Festival highlights joy of creative connections
Arts Week with Judy Murphy
Our priority is making sure we are looking after artists in whatever way we can and also recognising what people are experiencing at the moment,” says the Artistic Director of Galway Theatre Festival, Sorcha Keane, about this year’s Festival which kicks off at the end of the month.
The organisers have been working to maximise their resources while “bringing entertainment to people” during the event, which will take place online from Friday, April 30, to Sunday May 9.
“We want to offer people an oasis in their day with Embodying Glass,” Sorcha says, referring to a new 13-minute music and dance piece, the work of actor Jérémie Cyr-Cooke in collaboration with Contempo Quartet and the Galway Music Residency. It’s a response to the music of American composer Phillip Glass and is designed so give people “a bit of escapism during lunch or in the evening”.
This small amount of time offers people a huge chance “to turn everything off, live in the moment and watch spectacular artists for 13 minutes”, she says. “It’s a small break but important that people can give themselves that.”
There will be three free performances on May 5, with donations welcome.
A free workshop on Creative and Mental Health, taking place on May 5, at 1pm is also designed to support people. It’s being given by psychologist and musician Louize Carroll (the Blizzards) who will discuss creativity, vulnerability and how to take care of mental health.
The past 12 months have changed the way that theatre has been created and experienced, according to Sorcha and the programme also explores people’s new relationship with creativity and space.
The 2021 Theatre Festival was launched online on Monday night, with its programme of new work, works-in-progress, workshops and talks. She’s delighted there was a launch, featuring live music from John Conneely, but the occasion was tinged with nostalgia too as she recalled the buzz and energy of pre-Covid launches at Bite Club in the City Centre.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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