WORLD PREMIERE

Inspired by Eileen Gray

A co-production between CoisCéim Dance Theatre, Crash Ensemble, Fishamble: The New Play Company and Galway International Arts Festival

 

We must ask nothing of artists but to be of their own time  – Eileen Gray

She crafted and she made.
She flew a plane.
She gave her lovers gifts.
She let her heart be broken.
She was an original and she was endlessly reproduced.

Eileen Gray defied expectations – from her innovative designs to her unconventional personal life she challenged what it meant to be an artist, a woman and to be Irish.  Inspired by her inimitable life and work, INVITATION TO A JOURNEY is a powerful, evocative new work by Ireland’s leading performance companies.

As Gray fused elements to create new forms, INVITATION TO A JOURNEY combines contemporary dance, music and theatre to create a compelling illustration of a once-forgotten, now celebrated, Irish modernist.

 

REVIEWS

★★★★ | Irish Times

★★★★ “passionate, brilliant, visually stunning and pushing the boundaries of the possible. A must see.” | examiner.com

sensual and emotional…. a journey well worth taking” | Sunday Business Post

extraordinarily stylish…elegant production” | Sunday Independent

striking…imaginative insights” | The Guardian

perceptive….virtuoso performance that mesmerises” | Irish Independent
Click here to see more reviews from critics and audiences

PEFORMANCE DATES

WORLD PREMIERE
GALWAY INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL
BLACK BOX THEATRE, Dyke Road, Galway
9–16 July 2016
PROJECT ARTS CENTRE, DUBLIN 2
20 – 24 July 2016 (6 performances)

SHOW WARNING
Please be advised that this show features strong language, adult themes and nudity

CREDITS

CAST | Justine Cooper | Ingrid Craigie | Kate Ellis | Ivonne Kalter | Ronan Leahy  | Emma O’Kane | Deirdre O’Leary | Alex Petcu | Maria Ryan | Kate Stanley Brennan

DIRECTION | David Bolger, Jim Culleton
SCRIPT | Gavin Kostick
ORIGINAL SCORE | Deirdre Gribbin
CHOREOGRAPHY | David Bolger
MUSICAL DIRECTION | Kate Ellis
DESIGN | Maree Kearns
LIGHTING DESIGN | Sinéad Mckenna
SOUND DESIGN | Kevin Gleeson
HAIR AND MAKEUP DESIGN | Val Sherlock

 

INVITATION TO A JOURNEY features an original score composed by Deirdre Gribbin, courtesy of a New Music Commission Award from the Arts Council of Ireland.

The Cast

Justine Cooper

Originally from New Zealand, based in Ireland since 2008, Justine has had the pleasure of working with the Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theatre, (FURIOSO, INUK, SONGS WITH MARA, POSESSED, 1998, SUELLE ), Liz Roche Company (BASTARD AMBER, BODY AND FORGETTING, FAST PORTRAITS, SECONDARY SOURCES) Junk Ensemble (DUSK AHEAD, BIRD WITH BOY, SOMETIMES WE BREAK), CoisCéim Dance Theatre (BODY LANGUAGE 101, AGNES, DANCE TALKING) United Fall/Formally Emma Martin Dance (TUNDRA, DOGS, LISTOWEL SYNDROME), Louise White ( WAY BACK HOME) Liv O’Donoghue (PROMPTED BREATHLESS, THE WAY WE MET ).  Justine’s own work FOLDS OF THE CRANE was part of Tiger Dublin Fringe Festival 2015 and Dublin Dance Festival 2016.

Ingrid CraigieIngrid began her career with the Abbey Theatre Company, where her work includes THE DEAD, WONDERFUL TENNESSEE, and A LIFE. Further stage credits include Brian Friel’s FAITH HEALER, THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN directed by Michael Grandage (Noel Coward Theatre and Broadway), and most recently JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK at the Gate Theatre, Dublin. Film and TV credits include; THE FLAG, CITADEL, SENSATION, CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, JACK TAYLOR, RAW, WHEN HARVEY MET BOB, PROSPERITY, THE CLINIC and BALLYKISSANGEL. Awards include the Special Tribute Award at The Irish Times Theatre Awards and the Alumni Award from Trinity College Dublin for her contribution to Irish theatre.

 

 

 

Ivonne KalterIvonne trained at Iwanson International School of Contemporary Dance in Munich and has been working internationally since her graduation in 2008.  She has been awarded the Isadora Award, is a finalist of the Seoul International Dance Competition and has been invited to the International Solo Dance Festival, Stuttgart.  Choreographers and Companies she has worked with include Patrick Delacroix (NL), Damien Liger (RO), Cie Willie Dorner, Peter McCoy, Minka-Marie Heiß (PT/IT/GER), Jan Kodet, Hans Henning Paar, Interdigitate/Leda Franklin, Levantes Dance Theatre (UK) and Catherine Young (IRL).
Ronan Leahy headshotOther work for Fishamble includes: INSIDE THE GPO, THE END OF THE ROAD, WHEREABOUTS, SHORTS, THE FLESH ADDICT. Work at the Abbey includes; OEDIPUS, DRUM BELLY, KING LEAR, CURSE OF THE STARVING CLASS, MACBETH, THE RESISTABLE RISE OF ARTURO UI, ROMEO AND JULIET, HENRY IV (PART I), DA, LIVING QUARTERS, OBSERVATORY, AT SWIM TWO BIRDS, THE PASSION OF JEROME, BY THE BOG OF CATS, THE DOCTORS DILEMMA, THE WELL OF THE SAINTS, MONKEY, THE MAN WHO BECAME A LEGEND, SE MOUSE, THE CORSICAN BROTHERS, OBSERVE THE SONS OF ULSTER MARCHING TOWARDS THE SOMME and Philadelphia Here I Come! Other theatre: SIGNATORIES (UCD/Verdant Productions), BORSTAL BOY (Gaiety), WUTHERING HEIGHTS, AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, FESTEN, ALL MY SONS (Gate), THE CRITIC, TRAVESTIES, LIFE IS A DREAM, SOLEMN MASS FOR A FULL MOON IN SUMMER (Rough Magic), THE COLLEEN BAWN, GENTRIFICATION (Druid), THE WINTERS TALE, THE HAIRY APE (Corcadorca), MEDEA, TITUS ANDRONICUS AND LA MUSICA (Siren Productions), MOMENT (Tall Tales), THE CASE OF THE ROSE TATTOO, LA MAREA (Dublin Theatre Festival), GAGARIN WAY (Island), PYRENEES (Hatch), FROZEN (Cork Opera House), ROBERTO ZUCCO, PALE ANGEL, WIDEBOY GOSPEL (Bedrock), THE CHAIRS (Tinderbox), MELON FARMER (Theatre Royal Plymouth), RUSSIAN TALES, WHITE WOMAN STREET (Meridian), MISTER STAINES (Pan Pan), CARSHOW (Corn Exchange).
Emma O’Kane trained at the Perm State Choreographic Academy, Russia. Emma has been a member of CoisCeim Dance Theatre since 2001. Dance Europe voted Emma Outstanding Dancer Of The Year for her performance in CoisCeim’s production of FAUN. Recent work includes 160 VOICES for EMBODIED produced by Dublin Dance Festival as a new commission by An Post/GPO Witness History, CENTENARY RTE and THE WAKE directed by Oonagh Kearney. Emma has created choreography for dance, theatre and opera companies alike: UNDERNEATH (Fishamble), JOCKEY, FARM and CARE (Willfredd Theatre), SILENT MOVES (Ignite! Mayo), THE SLEEPING QUEEN (Wexford Festival Opera), THE CHILEAN TRILOGY (Prime Cut Productions) ANGEL MEADOW, LAUNDRY, BASIN (ANU Productions), and THE BALLET RUSE (co-created with Muirne Bloomer).
Deirdre OLeary by Ros KavanaghClarinet and bass clarinet player Deirdre O’Leary lives in the Cloughjordan ecovillage where she and her family have built a cob and strawbale house.

She plays funky iconoclastic modern music with the Crash Ensemble and elegant 19th century classical chamber music with Cassiopeia Wind Quintet. Over the past decade Deirdre has toured Australia, Europe & US, played Carnegie Hall, Edinburgh Festival and Covent Garden, and recorded an acclaimed album with Dawn Upshaw and Iarla Ó Lionáird.

Alex Petcu by Ros KavanaghAlex is quickly establishing himself both nationally and internationally as a percussionist of the finest calibre. As an active freelance musician he regularly performs with the various professional ensembles in Ireland. This included the main contemporary groups such as the Crash and Hard Rain ensembles, and the various orchestras such as the RTÉ Symphony, RTÉ Concert, Irish Chamber and Irish Baroque orchestras. He has appeared as a soloist with both the RTÉ National Symphony and Concert Orchestras. He was the National Concert Hall Rising Star recitalist 2015 and artist in residence for the Cork School of Music for 2015/2016.
Maria Ryan webMaria Ryan is a violinist from Pallasgreen County Limerick. She has recently finished her four-year BMus Degree under the guidance of Elizabeth Charleston and is currently in her first year of the Performance Masters. Maria began learning violin at the age of four in Limerick School of Music where she received a scholarship for achieving the highest grade in any instrument; she has had numerous teachers including Eileen Hutson and Simon Dalton. Her love of music doesn’t stop with classical; passions for many different styles of music including folk, jazz and bluegrass – to name but a few – have allowed her to travel the globe with a variety of musicians. Maria is currently the leader of the CSM Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Conor Palliser. She was recently awarded first place in the Senior Concerto Competition playing the Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5. She was also one of three finalists in the Yamaha String Scholarship Competition which was held in Cork School of Music last month. Her love of traditional music is also very apparent – after finishing an album with her new band “Strung” they were awarded an invitation to play at the Michigan Irish Music Festival, which will be held in September. She is a member of award winning Choral group Voci Nuove who were chosen as Choir of the Year in 2015 and 2016, and when she is not performing on stage she is working on side projects in the recording studio. Maria makes all of this happen on a Jeremie LeGrand violin, which is on loan to her by the Cork School of Music.
BRENNAN Kate picKate’s previous work for Fishamble includes TINY PLAYS FOR IRELAND. Theatre work includes THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS, HEDDA GABLER, THE RISEN PEOPLE, TERMINUS, SAVED  (Abbey Theatre), THE NIGHT ALIVE (Lyric /Gaiety), WUTHERING HEIGHTS, SALOME (Gate), WITNESS, BEST MAN, ‘TIS PITY SHE’S A WHORE, THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, LOVE AND MONEY (Project/Everyman), YERMA (West Yorkshire Playhouse), THE SANCTUARY LAMP (Arcola Theatre London). FILM/TV INCLUDES FADING AWAY (Filmbase), INSPECTOR JURY (IJ Prods), CHASING GREEN (Hallmark), DOLL HOUSE (Visit Films ), RAW, FAIR CITY (RTÉ), THE TUDORS (HBO). Kate has released an EP: MISS KATE AND THE HIGHER STATE.

The Creative Team

David Bolger is the Artistic Director and co-founder of CoisCéim Dance Theatre. His work has been seen by millions of people world-wide and has received prestigious awards for its innovation, performance and choreography. Over the last two decades, David has directed and choreographed over 20 original productions for CoisCéim, including the acclaimed SWIMMING WITH MY MOTHER, MISSING and AGNES. His work for film includes the multi-award- winning HIT AND RUN (CoisCéim/Saffron Pictures) and DEEP END DANCE (Wildfire Films). David has received numerous choreographic commissions for theatre and opera worldwide and has been a member of Aosdana since 2007.

Jim Culleton headshotJim Culleton is the Artistic Director of Fishamble: The New Play Company for which he has directed productions on tour throughout Ireland, UK, Europe, Australia and the US, winning Olivier, Fringe First, Herald Angel, Argus Angel, The Stage, 1st Irish, and Irish Times Theatre awards.  Recent productions for Fishamble include INSIDE THE GPO by Colin Murphy, TINY PLAYS FOR IRELAND AND AMERICA, SPINNING by Deirdre Kinahan, LITTLE THING, BIG THING by Donal O’Kelly, and FORGOTTEN, SILENT AND UNDERNEATH by Pat Kinevane.

Jim has also directed for the Abbey Theatre, and for companies in Ireland, UK, US and Australia.  Jim will next direct BLOOMSDAY ON BROADWAY for IAC/Symphony Space in New York.

Gavin Kostick 2As Literary Officer for Fishamble, Gavin works with writers for theatre through development for production, scripts readings, mentorship programmes and a variety of courses and workshops. Gavin is also a playwright who has written over twenty plays which have been produced in Ireland and internationally. As a performer he performed Joseph Conrad’s HEART OF DARKNESS: Complete, a six hour show in Dublin and London. In all of these areas he has gained multiple awards.

 

 

Deirdre Gribbin“A charismatic voice in new music” Paul Conway The Guardian

Belfast-born Gribbin was a Fulbright Fellow at Princeton University and Arts Fellow at Trinity College Cambridge. Her orchestral work UNITY OF BEING, performed in New York after 9-11, was featured in The New York Times. She won the Arts Foundation Award for Aldeburgh Festival commissioned opera HEY PERSEPHONE! and also The UNESCO Composers Prize. She has written music for Sky Pictures MY KINGDOM starring Richard Harris and THE DARK GENE shortlisted for a 2016 BERLINALE Film Festival Prize. She collaborated with Gate Theatre London founder Director Lou Stein on Radio Productions with Benedict Cumberbatch and Patrick Stewart. Her music has been performed by, The BBC Symphony, Philharmonia and RTE NSOI for the lyric fm label. Her second opera CROSSING THE SEA premiered at London’s Wilton’s Music Hall and was recorded for NMC label along with settings of Heaney’s poetry. She is creative associate with Chicken Shed Theatre London.

Kate Ellis credit Ros KavanaghKate is a versatile musician dedicated to the performance and exploration of all new music. She is cellist and Artistic Director of Crash Ensemble and a member of the Taquin experiments, Yurodny and electro-folk group Fovea Hex.

Kate has toured and broadcast in Australia, the USA, Europe and China, performing at the Canberra International Music Festival, Bang on a Can Marathon (NYC), Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Centre, Shanghai EXPO, Istanbul Akbank Jazz Festival and the Edinburgh International Festival.

Kate has collaborated with, commissioned and recorded works by composers including Steve Reich, David Lang, Nico Muhly and Donnacha Dennehy and has performed with Bobby McFerrin, Iarla O Lionaird, Gavin Friday and Karan Casey to name but a few.

MK biog picThis is Maree’s fourth collaboration with CoisCéim Dance Theatre; previous designs have been AGNES, PAGEANT & FAUN/ AS YOU ARE.

Other work  includes  OPERA BRIEFS (RIAM), MONSTERS, DINOSAURS & GHOSTS (Peacock),  MOLL (Gaiety Theatre), DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS (Corn Exchange), THESE HALCYON DAYS (Edinburgh Fringe First 2013), MOMENT(Landmark/Tall Tales), FAR AWAY FROM ME & ZOE’S PLAY (The Ark), IN THE NEXT ROOM OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY, TROILUS And CRESSIDA (the Lir Academy), HAMLET, KING LEAR, ROMEO & JULIET, MACBETH & DANCING AT LUGHNASA (Second Age),  ANGLO THE MUSICAL(Verdant), THE FACTORY GIRLS ( Millennium Forum), FAITH & GODDESS OF LIBERTY (Gúna Nua), PLASTICINE (CorcaDorca), and THE DEAD SCHOOL & OBSERVE THE SONS OF ULSTER MARCHING TOWARDS THE SOMME (Irish Times Best Set Design 2009) (Nomad Network). Maree lectures in theatre design in the Drama Department of Trinity College and is the MFA Design Course Director in the Lir Academy of Dramatic Art in Dublin.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERASinéad has designed THE WOLF AND PETER, AGNES, PAGEANT AND SWEPT for CoisCéim. Theatre designs include: RICHARD III and UNCLE VANYA (West Yorkshire Playhouse), JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY, THE GIGLI CONCERT, THE MARINER, THE PRICE, AN IDEAL HUSBAND AND PRIVATE LIVES (Gate Theatre Dublin); HOWIE THE ROOKIE (Best Lighting Design Irish Theatre Awards), GREENER, OCTOBER, LAST DAYS OF THE CELTIC TIGER, BLACKBIRD (Landmark Productions); OTHELLO, ARISTOCRATS, QUIETLY, ALICE IN FUNDERLAND, THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS, 16 POSSIBLE GLIMPSES, THE BURIAL AT THEBES, HOWIE THE ROOKIE, FINDERS KEEPERS (Abbey Theatre, Dublin); NEW ELECTRIC BALLROOM (Druid), FAMISHED CASTLE, TRAVESTIES, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, IMPROBABLE FREQUENCY (New York Drama Desk Best Lighting Design for a Musical nomination 2009), THE PARKER PROJECT, LIFE IS A DREAM, ATTEMPTS ON HER LIFE and DREAM OF AUTUMN (Rough Magic).  She has also designed for Lyric Theatre, Corn Exchange, Decadent, Thisispopbaby, and Siren Productions and for opera companies including. Malmo Opera House, Opera Theatre Company and Opera Ireland.
KKevin Gleesonevin Gleeson is a sound designer and composer from Cashel, Co. Tipperary. He has designed sound for companies such as Anu Productions and Dead Centre. Following his studies in Windmill Lane Studios and later, Trinity College, Gleeson moved to the southwest coast of Ireland to take up a role as the Kerry County Council’s Composer-in-Residence for 2014. It was out of this role that he began working in the area of live performance and theatre. Since returning to Dublin he was been involved with a number of exciting projects. Gleeson was part of the team that won best sound design at the 2015 Irish Times Theatre Awards for CHEKHOV’S FIRST PLAY.

 

Production Gallery

Photos by Ros Kavanagh

 

Gallery

Photos by Ros Kavanagh

 

Rehearsal Gallery

Photos by Ros Kavanagh

 

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