Day 3- The senses

One day here feels like three days. Our schedules are very busy with most hours in the day filled up with activities and workshops. It's exhausting, but it's also incredible. I've never been in such a creative space before and I am going to try and cherish every moment of it, hence the blog.
I may even come home barefoot with dreadlocks...

This morning was the group performances we had prepared the night before. What was exciting was that each group produced something entirely different from one other.One group directed us to go outside, and place stones into a plastic bag:

Another group created their own cartoon and used projections:

Some of us made films and all of us explored how our judgements and our reality can conflict:

Space Touch Taste Sound Smell    

The 5 senses were our focus for the series of workshops we did today. They were all different from any workshop I had done before,very experimental and fun!

• We began with the Space Workshop where we did a lot of dance and freestyle. Anyone who knows me knows that dancing is my ultimate fear, especially freestyle. Today for some reason I found it easy to let go and it was great to see everyone dance around the room energetically. You could also tell a lot about people's personalities from the way they moved! 
• My favourite of the workshops was the Touch Workshop. The space we were working in felt safe so it was easy to be spontaneous and act on impulse. The main part of the workshop was getting in a group of three and taking turns at being the traveller who goes on a "trip" through music and movement. It was a great opportunity to just let go and be in the moment. As well as that, we did massage and cradling another person.
• I have come to the conclusion that tasting something while blindfolded is a completely different experience to tasting with your eyes open. In our Taste Workshop we had an indoor picnic in pairs, where each of us fed food to the other person while they were blindfolded. Some foods taste delicious while blindfolded: Sprinkles, Apple, Cheese, Peanuts. Some taste disgusting while blindfolded: Ham, Garlic, Marmalade. Some just take disgusting full stop: Toothpaste.
• In our Sound Workshop we tried to make a sound dome while some people observed the vibrations with balloons in the middle of the circle. We also sang.
• When I was a child I squashed flowers, mixed them with water and called them perfume. Today in our Smell Workshop, we made our own real perfume by mixing oil and different fragrances like jasmine, rosemary, tea tree etc. Our perfume was supposed to represent our personality. Mine smelled sweet so I guess I failed.

Dinner is a pretty mundane event... Not in Olde Vechte it's not! Even our meal tonight was a surprise. Initially I couldn't understand why there was no cutlery on the table when we went to eat.
"Tonight" we were told, "you shall eat like Medieval's."
In simple language: "You have to eat with your hands." 

With the theme of judgement vs reality in mind, I would like to point out that although you may judge the appearance of this meal, the reality is that is was absolutely delicious.






Games and the craic are essential. Yes, we are here to learn, to create, to make art, but we are also here to have fun. Tonight, we had a surprise Tribal Party, organised by the mysterious leaders who usually have serious, solemn faces. It was nice to see them dressed in costume and dancing around the room.

Although my tribe lost the challenge, I discovered something great: I can do a slick schizophrenic chicken. 
There is no photographic evidence of this I'm afraid, which is a real shame because it really was something special.

Tomorrow is a new day. I don't know what to expect, I never know what to expect. Everything we do here is a complete surprise which makes every hour exciting.

And on that cheesy line, I shall bid the world goodnight (Because obviously the whole world is reading this blog...)


Fin x

Day 2- Judgement

What a day! 

First of all, if nothing else inspires me on this trip, the surroundings of the Olde Vechte building will. This morning myself Meadhbh and Joe ran around the forest beside the house and I felt like I was a child again, on a special adventure.There's a massive circle-shaped wall built out of twigs which fairies obviously build and the ice-covered lake is quite clearly enchanted.

Our training today consisted of many things, all of which I shall not share because they were top top secret. I will however admit that we admired our favourite shoes in the room, slapped people's asses, transformed chairs into anything and everything, and of course a round of spontaneous dance with a buddy that we will have for the rest of the trip. Also, it wouldn't be a workshop if there wasn't a round of the good old fashioned filling the space.  

The Talent Show was interesting. I heard people singing in Czech, I helped write a story, I watched interesting monologues, I observed someone drink a glass of water over and over again and I watched someone flip over two bodies. Two seconds into my song I instantly regretted my decision to sing. Why did I sing?!?! It's times like this you just wish you had a time machine. 

Trust: An exercise that was interesting was walking around the space and telling people whether we trust them or not. One of those moments where you need to make a decision whether honesty is the best policy. I decided that it was but I might have no friends for the rest of the trip....I had to tell someone in the room that I thought they were the most attractive person here, so I'll have one friend I suppose. 

15 minutes were spent alone, writing continuously, making note of anything you observed in your surroundings. We then discussed this in relation to the most common trait in humans which is to judge one another. This evening we were given two assignments to have done for tomorrow. One is a group piece of art based on judgement vs reality where we can mix different art forms. Initially, slight creativity clash. I suppose it's expected in an environment where everyone is from different cultures and different creative backgrounds. That's what's interesting and exciting. We worked until 2 in the morning together and I am proud to say that our piece is now ready for tomorrow. Win win win.

Other fun facts of the day is that the Romanians are very similar to the Irish and serious craic, I am the youngest on the programme, the Olde Vechte are a "non profit" organisation because they're not skilled enough to be a profit organisation and breakfast and lunch are the same thing in Holland.

And on that happy happy note, I leave you with this little gem which is on the wall in the hall:

http://wonder2stories.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/poster-mix1.jpg

Fin x

Day 1- Arrival

The house is falling apart, the food is disgusting, the people are boring and I'm sorry I came. 

That was a joke because I'm hilarious. 

So far, Holland is fantastic.  

1.There's snow:

2.Trains have TWO storeys here. Who knew?

3.We shall be performing in Amsterdam. WIN.

4. The Irish people are the craic: Meadhbh Haiceid, Joe Quinn (who is a female) and Eszter Nemethi. We're already chums. Seeee:

The house is beautiful with two lakes outside, that we may or may not attempt to ice-skate on. Objective 1 of the trip is to come home with no broken limbs so perhaps ice-skating is ruled out. There are inspirational quotes all over the house, which as sappy as it sounds, is actually lovely.

Tomorrow we start the training. Many assumptions and expectations have been conjured today on our travels, some which include nipple tassles, tree-house building and perhaps a session of basket weaving.

I'm looking forward to being inspired.

Fin x

The adventure starts tomorrow...

Tomorrow I am shall venture to Holland to take part in the Wonderous Stories Project in Ommen. This is a 2 week intensive programme of Theatre, Dance, Media and Music, exploring the theme of Xenophobia through workshops, discussions and performances. Along with another 45 Europeans, I will be staying in this little humble abode:

Depending on how much spare time I have, I am hoping to keep a day to day blog, documenting the whole experience of the programme.

I am scared. I am nervous. I am unprepared but I am excited.

Fin x

Wonderous Stories: http://wonder2stories.com/

Makeshift Ensemble: http://makeshiftensemble.com/index.php/2012/02/08/the-story-begins/

Hello and Happy 2012!

I started this Blog in 2011 because I saw a play I liked and felt overwhelmed to write about it. That was it. Today, for some reason, I felt a sudden urge to return to this blog and I have to admit, I'm pretty disappointed with my lack of activity.There are so many fantastic performances (and also shocking performances) that I could have vented about and never did. Ah well. 2012 is a new year. But before I move on, I want to look back.

Here are a few unforgettable productions from this year:

Misterman- Enda Walsh and Cillian Murphy
The Year of Magical Wanking- THISISPOPBABY 
The Blue Boy- Brokentalkers
Man of Valour- The Corn Exchange
All that Fall- Pan Pan Theatre
Crave- Players, Trinity
The New Electric Ballroom- Directors option, Samuel Beckett Theatre




Plays I so very much regret not seeing:

Laundry
Trade


Plays I am very much looking forward to seeing:

I <3 Alice <3
Big Maggie
Silent
King Lear
Fishamble Tiny Plays




On that note

Dublin Area Rapid Transit

-The moment of pause is usually a moment where Grace is considering changing seats/thinking/reflecting.


This scene is set on the Northbound Dart. It is  6.30pm in October. A 15 year old schoolgirl Grace gets on, lugging a large, heavy school bag and a sports bag. She is dressed in a uniform and is quite innocent looking. She comes from a middleclass background. Sitting down, she instantly regrets it. Opposite her is Doug, a man in his late 20s with a rough, haggard face. He wears a pair of grey tracksuit bottoms, a white jumper and a cap. He is drinking a can of Dutch Gold. He is drunk. There is no one else sitting near them. Grace looks out the window.

Doug: Did ya have a good Halloween chicken?

(Slight Pause)

Grace: Yeah.

Doug: Where do you go to school?

(Slight Pause)

Grace: Coláiste Íosagáin.

Doug: I never went to school. Only primary school.

(Pause)

Grace: Why?

Doug: My da died.

(Silence)

Doug: I’ve been drinking every day for 2 years yano?

Grace: Why?

Doug: Found me girlfriend dead in a hotel room. Blood comin’ out of her mouth.

(Pause)

Doug: Cocaine overdose.

Grace: Oh…

Doug: I was thumping her chest and smackin’ her across the face. Her da thought it was me that killed her. Thought I’d beaten her to death. I didn’t though. She was a junkie. Loved the stuff.

(Pause)

Doug: Got a girl pregnant when I was 15. She was 14. I was fucking shocked I was.
 I just stuck it in her, took it out and the next thing ya know I’m having a fucking baby. Waaaaaa!

(Grace giggles slightly)

Doug: Here, now I want your honest opinion. What do ya think of me jumper? Cause I never wore it cause it was cheap and I get all self conscious wearin’ horrible clothes.

Grace: It’s fine, yeah.

Doug: My girlfriend now, she was raped by her brother from a very young age. That’s why I went out with her really, I felt sorry for her. She done the dirt on me three times already though.

Grace: Oh.

Doug: She’s a fuckin’ scumbag. Doesn’t fuckin’ wash and wears horrible clothes. Done the dirt on me with me two mates I met in jail.

Grace: Jail?

Doug: Now, I’m not a millionaire love but I do like to take some pride in my appearance. I was an armed bank robber before. But not anymore! Does that scare you?

Grace: No.

Doug: I bought me girlfriend a nice outfit to wear to the funeral of her child but the poxy bitch didn’t even shower before she put it on. She was half an hour late to her own kid’s funeral!

(Pause)

Doug: What age are you?

Grace: 15.

Doug: I’m gonna give you some advice…Don’t have a long term relationship when you’re young. They’re not worth it. If you want a shag, have a shag, no strings attached. But don’t have a long term relationship.

Grace: Fine.

Doug: But don’t let anyone pressure you

Grace: Ok.

Doug: Can I ask you a personal question?

(Pause)

Doug: Have you had sex before?

Grace: No.

Doug: Well don’t be pressured into it.

Grace: I won’t.

Doug: You have your head screwed on.

(Grace smiles)

Doug (taking off his hat): Does my hair look ok?

Grace: It looks fine.


The dart pulls to a stop at Raheny. Grace stands up.

Grace: This is my stop so I better go.

Doug: Take care, chicken. And take my advice, don’t be pressured.


Grace leaves. Doors close. Doug takes a drink of his Dutch.

Juno and the Paycock Review- Dublin Theatre Festival 2011

Juno and the Paycock is one of O’Casey’s most highly regarded plays. Set in the Dublin tenements during the Civil War in 1922 and 1923, this play gave voice to the Irish sufferers, the poverty-stricken families and those who felt betrayed by their country.

The play was first produced  in the Abbey Theatre in 1924 in response to social problems of the time. Its return as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival nearly a century later felt like an important historic event to attend,  ironically in a time where history seems to be somewhat repeating itself. Captain Boyle, played by Ciarán Hinds states that “Th’ whole worl’s in a terrible state o’ chassis!”. In a similar time of hardship and deterioration, Howard Davies’s production of the tragi-comedy should have resonated with its audience. While there was a lot of merit in this co-production between the Abbey Theatre and the National Theatre of Great Britain, my overall response was one of disappointment

Fortune can be lost as quickly as it is gained as is mirrored in the changing fortunes of the Boyle family. While Captain Jack Boyle, played by Ciarán Hinds, is a pathetic excuse of a man, who drinks consistently alongside his accomplice Joxer Daly, Juno Boyle, played by Sinéad Cusack, is a stern, hard-working woman who selflessly attempts to hold her family together in their constant struggle throughout the play.
Bob Crowley’s set design in Act 1 captures the decrepit living conditions of the Dublin tenements, through an overwhelming use of grey and the great attention to detail such as the tattered wallpaper and mismatch of floorboards constructed into a sleeping area. The set in in Act 2 is an obvious choice; rich colours and a stage speckled with lavish furniture. However, the vibrant red is perhaps a reminder of the bloodshed and violence outside of the cocoon that the Boyles have created for themselves. By deluding themselves, the end result is inevitably dark for Juno and her family. This is conveyed through the starkly empty stage at the end of the play.

Howard  Davies focuses largely on the creation of atmosphere in this production: Celtic music acts as a leitmotif throughout the performance while subtle lighting changes  convey the bleak life of the Boyles which gets progressively more dismal as the play continues. One can get swept into the ecstatic oblivion that the Boyles have created as a result to their unsuspected inheritance. However , the entire play is overshadowed by tragedy with the ongoing turmoil of the Civil War.  While the Boyles delude themselves with a pretence happiness, sound effects such as the morbid chanting of Mrs. Tancred’s son’s funeral plummet us back into the reality.

Moments of comedy are plentiful in this production of Juno and the Paycock, particularly the exchanges between Juno and her husband. Ciarán Hinds brings a swaggering flamboyance to the character of Jack Boyle which is juxtaposed by the indomitable Juno (Sinéad Cusack), who emphasizes her husband’s worthlessness throughout. The dynamic between Hinds and Cusack on stage is energetic and succeeds in creating vigour onstage. As an audience member, it is essential to believe the characters on stage in order to empathize with them. While many performances given were entertaining, I failed to believe in the authenticity of the characters which detracted from my overall response to the play.


Fionnuala Gygax- 5/11/11