by David Bolger, Owen Boss, Louise Lowe.

CoisCéim in collaboration with ANU.

Bringing complex, conflicted history back to life: one story, two perspectives.

PLEASE SEE THE DEDICATED WEBSITE
 

IRISH PREMIERE | BEYOND THESE ROOMS 

COLLINS BARRACKS, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND – Decorative Arts & History
07 – 24 NOVEMBER 2019

 

THESE ROOMS is a living history performance project:  an intense, immersive blend of theatre, contemporary dance and visual art whose starting point was the testimonies of 38 female witnesses to Dublin’s North King Street massacre in April 1916 – when 15 civilian men were killed in house-to-house raids by British soldiers.  It was first performed at the Dublin Theatre Festival in 2016 winning an Irish Times Irish Theatre Award.  In 2018, it was wholly reimagined for the London International Festival of Theatre and investigates one story from two perspectives: those of the civilians who were victims of and witnesses to the killings, and those of the men of the South Staffordshire Regiment who committed the act – their identities largely unknown and their actions controversially exonerated at a military enquiry.

The BEYOND THESE ROOMS art installation continues to interrogate the original archive and research material bringing together artefacts, documents, imagery and video to conjoin fact, documentary and fiction, blurring the edges of the real and the imagined to bring this complex, conflicted history back to life.   An interactive living archive project, it encourages people to touch, see, hear, and feel the tragedy through a highly focussed lens of the present day and aims contextualise how the past is propelled into the present and explore truth and the impact of time on conflicted histories.

A collaboration between ANU and CoisCéim Dance Theatre, BEYOND THESE ROOMS was co-commissioned by 14-18NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary. It results from the 2018 production of THESE ROOMS co-commissioned by LIFT and Shoreditch Town Hall, and supported by Culture Ireland as part of the GB18 programme.   THESE ROOMS began as an Open Call National Project in The Arts Council of Ireland’s ART: 2016 programme as part of Ireland 2016.

Find out more at www.theserooms.ie

SPECIAL EVENTS

LIVE PERFORMANCES by Justine Cooper | 07, 16 & 17 November 2019

BEYOND THESE ROOMS will be animated by dance artist Justine Cooper at intervals throughout four afternoons in November.  Follow us on social media for further details.

CONFERENCE: AFTER THE WAR: PEACE, CONFLICT AND TRAUMA | 09 November 2019

BEYOND THESE ROOMS coincides with a special conference exploring the physical and psychological effects of war and conflict, at home and abroad, on the Irish population in 1919.  Speakers include Louise Lowe, Owen Boss and military historian Lar Joye.  Find out more and book online.

BEYOND THESE ROOMS PREMIERED ON 17 January 2019 at TATE LIVERPOOL AS PART OF A RESIDENCY AT TATE EXCHANGE. FOR DETAILS PLEASE VISIT WWW.THESEROOMS.IE

TATE LIVERPOOL (TATE EXCHANGE) | 17 Jan – 09 Feb 2019
Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, Liverpool, L3 4BB, UK
#beyondtheserooms   #1418NOW   #CultureIreland

THESE ROOMS received its UK PREMIERE 07 JUNE 2018 as part of LIFT at Shoreditch Town Hall. For 2018 production credits and more details please visit www.theserooms.ie

Shoreditch Town Hall380 Old St, London EC1V 9LT | 04-22 June 2018
#theserooms18   #1418NOW   #LIFT2018   #CultureIrelandGB18

★★★★ “immersive theatre at its unrelenting best” The Stage
★★★★ “superbly done..unforgettable” WhatsonStage
★★★★★ “compelling, stirring..unmissable” Spy in the Stalls

THESE ROOMS is a major immersive live performance and installation project that cross-pollinates contemporary dance, theatre and visual art.  THESE ROOMS received unanimous critical acclaim when it was first presented in dilapidated Dublin building in 2016, as part of the centenary marking the Easter Rising. An intense, immersive blend of theatre, dance and visual art,  it took as its starting point the testimonies of the 38 female witnesses to Dublin’s  North King Street Massacre in April 1916 – when 15 civilian men were killed in house-to-house raids by British soldiers..

In this reimagined version co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW: WW1 Centenary Art Commissions, LIFT and Shoreditch Town Hall, THESE ROOMS shares its focus between the civilians of North King Street and the men of the South Staffordshire Regiment who committed the massacre – their identities largely anonymous, their actions controversially exonerated at a military enquiry.

THESE ROOMS premiered on 29 September 2016 as part of DUBLIN THEATRE FESTIVAL. For 2016 production credits and more details please visit www.theserooms.ie

DUBLIN THEATRE FESTIVAL | 29 Sept – 16 Oct 2016
EXTENSION RUN | 25 Oct – 13 Nov 2016
VENUE | 85/86 Upper Dorset Street, Dublin 1
#theserooms16   #DTF16   #ART2016

★★★★★ THE IRISH TIMES

Winner, Irish Times Theatre Awards, 2017 (Audience Choice Award)

Click here to see more reviews from critics and audiences

2018 PRODUCTION CREDITS 

Cast: Justine Cooper, Damian Gildea, Úna Kavanagh, Niamh McCann, Jonathan Mitchell, Robbie O’Connor, Emma O’Kane, Matthew Williamson

Direction: David Bolger and Louise Lowe
Art Installation/Set Design: Owen Boss
Lighting Design: Ciaran Bagnall
Costume Design: Niamh Lunny
Sound Design: Denis Clohessy and Carl Kennedy
Hair and Make-up Design: Lucy Browne and Chloe Bourke

Producers: Lynnette Moran, Matthew Smyth and Bridget Webster

Stage Manager: Barbara Hughes
Assistant Stage Manager/Design Assistant: Dylan Farrell

Production Manager: Adam Fitzsimons
Assistant Production Manager: Cat Compson
Venue Production Manager: Nick Mumford and Alex Hicks
Wardrobe/Costume Supervisor: Jessica Hughes
Set Construction: Ian Thompson
Scenic Artists: Ciara Cramer and Holly Cameron
Vocal Coach: Jamie Matthewman
Company Class Teacher (Dublin): Laura Macken
Transport: Trevor Price and Oddie Sherwin

Photography (London): Hugh Glendinning
Video Editor: Kilian Waters
Publicist: Conleth Teevan
Production Assistant: Derbhla Connaughton
Company Manager: Jonathan Pearson
General Manager, CoisCéim: Sarah Latty

Producer for 14-18NOW: Emma Dunton
Producer for LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre): Jon Davis
Producer for Shoreditch Town Hall: James Pidgeon

ABOUT THE CAST

Originally from New Zealand, Justine has been based in Ireland as a freelance dance artist, teacher and choreographer since 2008.  Most recently working with CoisCéim Dance Theatre (BODY LANGUAGE, RHA Gallery 2017, AGNES, DANCE TALKING); United Fall (GIRL SONG, Dublin Theatre Festival 2017, TUNDRA, DOGS, LISTOWEL SYNDROME); Maria Nilsson Waller (MERRY.GO.ROUND, Dublin Dance Festival 2016); ANU / CoisCéim Dance Theatre (THESE ROOMS, Dublin Theatre Festival 2016); Liz Roche Company (WRONGHEADED, BASTARD AMBER, BODY AND FORGETTING, FAST PORTRAITS, SECONDARY SOURCES); Junk Ensemble (DUSK AHEAD, BIRD WITH BOY, SOMETIMES WE BREAK); Louise White (WAY BACK HOME); Liv O’Donoghue (PROMPTED BREATHLESS, THE WAY WE MET); and Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theatre (1998-2000). Justine’s own work FOLDS OF THE CRANE was part of Tiger Dublin Fringe Festival 2015, Dublin Dance Festival 2016 and What’s Next Festival, Limerick 2018.

Damian is a 2017 graduate of The Lir National Academy of Dramatic Arts in Dublin. His recent credits include F.A.T.D.A.D in The Complex directed by Vanessa Fielding, JUDGING SHAW in The Royal Irish Academy with ANU Productions, and END OF directed by Conor Hanratty as part of Dublin Fringe Festival. During his time at The Lir he worked on productions such as ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE and MOJO by Jez Butterworth. Previously he studied Mathematics at Trinity College, but soon logically worked out that acting was the much safer career path to pursue for sustainable income and happiness, Q.E.D.
 

Úna Kavanagh has a B.A. & M.A. from the National College Of Art & Design, Ireland. She has worked extensively across disciplines for over 25 years in her native Ireland, UK, America, France and the Middle East. Úna is a figurative artist whose work includes sculpture, text, painting, drawing, performance, film, installation, animation, script writing and Live Art durational performances. Her practice extends to work in theatre, film, television and radio. Úna has exhibited in both solo and group exhibitions for the last 20 years. Her work is held in private collections across the world. She is an award- winning actress and has received International nominations for her work, most notably alongside Julie Walters and Isabella Adjani for Outstanding Actress in Film at The Golden Nymph Awards, Monaco 2009. Úna has been a company member with multi-award winning ANU Productions since 2010, collaborating on 3 Performance art works, 12 LiveArt Theatre-works & Film.

Niamh trained as an actor at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London (2003-06). She began her career at the prestigious Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, returning for several seasons thereafter, and has worked consistently with some of the leading theatre companies in the U.K and Ireland including the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, The Lyceum Edinburgh, Gate Theatre Dublin, Rough Magic, The Abbey Theatre and ANU Productions’ LAUNDRY (2011); ANGEL MEADOW (2014); SUNDER (2016); ON CORPORATION STREET (2016); THESE ROOMS (2016); and THE SIN EATERS (2017). Niamh collaborates across disciplines and has been part of a number of significant works with prestigious international artists.Television credits include THE CLINIC (RTÉ); HOLBY CITY (BBC); RIVER CITY (BBC); and LITTLE ROY (CBBC). Film credits include John Crowley’s Bafta and Oscar nominated BROOKLYN; and THE CURED Directed by David Freyne which was recently premiered at TIFF and Audi Dublin Film Festival.

Jonathan graduated from the Rambert School, London in 1992. Since then he has been fortunate to work with a host of choreographers and companies, performing on four continents and in both hemispheres, all the while indulging in his other passions of writing and photography. He has performed with CoisCéim since 2000, including RITE OF SPRING; WHEN ONCE IS NEVER ENOUGH; MERMAIDS; PAGEANT; AGNES; THE WOLF AND PETER; BODY LANGUAGE; and ANU/CoisCéim’sTHESE ROOMS, Dublin Theatre Festival 2016.

Robbie graduated with B.A (Hons) Degree from The Lir Academy, Trinity College Dublin in 2015. His theatre credits include THE LOST O’CASEY (Abbey Theatre / ANU); THE RED SHOES (Gate Theatre); HENTOWN, ZERO HOUR, PALS, BOYS OF FOLEY STREET, LAUNDRY, WORLD’S END LANE, BASIN & DOWN THE VALLEY (ANU); NORTHERN STAR (Rough Magic / UK tour); REBEL REBEL (Fringe / Show in a Bag); HAMLET (Second Age); END OF THE ROAD (Fishamble) and ALL THAT FALL (Pan Pan). TV & Film credits include TINDERFACE; (The Lir); ALL IS BY MY SIDE (Watchtower Productions); LEISURE CENTRE (Desperate Optimists); HIDDEN (BBC) and FAIR CITY (RTÉ).
Emma is a freelance dance artist and choreographer. She trained at the Perm State Choreographic Academy, Russia. Emma has been a member of CoisCéim Dance Theatre since 2001 and recently performed BODY LANGUAGE at the RHA and toured Australia with THE WOLF AND PETER. Dance Europe voted Emma Outstanding Dancer Of The Year for her performance in CoisCéim’s production of FAUN. She is a regular collaborator with ANU Productions and recently worked on THE SIN EATERS, Dublin Theatre Festival. Other performance/ choreographic credits include The Abbey Theatre, Fishamble, Prime Cut Productions. She has an MA in Dance from the University of Limerick.
 
Matthew is a dancer and choreographer from Dublin with over 14 years’ experience in performance and competitive dance. He has worked with ANU and CoisCéim Dance Theatre on THESE ROOMS for ART:2016 in the Dublin Theatre Festival 2016 and with CoisCéim has toured extensively- from Sligo to the Sydney Opera House- in THE WOLF AND PETER by David Bolger. Matthew’s speciality is acrobatic, musical and energetic Hip-Hop (Breakdance). He has over ten championship titles under his belt and has showcased his skills in front of some of the biggest companies in the world; in 2014 he received a life time achievement award for outstanding contribution to Irish Hip-Hop dance. He is also a member of dance group Raw Edge Crew who have performed and competed as Irish representatives in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, the UK and Germany. Raw Edge featured on Sky One’s GOT TO DANCE where they reached the live semi finals. Matthew has featured on a number of television shows/adverts and most recently on PENNY DREADFUL as a dancer/movement artist.

FALLING OUT OF STANDING – Film Installation

by David Bolger, Owen Boss, Louise Lowe

FALLING OUT OF STANDING was borne from the 2016 production of THESE ROOMS. A stand alone structure with three filmic works by David Bolger, Owen Boss and Louise Lowe that inverts traditional concepts of exterior and interior, FALLING OUT OF STANDING aims to extend the debate beyond the interaction of performance and site.

Extending the exploration of source material related to of the North King Street massacre and the subsequent live production of THESE ROOMS, the installation aims to contextualise how the past is propelled into the present and the impact of time on conflicted histories through the form of film.

PAST SCREENINGS

LIGHT MOVES: Festival of Screen Dance
Short Films Programme 1
VENUE | Dance Limerick | John’s Square, Limerick
DATES | Friday, November 3, 2017 at 3:00pm 4:00pm
ALSO | On Saturday, November 4, 2017, David Bolger will take part in Interview: Bodies in Time – Embracing History in Screendance
 
FILM: FALLING OUT OF STANDING | OWEN BOSS at HOMELAND 2017 |  Blackbird singing in the dead of night
DATES | 9 September 2017
 
FILM: FALLING OUT OF STANDING | OWEN BOSS as part of THIS IS NOT ARCHITECTURE
VENUE | Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda
DATES | 24 April – 12 June
Find out more: http://www.highlanes.ie/
 
FILM INSTALLATION, PREMIERE
VENUE | Ground Floor, Festival House, 12 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
DATES | 03 -23 April 2017 | 12.00pm – 8.00pm 
 
 

PROJECT PARTNERS

Co-commissioned by 14-18NOW: WW1 Centenary Art Commissions, LIFT and Shoreditch Town Hall, this re-imagination of the Irish Times Irish Theatre award winning 2016 production is supported by Culture Ireland as part of GB18 and Cityjet.

THESE ROOMS began as an Open Call National Project in ART: 2016: The Arts Council’s programme as part of Ireland 2016. ART: 2016 was a diverse and distinctive public showcase of Irish art which was presented across Ireland and abroad throughout the year. By supporting THESE ROOMS, the Arts Council placed artists and the arts at the centre of how it responded to the Centenary of the 1916 Rising. ART: 2016 was supported by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht through its Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. Find out more…

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