for new writing talent and actors, the project started to take shape. The bar is rich in history and inspired many of the short stories that were created. The stories and characters were brought to life for audiences in a site specific pop-up theatre style on the streets of Sailortown. Audiences were greeted by the friendly staff of The American Bar and, in exchange for their ticket on return from the show, they received a drink, a chance to absorb the atmosphere of the bar and learn about other upcoming events.
Results
Pintsized and The American Bar were delighted to receive very positive feedback from audiences and others who joined in along the way. Having a partner in The American Bar gave Pintsized a great base to perform theatre in this way and also a focal point for their audiences before and after shows. Most of the audience returned to the bar and spent time there after shows not only because of the very kind incentive of a free drink but because of the other events happening within the Sailortown Festival which they were also able to participate in. The full four-day Sailortown Gathering Festival was a huge success, and the partners were proud to be a part of it. As a partnership they hope to use this template to create similar living history projects in the future.
"Our partnership with Pintsized has been very beneficial over the years. It has added footfall, but also a whole new string to our bow. The living history project brought this to an even wider audience by going out onto the surrounding streets. We always look forward to the next project.”
Pedro Donald, The American Bar