Firefly isn’t just for stage bunnies. Film-making and media skills feature regularly in our partnership work with schools, outreach and community projects. Whether it’s an issue-based documentary, an experimental art film, a traditional film short, or a digital snapshot of life in West Lothian – our films are all created with and by young people. Ably supported by Firefly’s network of specialist professional film-makers, of course. Here are just a few of our favourites. Grab the popcorn and treat yourself…

getintheplantpot. Click here.

Created by Firefly’s Friday Filmies, this surreal short film was developed and shot in 2018 to build location, sound and production skills.Highly entertaining, slightly weird and well worth a watch.Supported by film-maker Kate Burton. 8min.

The Old Lie. Click here.

Young Writers’ Summer Residential. Click here.

A lyrical glimpse into an idyllic 2018 summer residential. Starring Firefly’s talented young writers. Film-maker Lauren McDonaugh, with writer-in-residence Ellie Stewart. 2.15min.

Common Ground. Click here.

‘Running away isn’t always the answer’.  A timeless and not-to-be-missed favourite from 2013, created, filmed and performed by young people, Common Ground is a bitter-sweet short film about friendship and growing up in West Lothian. Supported by film-maker Jen Randall. 10.08min.

These are just a few of the films created by our talented young film and media specialists over the years. You can view a wider selection on Firefly’s Vimeo site:

Firefly are back for 14 weeks of high drama, film, digital arts, new writing, dance and performance fun. If you haven’t signed up for a weekly workshop yet, then take another look below.

Information on auditions, rehearsal and performance dates for Firefly’s annual Winter Show will be out soon, and we’ll be starting up our autumn PILOT and SkyLight community projects soon.

Fabulous Firefly will soon be back for a jam-packed autumn programme of theatre skills, film and youth arts workshops, projects, training and events. Check out our new workshop groups starting up in Bathgate… 

… and our senior youth theatre group, Company LA, in Linlithgow.

There’s still time to book your workshop place (if you haven’t done so already). If you are new  to Firefly’s after-school workshop programme, then you are welcome to try before you buy – but do book first!

See below for all weekly workshop details. For more information call us on 01506 333005 or email admin@firefly-arts.co.uk for more information.

Hope to see you soon!

Image by Rhys Sutherland/Dundee rep

The Firefly Studio hosted two very different productions last weekend, with Firefly’s home performance of RAIN (first performed at Dundee Rep in May) and Platform Young Company’s contemporary work, Shaking the Habitual.

RAIN flowed from initial humour and relish to an increasing flood of social and material disintegration. Directed by Kirsty Byers and Eleanor Morrison, and devised by the company, this production is the end point of a creative process that explored a wealth of ideas, cultural references, literature, social, political and scientific research; a process that plays a significant role in enabling young people to push themselves beyond their comfort zones, and renegotiate their relationships with an increasingly complex world.

“I really loved how we made the show, using improvisation to build our own characters, write our own words. We make serious stuff that is good, using a mix of different performance styles. I like that you have to pay attention to our work to understand what is going on.”

Visually arresting, confident and thought-provoking, this production showcased some excellent performances from Firefly old-hands (with four off to Uni next term) along with some of our younger emerging talent. Our thanks to Jess Brettle for wonderful set and costume design, and Malcolm Rogan for lighting.

Our thanks also to Platform’s Young Company for their performance of Shaking The Habitual, a uniform and formulaic piece exploring both the reinforcement and inevitable breakdown of habitual behaviours.

To view the RAIN programme and publicity click here.

To view RAIN Images by Sinclair MacKenzie, click here.

Images by Sinclair MacKenzie

Following a debut performance at Dundee Rep’s Next Up Festival, there’s an intriguing forecast for Firefly’s summer production this June. Devised by the company and directed by Kirsty Byers and Eleanor Morrison, RAIN builds steadily from a welcome stream to an altogether more sinister and unstoppable force of nature – humorous, playful and, as bloated fragments of life flow by, increasingly alarming.

Restricted seats available at both performances. Avoid disappointment and book your tickets early at admin@firefly-arts.co.uk, or call 01506 333005.

Recommended age for this production is 12+.

We’ve lots of fun lined up for the summer break. All projects have limited places available, so book early to make sure you don’t miss out.

For more information or to book your place on these projects, call 01506 333005 or email admin@firefly-arts.co.uk

Its definitely spring, and nearly summer, here at Firefly. We hope you all have a great Easter break and come back ready for action. Meanwhile here are some reminders for what’s coming up.

For those of you involved in Firefly’s Redemption Road programme we have a 2 day holiday project on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th April. Places on this project are limited, so if you’ve not been to a Redemption Road workshop before please contact Kirsty on kirsty@firefly-arts.co.uk.

Development days, for young people involved with our upcoming production of Rain for Dundee’s Next Up festival in May, are scheduled for Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th.

Firefly’s 2018 summer term will be jam-packed with performance, starting with Livingston’s Company 54 and Linlithgow’s Company LA  performing at Howden Park Centre in April, 2 Navigator groups showcasing their murder/mystery productions in May, and a double bill with Platform Young Company at Howden Park Centre in June.

Add to that our Redemption Road music projects, Young Writers’ events, training and partnership work with HYPE, the Inveralmond community and Bathgate Academy (not forgetting our talented young film-makers), and we’ve got plenty to be getting on with!

Hope to see you soon,

Happy New Year to you all! Firefly’s Spring term is up and running, and we’re looking forward to a brand new year of workshops, performance, projects and events. Spring workshops start on Monday 15th January and run for 10 weeks until Friday 23rd March. We have spaces in several workshops groups, so call 01506 333005 or email admin@firefly-arts.co.uk if you would like to join us!

West Lothian youth theate buffs are probably still in recovery from Yo Ho Ho, Firefly’s  spectacular funky-town of a winter show at Howden Park Centre this weekend. Co-directed by Eleanor Morrison and Laura Stephen, with 1970’s classics, ancient curses, disco dancing pirates, a maverick Sat-Nav and mermaids with menaces, this show really did have something for everyone.

Underpinning the fun, though, was a serious and poignant message on the devastating effects of plastic waste on our oceans and marine wild-life. The  excellent young cast coped artfully with the complexity of tackling a serious issue with humour, irony and empathy, aided by the clever crafting of Kirsty Byers who wrote and researched the show.

Our thanks also to Jess Brettle for a wonderful set and costumes (all plastic reused or recycled), Malcolm Rogan for lighting, Izzy Ross for choreography, Polly Phillips for musical direction, Kate Burton for film and Kyle McIntyre for sound. A Firefly Dream Team supporting yet another cast of extraordinary young performers!

To view production photos by Sinclair MacKenzie, click Here.

To view Yo Ho Ho programme and publicity, click Here.