Cultural delight in Foulkesmills
FOULKESMILLS has provided the location for a very special artistic event that embraced the cultures of Ireland, Denmark and Mexico.
The ‘Malartú Banquet of Poetry and Song’ was organised by Lon Dubh Productions which is run by Mexican native Karla Sanchez-Zepeda and her Irish husband Cllr Oisín O’Connell.
Danish theatre director and musician Kai Bredholt, from the world-famous Odin Teatret, Denmark, directed the performance which was a dramatised concert featuring local participants near Foulkesmills village.
Since 1964, Odin Teatret has performed in 66 countries in different social contexts.
However, this was the first time the Odin Teatret was involved with an event of this kind anywhere in Ireland.
Commenting on the event Karla said it ‘weaved together the performances of several amateur and professional musicians, singers, dancers and readers from Foulkesmills, Clongeen and beyond’.
Mr Bredholt and his wife Erika met with selected participants in the days prior to the performance to learn more about their stories, and exchange ideas.
‘Malartú provoked reflection on what community is, and our own place in it,’ said Karla.
Performance pieces ranged from Riverdance, sean nós, and a Flamenco-Irish dance-off, to music performances on harp, flute accordion, banjo and guitar.
Selected pieces from the three countries were performed while song and poetry excerpts ranged from Lady Gaga to pieces from the late ‘Bard of Ballyowen’, Jack McCutcheon.
‘In my 24 years as an actor at the Odin one of my responsibilities has been to do ‘ barters’ all around the world,’ said Mr Bredholt.
‘A ‘ barter’ works on a very simple principle; if I sing a song for you then you sing for me or do something else that you are good at,’ he added.
‘Every society has circles that never meet and I use that we call ‘ theatre of reciprocity’ and barter to make these circles collide.’
He went on to comment: ‘It’s through this encounter that curiosity, understanding and acceptance of the other societies can come about.’
‘I use theatre as a means to make the encounter of cultures possible,’ he added.
Karla said the rural location added to the overall enjoyment of the event.
‘We are in the middle of the countryside; socially and culturally, we want to promote local pride, ideas and opportunities,’ she said.
‘ This was a great opportunity for our community to interact and experience the arts in a non-traditional way,’ she added.
It was a unique event that was very much enjoyed by the people who attended and as Karla said it gave everyone an opportunity to meet neighbours in a new way.
‘We were repeatedly asked whether we could have more events and get-togethers to foster that kind of experience and we were really pleased that there is a need and a demand for things like this,’ she said.
More than 100 people attended the event, which the organisers were delighted with.
‘We want to extend our thanks to all our neighbours, participants, and audience without whom this couldn’t have happened,’ she said.
Clongeen Parish Hall committee provided seats and tables for the event and Karla said ‘gracious assistance was provided by neighbours Barry and Susan Crosby.’
A large number of different local performers took part in the event including members of the Lisa Doyle Academy of Dance which is based in Clongeen.