Workshops & Writing
From comedy to science, for kids & grown ups
WORKSHOPS
Beginner friendly sessions built around simple circuits, soldering, and a healthy dose of art
Explore the history of comedy with Aidan (Now Show, News Quiz, Callan’s Kicks), try some improv, create your own sketches, and learn how comedy and empathy go hand in hand
Learn about the history of gaming while speeding through some classic retro games, discuss healthy (and unhealthy) gaming habits, build your own controller using fruit & playdough
WRITING
GAMING IS A GATEWAY
This was an Arts Council funded project, in collaboration with An Síol Youth Club, and 3 schools in D7 (St. Pauls, St. Gabriels, & Stanhope Street), where we explored gaming as a hobby, and looked at its potential to branch out into different media formats.
We held monthly sessions where we would play retro games, discuss healthy gaming habits, share stories from gaming history, and explore various media formats through the lens of gaming.
Filmmaker Helen Flanagan, and illustrator/animator Eimhin McNamara, joined us for sessions on filmmaking and game design.
You can here me discuss the project on Radio 1’s Oliver Callan Show by clicking the image below.
BIO
Aidan Fitzmaurice is a comedy and children's writer, and a workshop facilitator for all ages. He runs a unique programme of workshops in schools, libraries, and youth clubs around Dublin. He is a 3 time recipient of the Art’s Council “Children and Young People’s Arts Bursary”, for which he runs comedy workshops in DEIS schools around Dublin 7. He also runs a gaming programme called ‘Gaming is a Gateway’, with An Síol Youth Club in Stoneybatter, for which he received an Arts Council Children and Young People’s Arts project award. He is on the panel of facilitators for Dublin City Council Culture Company, South Dublin Libraries, and runs regular STEAM workshops with young people and adults in Richmond Barracks for DCCCC, as well as a podcast programme for Digital Hub, as well as various schools, youth clubs, and libraries. Aidan previously worked in Science Gallery’s Makeshop, and for Camara Education.
He has written several children series for radio and podcast, including ‘GALAXY FEST’ (2 seasons & Xmas Special) and the Speakie Award nominated ‘STORYTIME TAKEOVER’ (3 seasons), for RTE Radio Jr. For UK radio station ‘Fun Kids’, he has written 3 series of the award nominated podcast RANGER RAE AND THE WILDLIFERS, a collaboration with the National Trust, as well as ‘THE GIRL AND THE SUITCASE’, a 10-part drama series about the Windrush generation of immigrants. He is a regular contributor to RTE Radio 1’s ‘The Business’, writes for BBC Radio 4 topical comedy shows (‘NOW SHOW’, ‘NEWS QUIZ’, ‘THE SKEWER’), and was a writer on RTE Radio 1's long running topical sketch show CALLANS KICKS for 8 seasons. Aidan is a script writer for RTE children’s science TV shows ‘BODY BROTHERS’ and ‘LET’S FIND OUT. His theatre credits include ‘ARACHNOPHILIA’, which ran at Dublin Fringe 2018.
Finding the funny in everything…
I’ve been obsessed with comedy for as long as I can remember. This obsession eventually manifested into a comedy writing career, where I’ve had the privilege of working on long-running comedy institutions like Radio 4’s The Now Show, News Quiz, and RTE’s Callan’s Kicks.
This comedy obsession was matched by an interest in all things science, which led to work as a workshop facilitator for Science Gallery’s Makeshop, before heading out into the workshop world as a freelancer.
My comedy and science work often dovetail in a very enjoyable way. The light touch of a comedy writer is a perfect way to approach workshop facilitation, while the world of science is great fodder for comedy, especially when it comes to writing for children.
Get in touch!
If you want to find out more about my writing or my workshops, fill out the form below and I’ll get back to you asap
