A series of performances and discussions exploring what it means to be a woman today.
SoloSIRENs Symposium - a day that unpacked, explored, and reflected upon the learning of the 2019 SoloSIRENs Festival.
We were delighted to bring you SoloSIRENs Symposium 2020. Participants heard the story of our 2019 festival, the experiences and reflections of audiences, artists and participants.
The symposium also explored the wider contexts of gender and diversity in the arts and society toady.
Welcome address by Jenny Macdonald, including a manifesto written for Smashing Times. Musical performance by Imogen Gunner.
Interview with Jenny Macdonald and Joe Salvatore (Director, Verbatim Performance Lab, NYU Steinhardt School). Jenny and Joe discuss the development of “Enthroned” and its influence on the development of SoloSIRENs Festival. Followed by Q&A.
Video: Audience reactions to SoloSIRENs Festival 2019 performances at The Civic, Tallaght.
SoloSIRENs Model, moderated by Courtney Helen Grile and SoloSIRENs Festival Audience Journey moderated by Kate Harris.
Jenny Macdonald and Jen Coppinger (Head of Producing, Abbey Theatre) discuss the impact of SoloSIRENs participation in the Abbey 5x5 initiative and the work of women in theatre today.
An energetic shake out!!
An academic response to SoloSIRENs Festival and model by Claire Keogh, PhD Candidate, Trinity College, Dublin. Followed by a response to Claire Keogh's paper by Melissa Sihra (Head of Drama, TCD) and Jane Daly (Irish Theatre Institute).
An exploration of women’s experiences in theatre and society framed within the context of discussions throughout the festival. Moderated by Sarah Fitzgibbon.
Dance performance by SoloSIRENs Collective Artist SuMaira Chady, music by Farah Elle. Videographer: Annette Barnaville-Fink.
SoloSIRENs mentees Michelle Henry and Martha Knight in conversation about the model of mentorship.
A discussion about other models of mentorship and how we develop female leadership. Moderated by Ailbhe Murphy. Followed by closing Q&A and activity.
Imogen Gunner is a performer, composer, educator and feminist activist. Alongside her lifelong work as a musician, she lectures, researches and campaigns on gender equality in the arts. She is a member of FairPlé, and regularly collaborates with Poetry Ireland’s Poet in Residence, Dr Catherine Ann Cullen. She is currently working on a bo
Imogen Gunner is a performer, composer, educator and feminist activist. Alongside her lifelong work as a musician, she lectures, researches and campaigns on gender equality in the arts. She is a member of FairPlé, and regularly collaborates with Poetry Ireland’s Poet in Residence, Dr Catherine Ann Cullen. She is currently working on a body of new compositions for performance with baroque orchestra and traditional musicians, and in October 2020 begins a one year Teaching Fellowship at the School of Arts and Cultures, Newcastle University, UK.
Jenny Macdonald is a director, facilitator, performer and writer. Her solo show Enthroned premiered at First Fortnight Festival and was then programmed in the New York International Fringe Festival. In Autumn, 2019, it opened the SoloSIRENs Festival at the Civic, Tallaght. She conceived and curated SoloSIRENs Festival to amplify women’s
Jenny Macdonald is a director, facilitator, performer and writer. Her solo show Enthroned premiered at First Fortnight Festival and was then programmed in the New York International Fringe Festival. In Autumn, 2019, it opened the SoloSIRENs Festival at the Civic, Tallaght. She conceived and curated SoloSIRENs Festival to amplify women’s voices on stage and beyond. Other recent credits include as director/performer This Was Never Going to Be Normal (Deirdre Murphy, Rebecca Reilly, Galway Theatre Festival); as director Can’t See the Woods for the Trees (Doors to Elsewhere Ensemble, Rua Red Gallery); as performer Capitalism: The Musical! by Deirdre Murphy (Galway Theatre Festival, XM24 and Next Emerson, Italy); and as director/facilitator Falling by SoloSIRENs Collective as part of Abbey Theatre 5 x 5 and SoloSIRENs Festival. She is an Associate Artist with Tallaght Community Arts and in this capacity directs “Cultural Competencies”, a series of trainings and events to facilitate networking and best practice in participatory arts. She is a mentor to Freshly Ground Theatre Company and served as dramaturg on their 2019 Dublin Fringe show Ode to a Postcode. She was supported by the Arts Council of Ireland to participate in Lead Role, a development programme for women artists run by Theatre Forum and Kultur Vast, Sweden and she is an alumnus of Dublin Theatre Festival’s artist development programme, The Next Stage. As a facilitator she has created and delivered programmes in Ireland and internationally for a huge range of organisations including: Abbey Theatre Community and Education, The Ark, The Hugh Lane Gallery, Liz Roche Company and Project Phakama UK. She is a tutor on New York University’s Masters in Community-Engaged Theatre and a guest lecturer in the Drama Department of Trinity College, Dublin.
Joe Salvatore directs NYU Steinhardt’s Verbatim Performance Lab and teaches courses in verbatim performance, ethnodrama, community-engaged theatre, and new play development. In 2017, Joe collaborated with economist Maria Guadalupe (INSEAD-France), to create Her Opponent, a verbatim re-staging of excerpts of the 2016 presidential debates w
Joe Salvatore directs NYU Steinhardt’s Verbatim Performance Lab and teaches courses in verbatim performance, ethnodrama, community-engaged theatre, and new play development. In 2017, Joe collaborated with economist Maria Guadalupe (INSEAD-France), to create Her Opponent, a verbatim re-staging of excerpts of the 2016 presidential debates with gender-reversed casting (nominated for an Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best Unique Theatrical Experience). Recent verbatim documentary theatre projects include Making Gay History: Before Stonewall, You Can’t Unring the Bell, and Portraits US: COVID-19.
Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA, Courtney Grile is an artist and researcher working in the field of drama studies. She has worked as a free-lance actor, teaching artist, socially-engaged facilitator, and director for a variety of theatre companies across the USA and in Dublin since 2006. Her current research takes place at the inte
Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA, Courtney Grile is an artist and researcher working in the field of drama studies. She has worked as a free-lance actor, teaching artist, socially-engaged facilitator, and director for a variety of theatre companies across the USA and in Dublin since 2006. Her current research takes place at the intersection of applied drama and political science, responding to the current global crisis of democracy. She holds a BFA in Media and Performing Arts from the Savannah College of Art & Design and an MFA in Theatre with an emphasis in Theatre for Young Audiences from the University of Central Florida.
I am a librarian, author, speaker, relationship coach who loves to learn new things and have fun. I enjoy listening to people's stories and finding the connections and strengths of what binds us together. I'm on a mission to expand our capacity for self love and growing loving interactions.
I am a writer, speaker, storyteller and healer and I incorporate all my work into making our environment joyful and peaceful and healing. I am funny, considerate and I always try to share what I have, what I know and what I appreciates with anyone willing to receive.
SuMaira Chady performed in SoloSIRENs show 'Falling' and fell in love with acting and dancing. She is also currently a student of fashion design, and hoping for a bright future. SuMaira was born in Mauritius and came to live in Ireland with her family when she was twelve.
I have danced since I was 4 years old. Two years ago, I reconnected with performance on the Active Audience programme led by Jenny Macdonald with Civic Theatre and Tallaght Community Arts. This helped me rediscover my performance and creativity as an adult.
I have been singing since I was 9 years old and I went on to study singing and drama in DIT. For the past 30 years I have worked in the financial sector while also teaching choirs and performing in musical theatre. Last April I left my full time job and now hope to fulfil my lifetime wish to make music and singing my full time career.
Ciara has worked many different jobs during her theatre career. Starting off doing makeup for a
community theatre group, she has gone on to do directing, stage manager, lighting designer,
sound designer and set designer. Ciara has won multiple awards for her work including best
director, best play and stage management. Ciara has worked with
Ciara has worked many different jobs during her theatre career. Starting off doing makeup for a
community theatre group, she has gone on to do directing, stage manager, lighting designer,
sound designer and set designer. Ciara has won multiple awards for her work including best
director, best play and stage management. Ciara has worked with many production companies
including Speckintime, Mouth On Fire, Witchwork, Game Theory and Minds Eye Theatre
Company and was part of the tech crew for a production of 'All That Fall' which was performed in
the Áras an Uachtaráin for President Michael D. Higgins and was the LD for the sold out show
“Two Minutes” by Breda McCann.
Nicole is a freelance performer, writer, workshop facilitator and tutor. She trained in theatre and facilitation in the Middle East and has performed with many theatre companies in Ireland and abroad, as well as solo performances of original work for theatre/spoken word. In 2018, Nicole premiered her spoken word collection, ‘Tea or Gin &
Nicole is a freelance performer, writer, workshop facilitator and tutor. She trained in theatre and facilitation in the Middle East and has performed with many theatre companies in Ireland and abroad, as well as solo performances of original work for theatre/spoken word. In 2018, Nicole premiered her spoken word collection, ‘Tea or Gin & other stories’ in New York and Berlin and toured festivals throughout Ireland. She co-wrote and performed in a spoken word theatre production entitled ‘Raven & The Crone’ which premiered at the International First Fortnight festival in Dublin in January 2019. Most recently, Nicole premiered her solo play, ‘Baggage’, which was written for and presented by the SoloSIRENS festival at The Civic Theatre. Nicole is an associate artist at Axis theatre currently developing a new piece of work, working title WHAT?, which investigates hearing loss in the female line of her family. Her proposal for this piece was awarded an Axis Playground disability award in June 2020. Outside of performance, Nicole is a highly experienced facilitator in the field of creativity. She is co-director oF Big Smoke Writing Factory - http://bigsmokewritingfactory.com/
In 2007, Jacinta co- founded the company Wicked Angels and went on to co-write, co-produce and act in the box office hit Waiting for IKEA for the Dublin Fringe Festival. Waiting for IKEA was the first play in the history of the Fringe to sell out in advance of opening. The play went on to tour Ireland and the UK for the next five years se
In 2007, Jacinta co- founded the company Wicked Angels and went on to co-write, co-produce and act in the box office hit Waiting for IKEA for the Dublin Fringe Festival. Waiting for IKEA was the first play in the history of the Fringe to sell out in advance of opening. The play went on to tour Ireland and the UK for the next five years selling out at every venue. In 2014, Waiting for IKEA premiered in the First Irish Theatre Festival in New York where it was very well received. I’m not A.D.H.D, I’m B.O.L.D!, co- written with Georgina McKevitt, directed by Veronica Coburn and performed by Jacinta Sheerin and Clare Barratt opened in the Absolut Fringe Festival 2012 where it was nominated for and won the Bewleys Little Gem Award. Jacinta’s most recent credits include Fair City, Red Rock and last year she toured Ireland for ten weeks with Eoin Colfers, Holy Mary, starring Jacinta Sheerin and Mary Murray.
Kate Harris is a theatre maker, drama facilitator, and activist. She specializes in theatre provocations that challenge the line between audience and community and provide a framework to engage marginalized communities and seasoned theatre goers alike in combating social exclusion. Kate makes theatre in partnership with artists and a wide
Kate Harris is a theatre maker, drama facilitator, and activist. She specializes in theatre provocations that challenge the line between audience and community and provide a framework to engage marginalized communities and seasoned theatre goers alike in combating social exclusion. Kate makes theatre in partnership with artists and a wide range of community groups to create dialogue around complex social issues. Kate has worked with Smashing Barriers: Drama Collective since 201
Ashley is a 2nd year journalism student in the Technological University Dublin. She has a heavy background in the arts, having past worked with NOISE Flicks film festival Her International Film festival, Tallaght Community Arts, Carousel Theatre School and Tallaght Young Filmmakers. Ashley is also the Co-Founder and Head of the Writers D
Ashley is a 2nd year journalism student in the Technological University Dublin. She has a heavy background in the arts, having past worked with NOISE Flicks film festival Her International Film festival, Tallaght Community Arts, Carousel Theatre School and Tallaght Young Filmmakers. Ashley is also the Co-Founder and Head of the Writers Department for The GALPAL Collective; and arts and media publication dedicated to the creation and celebration of art by young queer folk, women and people of colour.
Vlad is a facilitator, theatre maker and co-director/founder of Freshly Ground Theatre, based in Tallaght. He holds a B.A in Anthropology (Maynooth University) and M.A in Theatre
Practice (University College Dublin/ Gaiety School of Acting), two passions he interweaves in making accessible, engaging and socially reflective work that encour
Vlad is a facilitator, theatre maker and co-director/founder of Freshly Ground Theatre, based in Tallaght. He holds a B.A in Anthropology (Maynooth University) and M.A in Theatre
Practice (University College Dublin/ Gaiety School of Acting), two passions he interweaves in making accessible, engaging and socially reflective work that encourages action towards a better future. Vlad has collaborated with Tallaght Community Arts (TCA) numerous times, including in the annual Unwrapped festival as well as multiple international arts exchanges
(London, Coimbra, New York). He recently represented TCA as Irish Delegate Artist in Belgium as part of Victoria Deluxe’s international The Art of Organising Hope (2019) project. Recent credits include director/performer in Play Apart as part of Crunniú na nÓg arts festival (Freshly Ground Theatre); performer/devising team in Ode to a Postcode (Freshly Ground Theatre, Dublin Fringe Festival 2019); performer/facilitator in Playhouse
(Freshly Ground Theatre, Crunniú na nÓg). Can be found playing guitar occasionally.
Phil Kingston worked as an actor, scriptwriter, playwright and facilitator before becoming the Abbey Theatre’s Community and Education manager in 2011. He designs and delivers a wide range of projects with schools and community groups. He has particular interest in applied drama and theatre for young audiences.
Alita Rivero is a language instructor and interpreter, a yoga teacher and student. Originally from Argentina, she is one of the founding members of a Latinamerican feminist collective in Dublin formed two years ago. Alita has also been volunteering for 9 years to the Dublin Cycling Campaign, as newsletter editor, and has been part of events and workshops for Children in Crossfire and RAMSI.
Jennifer Webster is a producer and facilitator. She has worked as an Associate Artist with Tallaght Community Arts for over nine years. She conceived and directs ACT UP! Festival of theatre directed and performed by young people. Her work as producer includes SoloSIRENs Festival, Where in this World, The Great Rope of Tallaght, Gaza Mon
Jennifer Webster is a producer and facilitator. She has worked as an Associate Artist with Tallaght Community Arts for over nine years. She conceived and directs ACT UP! Festival of theatre directed and performed by young people. Her work as producer includes SoloSIRENs Festival, Where in this World, The Great Rope of Tallaght, Gaza Monologues, Aeridheacht -Taking the Air, and Creative Campus. She has also produced international exchanges for young people from South Dublin County with the Masters School, New York and OTeatrao, Coimbra, Portugal. For the Arts Council, she produced Shukuma Mzansi, a visit of South African participatory theatremakers to Ireland in 2018. In 2019, she was a delegate on Voices of Culture: Gender Equality with the European Commission. She set up Carousel Theatre School based in RUA RED in 2010 and continues to direct and teach on the programme. She is a theatre artist with Doors to Elsewhere, a theatre ensemble for adults with a disability. She is a guest tutor with the New York University Masters programme in Community-Engaged Theatre.
Jen Coppinger joined the Abbey Theatre as Head of Producing in January 2018. She produces the shows that are performed both at the Abbey Theatre, on its Abbey and Peacock stages, as well as touring shows out of the Abbey. She also fosters the relationships that lead to the co-production of work and is responsible for new theatre work, to
Jen Coppinger joined the Abbey Theatre as Head of Producing in January 2018. She produces the shows that are performed both at the Abbey Theatre, on its Abbey and Peacock stages, as well as touring shows out of the Abbey. She also fosters the relationships that lead to the co-production of work and is responsible for new theatre work, touring work and productions of existing plays. Previously she worked as Producer for HotForTheatre, TheEmergencyRoom and United Fall as well as with independent artists such as Kevin Barry, Paul Curley, Kellie Hughes, Jody O’Neill, Shane O’Reilly, Raymond Scannell and Dylan Tighe. She has toured work extensively in Ireland and internationally. She was Project Manager for the Laureate for Irish Fiction (Anne Enright 2015-2018) for the Arts Council of Ireland and was Manager of Rough Magic SEEDS. She is Chairperson of United Fall. Jen is an Artist Research Fellow at Queen Mary University of London.
Patricia Bas, Certified and Practicing Dance and Movement Therapist by Río Abierto. She holds a B.A. (Hons) in Sociology and is currently studying Psychology. She is an experienced group facilitator able to create a comfortable and non-judgemental environment for the attendees to let go of conditioning and to express themselves freely. P
Patricia Bas, Certified and Practicing Dance and Movement Therapist by Río Abierto. She holds a B.A. (Hons) in Sociology and is currently studying Psychology. She is an experienced group facilitator able to create a comfortable and non-judgemental environment for the attendees to let go of conditioning and to express themselves freely. Patricia has experience working with teenagers and adults in the area of mental health, disability and ASD. Patricia’s sensitivity enables her to assess the group giving an immediate and individualised answer to its needs. Creativity is the base of her work and many tools are used to develop it: dramatisation, movement, drawing, writing, voice liberation, massage and relaxation. Her inner personal work is translated in an understanding of human condition giving a loving, gentle and joyful approach to her workshops. www.expressive-dance.
Claire Keogh is a PhD candidate in the School of Creative Arts at Trinity College Dublin. Funded by the Irish Research Council, her thesis investigates the relationship between unconscious bias, feminist dramaturgies and location of production of Irish plays by women before and after #WakingTheFeminists. Claire previously worked as edito
Claire Keogh is a PhD candidate in the School of Creative Arts at Trinity College Dublin. Funded by the Irish Research Council, her thesis investigates the relationship between unconscious bias, feminist dramaturgies and location of production of Irish plays by women before and after #WakingTheFeminists. Claire previously worked as editor of the PLAYOGRAPHYIreland database for Irish Theatre Institute.Say something interesting about your business here.
Irish Theatre Institute (ITI), is a resource organisation that nurtures, promotes and drives the ambition of Irish theatre makers and Irish theatre, from its grassroots beginnings to its presentation on the world stage. They seek to maximise creative opportunities and resources for performing artists and producers across theatre and dance in all Ireland and international contexts.
Head of Drama at Trinity College Dublin and Associate Professor. Scholar of Irish theatre with specialism in women in performance and feminist historiography. Dramaturg and teacher of Playwriting. Author of 'Marina Carr: Pastures of the Unknown', editor of 'Women in Irish Drama: A Century of Authorship and Representation.' Former Presiden
Head of Drama at Trinity College Dublin and Associate Professor. Scholar of Irish theatre with specialism in women in performance and feminist historiography. Dramaturg and teacher of Playwriting. Author of 'Marina Carr: Pastures of the Unknown', editor of 'Women in Irish Drama: A Century of Authorship and Representation.' Former President of the Irish Society for Theatre Research. Currently writing a book on the life and works of Lady Augusta Gregory. Give customers a reason to do business with you.
Sarah FitzGibbon is a freelance educational drama practitioner and participatory theatre maker with over 28 years of professional experience across youth theatre, theatre for young audiences and integrated theatre practice. She is a regular collaborator with The Abbey Theatre on their Priming the Canon programme since 2011 and an artist
Sarah FitzGibbon is a freelance educational drama practitioner and participatory theatre maker with over 28 years of professional experience across youth theatre, theatre for young audiences and integrated theatre practice. She is a regular collaborator with The Abbey Theatre on their Priming the Canon programme since 2011 and an artist in association with Puca Puppets, Acting Up and Smashing Barrier Theatre Collective. In 2019 she completed a MA SEAFE in NCAD focusing on Integrated theatre practice and was appointed to the teaching staff in TU Dublin Conservatoire and School of Social Science in January 2020. As an educational drama facilitator, she and her collaborator Joanna Parkes developed two publications Step by Step Educational Drama (2006) and Step by Step Together (2009) through their engagement on Dublin City Council’s Educational Drama programme which ran for about 10 years. She is a Creative Associate on the Creative Schools Programme, a founding member of Mother Artists Makers and a board member of Tallaght Community Arts.
Veronica Coburn is a Civic Theatre Associate Artist with a particular interest in participation & play. She is Programme Director of Tenderfoot, The Civic’s apprentice theatre programme for transition year students. Tenderfoot provides young people in South County Dublin with the opportunity to learn about theatre by making theatre. Vero
Veronica Coburn is a Civic Theatre Associate Artist with a particular interest in participation & play. She is Programme Director of Tenderfoot, The Civic’s apprentice theatre programme for transition year students. Tenderfoot provides young people in South County Dublin with the opportunity to learn about theatre by making theatre. Veronica has a rich association with Draíocht Arts Centre acting as Artistic Director for HOME THEATRE (Ireland) which saw the work of 30 leading playwrights performed in homes across Dublin 15. As resident artist in Draíocht 2013 - 2015 she explored the role of clown in community practice through Hallelujah! A Community Clown Choir which culminated in a theatrical piece inspired by Alessandro Barrico's 'Novecento'. Veronica was recipient of a public art commission for South Dublin County Council. The final spoken and sung choral performance, Ghost Hares, was performed in The Civic. Veronica currently acts as Artistic Director of Youth Theatre Ireland's National Youth Theatre Programme directing its 2019 production of Dylan Coburn Gray's 'Ask Too Much Of Me'. In that role she is responsible for the development of ARTiculate, Youth Theatre Ireland's National Playwriting Programme for young adults. Veronica is the author of Clown Through Mask - The Pioneering Work of Richard Pochinko As Practised By Sue Morrison, written in collaboration with Sue Morrison it is published by Intellect Press.
Deirdre has performed in theatres throughout Ireland and the UK and has directed numerous award winning pieces of new writing including Phillip McMahon's Danny and Chantelle (still here), THISISPOPBABY's first show. She has produced tours of award winning shows nationwide and worldwide with RIOT. Deirdre also works behind the scenes on a
Deirdre has performed in theatres throughout Ireland and the UK and has directed numerous award winning pieces of new writing including Phillip McMahon's Danny and Chantelle (still here), THISISPOPBABY's first show. She has produced tours of award winning shows nationwide and worldwide with RIOT. Deirdre also works behind the scenes on all of Ireland's major festivals. She will be directing a new show, WELCOME TO IRELAND - Meltdown of an Irish Tour Guide, to be presented in Dublin in Spring 2021.
My name is Sarah Devlin Sinnott, I am 18 years old. I am a student in Trinity College Dublin and I am studying a joint honours in Ancient History and Archaeology with the History of Art and Architecture. I attended all of the SoloSIRENS Festival performances last year and saw the amazing work by this collective. I have worked with Tallag
My name is Sarah Devlin Sinnott, I am 18 years old. I am a student in Trinity College Dublin and I am studying a joint honours in Ancient History and Archaeology with the History of Art and Architecture. I attended all of the SoloSIRENS Festival performances last year and saw the amazing work by this collective. I have worked with Tallaght Community Arts and I was a student of Carousel Theatre School for a number of years. I was raised with the arts, its a huge part of my life and it continues to be an important part of my life today.
Sarah Jane Scaife, Artistic Director of Company SJ, Assistant Professor Trinity
College Dublin, researches and directs the work of Samuel Beckett both nationally and internationally. She has conducted two main research projects: Beckett in
Asia (2002-2006) where she directed and researched with actors in Georgia,
Mongolia, India, Singapore,
Sarah Jane Scaife, Artistic Director of Company SJ, Assistant Professor Trinity
College Dublin, researches and directs the work of Samuel Beckett both nationally and internationally. She has conducted two main research projects: Beckett in
Asia (2002-2006) where she directed and researched with actors in Georgia,
Mongolia, India, Singapore, Malaysia, China and Greece; Beckett in the City (2009-2016) which set out to place side-by-side the socio-historic wounds of Ireland’s past with the current social tensions within the city itself, utilising the writing of Samuel
Beckett in interaction with the social and architectural spaces of Dublin. She has
worked with women from many different ethnic and social backgrounds using the
texts of Beckett’s plays as a point of communication and departure, her
production Beckett in the City: The Women Speak was inspired from this work. In 2018 she presented Samuel Beckett’s prose piece, Company, for the Dublin Theatre Festival where it was extremely well received critically and by audiences. company- sj.com
Michelle Henry is a theatre maker and facilitator based in Tallaght. She is an artist in Freshly Ground Theatre, who are currently the emerging ensemble in residence at The Civic. She has a an interest in directing particularly working with youth and community groups. Recent directing credits include “Play Apart” (Cruinniú na nÓg 2020,
Michelle Henry is a theatre maker and facilitator based in Tallaght. She is an artist in Freshly Ground Theatre, who are currently the emerging ensemble in residence at The Civic. She has a an interest in directing particularly working with youth and community groups. Recent directing credits include “Play Apart” (Cruinniú na nÓg 2020, Freshly Ground) and “Ode to a Postcode” Dublin Fringe 2019, Freshly Ground). Michelle was delighted with the opportunity to assist direct “Falling” in the SoloSIRENs festival.
Martha Knight is a theatremaker, creative producer, sound designer and composer from Tallaght. She is the co-director of Freshly Ground Theatre, currently the Emerging Ensemble in Residence at the Civic. Her recent credits include programming a two-week festival on the Peacock stage with the Abbey’s Young Curators programme, directing co
Martha Knight is a theatremaker, creative producer, sound designer and composer from Tallaght. She is the co-director of Freshly Ground Theatre, currently the Emerging Ensemble in Residence at the Civic. Her recent credits include programming a two-week festival on the Peacock stage with the Abbey’s Young Curators programme, directing contemporary devised opera Supermoon in the Samuel Beckett Theatre, and creating and performing Ode to a Postcode at Dublin Fringe 2019, which went on to be nominated for a Fringe Award for Best Ensemble. She is currently in the development stage of a new app, At the Very Beginning, which incorporates sound, theatre and play for ages 7+ in collaboration with the Civic’s Ready Steady Show! Festival. She has been working with SoloSIRENs as emerging producer since their time in the Abbey’s 5x5 programme.
Ailbhe is responsible for core programming and strategic and organisational development and partnerships, nationally and internationally. Prior to taking up her appointment as Director of Create, as an artist she has worked in a wide range of situated projects as part of the interdisciplinary art and research platform Vagabond Reviews. Ai
Ailbhe is responsible for core programming and strategic and organisational development and partnerships, nationally and internationally. Prior to taking up her appointment as Director of Create, as an artist she has worked in a wide range of situated projects as part of the interdisciplinary art and research platform Vagabond Reviews. Ailbhe holds a BA in Fine Art from the National College of Art and Design and she was awarded her doctorate from the University of Ulster in 2011.
Mary Moynihan is an award-winning writer, director, theatre and film-maker, Artistic Director of Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality, and a Theatre Lecturer at the TU
Dublin Conservatoire. As Artistic Director of Smashing Times, Mary specialises in using interdisciplinary arts practice to promote human rights, pea
Mary Moynihan is an award-winning writer, director, theatre and film-maker, Artistic Director of Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality, and a Theatre Lecturer at the TU
Dublin Conservatoire. As Artistic Director of Smashing Times, Mary specialises in using interdisciplinary arts practice to promote human rights, peace building, gender equality and positive mental health, developing cutting edge arts-based projects with a range of organisations in Ireland, Northern Ireland and across Europe. Award-winning projects include Acting for the Future, which uses theatre to promote positive mental health and well-being, run in partnership with the Samaritans, and the highly successful Women War and Peace, using theatre and film to promote equality and peace. As playwright and theatre director, Mary’s work includes the highly acclaimed The Woman is Present: Women’s Stories of WWII co- written with Paul Kennedy, Fiona Bawn Thompson, and Féilim James; In One Breath from Testimonies and Constance and Her Friends, selected by President Michael D. Higgins for performance at Áras an Uachtaráin for Culture Night 2016. Mary’s film work includes the hour-long television documentary Stories from the Shadows, the short film Tell Them Our Names, inspired by women’s stories of WWII and selected for the London Eye International Film Festival and the Kerry Film Festival, the creative documentary Women in an Equal Europe and a new short film Courageous Women inspired by women’s stories from the 1916 to 1923 period in Irish history. Mary has worked extensively in Northern Ireland using the arts to promote peace building, reconciliation and positive community relations. Mary is artistic curator for the Dublin Arts and Human Rights festival. The 2020 festival runs from Friday 16 to Sunday 25 October and is presented by Smashing Times and Front Line Defenders in partnership with Amnesty International, Fighting Words, ICCL, NWCI, & Trócaire. The aim of the festival is to showcase and highlight the extraordinary work of human rights defenders in Ireland and around the world, past and present, and the role of the arts and artists in promoting human rights today. We are creating on line a dedicated virtual space to share, celebrate, remember and promote the arts for human rights. We want to bring together artists, activists, communities, citizens, families and all those interested in using the arts to promote and celebrate human rights and equality for all. Creative partners include John Scott Dance, Poetry Ireland, dlr Mill Theatre, Dundrum, TheatreMaker.ie, Company SJ and Trinity College Dublin. The theme for the 2020 festival is hope, courage and resilience celebrating human rights and linking the arts to civil society, active citizenship and politics through a series of inter-disciplinary performances, film screenings, documentaries, theatre, music, dance, visual and digital art, poetry, literature, historical memory, discussions and arts-based workshops, featuring Irish and international artists and guest speakers celebrating and promoting dignity and respect for all people equally.
Maria joined Dublin Theatre Festival in 2018 as General Manager. As Theatre Programmer at The Ark Maria curated the Family Season at Dublin Theatre Festival from 2012 to 2017. She was Special Events Co-ordinator in 2010 and 2011 where she particularly enjoyed hosting post show discussions. Maria has over 20 years' experience working as a
Maria joined Dublin Theatre Festival in 2018 as General Manager. As Theatre Programmer at The Ark Maria curated the Family Season at Dublin Theatre Festival from 2012 to 2017. She was Special Events Co-ordinator in 2010 and 2011 where she particularly enjoyed hosting post show discussions. Maria has over 20 years' experience working as a general manager, producer, programmer and arts consultant with Ireland’s leading companies and theatre artists, including Barabbas, Druid Theatre Company, Hot For Theatre, Donal O’Kelly Productions and Irish Modern Dance Theatre. Maria is passionate about social justice and in 2017 travelled twice to the island of Chios in Greece to volunteer with refugee support group CESRT (Chios Eastern Shore Response Team).
Farah Elle is a progressive Artist / Musician based in Dublin, whose distinctive voice reveals something of the beauty in the ephemeral everyday. Farah has eclectic influences, rich in Libyan echoes from her North African background. Her ethos as an Artist is to actively value the power of music and language as tools for progress and heal
Farah Elle is a progressive Artist / Musician based in Dublin, whose distinctive voice reveals something of the beauty in the ephemeral everyday. Farah has eclectic influences, rich in Libyan echoes from her North African background. Her ethos as an Artist is to actively value the power of music and language as tools for progress and healing. Farah also holds music & wellness workshops to encourage people of all creeds to creatively express themselves and celebrate their identities. In the meantime, Farah Elle’s debut album 'FATIMA', named after her mother; is due for release in 2020. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube for more.
Long Room Associate Claire Keogh delivered her academic response to
SoloSIRENs Festival 2019. Her response investigated the relationship between unconscious bias, feminist dramaturgies and location of production of Irish plays by women before and after #Waking the Feminists.
Here are some details on Claire's paper:
biog
We tell one story to remember all the stories - Enthroned by Jenny Macdonald
The reciprocal sharing of personal memories has been found to be a distinctive feature of conversations among all-female friendship groups. This talk will explore the role of memory and mirroring in forging connections between artists and audiences throughout the SoloSIRENs festival. It will consider how connected bodies and connected brains created bonds of empathy through repeated meetings of the same women in the same space.
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