Exceptional programme for Tread Softly festival
THE THIRD Tread Softly festival, celebrating the link between Sligo and the Yeats family, will take place this year July 27 - August 8.
The many dimensions of this family of famous artists – Nobel Prize winning poet William Butler, painter Jack B, embroiderer Susan and fine press printer Elizabeth – will be brought to life over two weeks of theatre, exhibitions, cinema, music, literary events, talks and tours, alongside a programme of children's events.
This year's festival's theatrical highlights include performances of ‘ The Man in the Woman's Shoes’ by Mikel Murfi and ‘ A Brief Taste of Lightening’ performed by Blue Raincoat Theatre Company.
An exhibition entitled ‘ Jack B Yeats The Music Has Come’ at the Model will look at his interest in song.
The venue is also presenting a display of Norah McGuinness's illustrations of William Butler Yeats, The Stories of Red Hanrahan and the Secret Rose, and the first comprehensive solo exhibition of work by Susan Hiller.
The Hamilton Gallery will be home to ‘ Confluence: A Merging’ by Janet Pearse, reflecting on her experiences in Ireland and India in recent years, and ‘ The Factory Foyer to Wandering Shades’ by Katie McDonagh, inspired by the ' dance plays' of W. B. Yeats, which were in turn influenced by Japanese Noh Theatre.
The Factory will also be the venue for one of the films featuring in the programme, ‘ Sanctuary’ by Blue Raincoat co- founder Malcolm Hamilton, based on the stage play of the same name.
Speaker's Corner is a new departure for the festival programme this year.
This will be an informal gathering of politicians to discuss their visions for Ireland as the centenary of 1916 approaches.
Out and about, the festival will offer a programme of walking tours in the footsteps of Yeats.
The festival runs alongside the 55th annual Yeats International Summer School, Ireland's longest running summer school.
It will be opened this year by Alan Gilsenan at the Hawk's Well on 27th July.
The Summer School continues until 8th August.
Information, log onto www. treadsoftly. ie or contact Sligo Tourist Office O'Connell Street Sligo on Tel: 071 91 61201