Louis Lentin Elected To Aosdána

16 Feb 2006 :

Louis Lentin

Theatre, film and television director, Louis Lentin, has been named one of the twelve new members elected to the Aosdána, an affiliation of creative artists in Ireland established by the Arts Council.

Born in Limerick in 1933, Lenin has over forty years experience of working in the arts in Ireland. In 1957 he began his professional career as a theatre director and quickly established himself by establishing Art Theatre Productions in 1959, opening with the Irish premieres of Samuel Beckett’s ‘Endgame’ and ‘Krapp’s Last Tape’.

Louis was invited to join RTÉ in 1961 by Hilton Edwards, who was then Head of Drama. While working as a drama producer for the national broadcaster, he continued to direct for theatre, touring throughout Ireland, Europe and Israel. Louis was instrumental in establishing Israeli television during the period 1967-1968, producing and directing its first televised productions of Christian, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Christmas celebrations and in 1969 he returned to work again in RTÉ.

Louis was appointed Head of Television Drama in RTÉ in 1978 establishing the Thursday ‘Playdate’ and ‘The Sunday Series’. In that year, he won the Jacobs’ Irish Critics’ Award for contribution to television drama. He has written for theatre and radio and taught television as well as direction and acting, and has earned recognition both at home and abroad (three Banff nominations, three US International Film and Television Festival Awards, John Healy Award in 2002). In 1990, he founded the company Cresendo Concepts Ltd, which has produced several documentaries including ‘Dear Daughter’ - which recounts the story of Ms Christine Buckley and her life in a Goldenbridge orphanage in Dublin; and ‘No More Blooms’ a documentary detailing Ireland’s views of Jewish refugees during 1933-46.

The twelve new members of Aosdána were elected from a shortlist of 27, following a ballot at this year’s General Assembly, at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham, Dublin. This brings its total membership to 220.

http://www.iftn.ie/?act1=record&aid=73&rid=1942&sr=1&only=1&tpl=archnews

MY COMMENT: Curiously Mannix Flynn, who also published allegations that the Christian Brothers had murdered boys, was elected a member of Aosdana in February 2003.