Directed and Choreographed by David Bolger
Who was Agnes Bernelle?
A secret agent at the age of 20, a cabaret legend, a mother, an influential Dublin theatre scenester and Ireland’s oldest punk… She was also a singer – a singer of songs about life and the human condition.
AGNES is a dance work choreographed by David Bolger, who as a child was introduced to the theatre by his neighbour, Agnes Bernelle. She took him to Project Arts Centre, where she was Creative Director, and triggered his love of all things theatrical.
AGNES is a tribute from that wide-eyed boy. Through six extraordinary dancers and the songs she sang, David Bolger’s AGNES will charm and delight you as her wry sense of humour, love for Ireland and ground-breaking performance style are revealed once again on her beloved Project stage.
DIRECTION AND CHOREOGRAPHY David Bolger
DESIGNER Maree Kearns
LIGHTING DESIGNER Sinead McKenna
SOUND DESIGN AND ADDITIONAL COMPOSITION Ivan Birthistle & Vincent Doherty
HAIR AND MAKEUP Val Sherlock
PRODUCTION MANAGER Lisa Mahony
STAGE MANAGER Stephanie Ryan
PHOTOGRAPHY Ros Kavanagh
CAST Justine Cooper, Nick McGough, Jonathan Mitchell, Mónica Muñoz Marín, Emma O’Kane and Don King Rongavilla
Reviews
★★★★★ “The excellent cast of six dancers … provide a physical resonance for the dark emotions evoked in Bernelle’s throaty and raw singing” Michael Seaver, The Irish Times
“…this superb, atmospheric, unique production…..incredible dancers turn motion into exuberantly dark poetry” John McKeown, Irish Independent
“All the nuances of bawdy humour and tenderness are caught in the strutting, technically shining dancing of Justine Cooper, Nick McGough, Jonathan Mitchell, Mónica Muñoz Marín, Emma O’Kane and Don King Rongavilla – individually and in exuberant collusion.” Seona MacReamoinn, Metro Herald
“Visually it is wonderful and detailed, transforming the space into its own world.” Alan Foran, The Public Reviews “the whole piece is hugely entertaining. If you’re a fan of Agnes or if you’re open to the world of the smokey bar singer, this is a wonderful piece of music and dance to celebrate a life well lived.” nomoreworkhorse.com
Past Performances
13-22 March 2014 | Project Arts Centre | Dublin Dances Into Spring | Dublin, Ireland
GALLERY
Photography by Ros Kavanagh
The Parallel Programme
THE PARALLEL PROGRAMME Curtain Raisers: Taking as their base the life and work of Agnes Bernelle, CoisCéim Broadreach presented two different CURTAIN RAISERS choreographed by CoisCéim Broadreach Director, Philippa Donnellan. CURTAIN RAISERS are short works of 5 -10 minutes presented on the main stage prior to the performance of AGNES.
Wednesday 19 March, 8pm & Saturday 22 March, 8pm
Army Ants by CREATIVE STEPS – Young People’s Dance Theatre
Friday 21 March, 8pm & Saturday 22 March, 3 pm
Talking at the Same Time by THE DANCE ENSEMBLE– Performance Group for people aged 50+
The Parallel Programme other events:
13 – 22 March 2014 | Upstairs Foyer
AGNES BERNELLE by AMELIA STEIN
A series of projected images
13 – 22 March 2014 | Upstairs Foyer
PHOTOS FROM THE FAMILY ALBUM
Curated by Amelia Stein
An exhibiton of printed images courtesy of Mark Leslie
20 March 2014 | Space Upstairs
POST SHOW CONVERSATION HOSTED BY VINCENT WOODS
She was also a muse, grandmother and inspirational neighbour…
Join Vincent Woods, John Comiskey, Luke Leslie, Mark Leslie and David Bolger in discussion
AGNES ON SCREEN: From seven to seventy
Curated by John Comiskey | Supported by RTÉ Archives | A series of film screenings
13 – 22 March 2014 | Ground Floor Foyer
AGNES : A COMPILATION 1930 – 1998
A compilation of film extracts with Agnes Bernelle from her first appearance in 1930 to her last in 1998 and featuring her live performance of ‘Cleptomania’ on Arts Express in September 1989 courtesy of the RTÉ Archives.
20 March 2014 , 6pm | Project Bar
SCREENINGS FROM THE RTÉ ARCHIVES: BRECHT ON BRECHT
Adapted for television by Louis Lentin
First Broadcast 20 March 1975 | Duration 1hr 04mins
22 March 2014 , 5pm | Project Bar
SCREENINGS FROM THE RTÉ ARCHIVES: I WAS THE LITTLE GIRL
Produced and Directed by John Comiskey
First Broadcast 3 June 1998 | Duration 1hr 28mins
SPECIAL POST SHOW PROJECTIONS | UPSTAIRS FOYER
18 & 21 March 2014
Ihre Majestaet die Liebe, 1931
The cult film written by the father of Agnes and featuring three of her best-loved songs
19 & 22 March 2014
Agnes Live at Project, Dublin Theatre Festival, 1989
An archive video recording of the stage show of “Mother, the Wardrobe is Full of Infantrymen”.
