Coventry-born Kathi Leahy set up the Shaskeen Theatre Company eight years ago to work with and for the Irish community in the city.
Their presence is now very strong. This year, for example, you can see them at Carnival 2002 in August and you can get involved with one of their two ongoing community projects.
Kathi's most popular production to date, The Wedding, returned to the Belgrade Theatre from 25 April - 4 May 2002 before its premiere at the prestigious Cork Festival.
 The audience should feel that they have participated in an event rather than being a passive spectator.
 | 听 | Kathi Leahy, Director
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Shaskeen works with the community to develop Irish arts and produce live events, including theatre, new writing, dance, large-scale events and youth arts.
All the events use the experience of Coventry's generations of Irish people to explore how historical and cultural influences affect people's lives.
| 听 |  | Masked performer in The Carnival
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The company's outreach programme at St Finbarr's Social Club includes St Finbarr's Youth Arts and Seanchara.
St Finbaar's is a group for young people of Irish descent who explore their cultural identity through the arts.
Free workshop sessions take place on Monday evenings at the club.
Seanchara is an adult community theatre group whose projects include skill building sessions and performances.
Regular workshops take place on Thursday evenings at St Finbarr's.
For more information or to join in either workshop, email Shaskeen using the address on the left.
Shaskeen's future is about expanding it's international links, looking for collaborations with communities who share a similar artistic vision.
| 听 | Kathi Leahy, Director
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Shaskeen has created five productions since 1994, merging enjoyable theatre with social awareness through song, dance, text, humour and live music.
The issues explored range from experiences of Irish women in Coventry in the 1950's, the 1916 uprising, family secrets and the perception of insanity.
Shaskeen also continues to be involved in carnivals and community theatre.
| 听 |  | The Wedding performance
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Kathi explained her commitment to Shaskeen, saying: "the audience should feel that they have participated in an event rather than being a passive spectator."
She explained this is what drives Shaskeen's vibrancy and that keeps it going.
Kathi Leahy's ambition suggests Shaskeen will continue to go from strength to strength, too.
She told us she was planning to take her Coventry roots world-wide: "Shaskeen's future is about expanding its international links, looking for communities who share a similar artistic vision: looking at our relationship to the wider world."
Kathi still has a strong presence in Coventry, too. Shaskeen co-produced Carnival 2002 with the Belgrade Theatre in August while they continued to work with the St Finbarrs and Seanchara programmes.
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