Congratulations!

boomWell done to the maggots who have just completed their six-week beginners’ creative writing course tonight. An excellent bunch of writers in all with so many interesting characters and stories. Watch this space! Congratulations is also due to last week’s bunch who completed their six weeks in beginners’ acting. A rowdy lot they turned out to be once they got to know one another! A great time was had with both groups and we look forward to the follow on courses as well as launching our new introductory courses in drawing and screenwriting. Oh yes, it’s going to be a very creative spring here at Act The Maggot. Sure we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Gateway launches Creative Writing booklet

quote3-wAct The Maggot is thrilled to have been invited to deliver a month of Creative Writing sessions to the longstanding writers’ group at Gateway Mental Health Association. It was an absolute pleasure to work with such a talented bunch. We even got to help members prepare for a public reading of their own written work. We wish them the best of luck launching their Creative Writing booklet in Rathmines Library on March 10th, 2017.

Learn to draw in relaxed surroundings?

lecorbusierAct The Maggot is delighted to offer a brand new Drawing for Beginners class this Spring. Want to learn the basics of drawing? Chill out and have fun in a beautiful room with no distractions, just pencil and paper. Sketch away in good company. Good for the head and the heart. Join us on Tuesday nights in Temple Bar, 7.30-9.30pm – April 25th to May 30th (€180). Limited places. actthemaggot@gmail.com to book your spot.

Wanna write for the movies?

robertmckeeAct The Maggot is thrilled to announce a new departure in our creative writing department. We are offering a brand new six-week course in Screenwriting at the end of April. This course is designed for the film and TV buffs among you. It is specifically aimed at those of you who have never tried it before. Here’s a thing. Imagine how alarming it might be if you did the maths on how many hours you actually spend watching feature films, short films, sketch comedy and episodes of TV shows per week. Content is everywhere now. We cannot avoid it. All is not lost, though. Let’s throw our oars in and make our own content. Let’s put those hours to good use and get creative. Imagine how much you have already learned about character and plot without really thinking about it. Yup. It’s time to tell the stories that you want to see up there on the screen.

NEW March/April evening classes booking now.

tootootNewsflash. Act The Maggot is offering a bunch of new, fun evening classes at the end of March and after Easter, 2017. Take a look around if you are interested in Creative Writing, Beginners’ Acting or try our brand new Introduction to Screenwriting. Also, if you have some acting experience already and fancy getting up on stage, consider joining our Improvers Acting class where you can focus your energies on a character and work on a monologue for performance. Later in the Spring, we will be introducing a new Acting – Level 3 class and a fun Drawing for Beginners class. There is also talk of a Creativity Retreat somewhere beautiful in Ireland. C’mon join the Maggot Machine! Keep your eyes peeled for our posters about town and on our Twitter and Facebook feeds for more news and info on creative happenings in Dublin and beyond. Happy Weekend. Read our testimonials to help make your decision.
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One Moment Meditation

Curious to know and understand more about mindfulness and meditation? Want to learn in some easy steps? Take a look at this really helpful video explainer on how to meditate. Think about joining us on one of our Mind Yourself Mornings this year.

Friday Poem: When I Met My Muse

When I Met My Muse

I glanced at her and took my glasses
Off –- they were still singing. They buzzed
like a locust on the coffee table and then
ceased. Her voice belled forth, and the
sunlight bent. I felt the ceiling arch, and
knew that nails up there took a new grip
on whatever they touched. “I am your own
way of looking at things,” she said. “When
you allow me to live with you, every
glance at the world around you will be
a sort of salvation.” And I took her hand.

Stafford, William, An Oregon Message, 1987

Last-minute Maggots apply here!

So we are almost ready for lift off with the 2017 maggot machine and we are excited about the numbers and variety of people signing up so far. There are a few remaining places on next Thursday’s Beginner’s Acting class and the following Tuesday’s Creative Writing class. Read up on us and take a look at the testimonials to inform your choice. Each course is six weeks only and costs €180. Send us a mail to actthemaggot@gmail.com if you want to hop aboard.

Have fun tackling your fear of Public Speaking

BEGINNERSDid you know that the average person ranks fear of public speaking higher than the fear of death?! This fear could be hurting your personal and professional life. So many people share this fear and the only way to get over it is to face it. The real learning and growth occurs when we are outside our comfort zone. It can be tackled in a fun, frivolous and social way. Join the beginner’s acting class and get up there with everyone else, have lots of fun and meet like-minded people. If you want to know more about what happens in a typical acting class Beginner’s Acting Class. Be sure to email us at actthemaggot@gmail.com to reserve your spot. Demand is high and the next course starts January 26, 2017. Read our testimonials to help make your decision.

Writing Tip for the day!

“If you can tell stories, create characters, devise incidents, and have sincerity and passion, it doesn’t matter a damn how you write”. – Somerset Maugham

We like this quote from novelist Somerset Maugham. It’s true. It’s all about story and character. For those starting out, we often say, if you can talk, then you can write. It’s a simple as that and the quote underneath is particularly poignant when it comes to writing. quote4-w

Consider Joining our next beginners’ creative writing class. Fancy embarking on a new, fun hobby this winter. It’s laid back and it’s a lot of fun. You will get to write in every class and read out what you have written if you want. Come on, let’s get those creative juices flowing. You’ve tonnes of things you want to put into words right? Let 2017 be your year.

actthemaggot@gmail.com