Disappearing Islands

SONGS WE SANG AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD

Inspired by north Mayo’s stunning landscape and its deep connection with sea, this new theatrical show was performed in the stunning surrounds of Belmullet’s tidal pool in County Mayo from 16 – 19 September 2022.

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Disappearing Islands was a unique theatrical experience. Staged around a tidal swimming pool that overlooks the beautiful vista of Blacksod Bay, the performance blended theatre, dance and song to magical effect.

With one foot in the waters of the Atlantic, Disappearing Islands explored the deep influence of the sea on this coastal community, from times past to the present day. Here, the ocean is a powerful life-giving force but one that is also associated with tragedy. Through a series of songs and dance choreographies, the play explored our contrasting emotions associated with the sea. In doing so, it touched on themes of environmental and personal loss and ultimately asks if the sea can save us from ourselves.

Contemporary dancers, a mezzo-soprano and acapella male vocalists created a show filled with heart, hope and humour.

Disappearing Islands was an immersive experience in every sense. The audience were invited to take a communal dip in the tidal pool for the show’s finale – a moment that reflects the sea’s ability to bring people together.

During their research for Disappearing Islands, the artistic team discovered unexpected inspirations and new connections. They spoke to fishermen, historians, lighthouse keepers, environmentalists and sea swimmers. This research brings an often playful texture to the piece, which takes the audience on a journey across the globe, from the D-Day beaches of Normandy, to the mythical island of Hy Brasil.

Composed by Ellen Cranitch, Written by Tom Swift, Directed by Jo Mangan
Produced by Once Off Productions
Featuring: Naomi Louisa O’ Connell, Mezzo Soprano from Co. Clare, Isabella Oberlander, Limerick based Dancer, Sarah Ryan, Dublin based Dancer, and CODA, Westport based 7 piece Male Vocal Group,

Funded by the Arts Council. Supported by Mayo County Council & Creative Ireland Mayo.

Disappearing Islands – Songs from the edge of the world

Sarah Ryan and Isabella Oberländer in Disappearing Islands – Songs from the edge of the World – a new show by The Performance Corporation at Belmullet Tidal Pool, Co Mayo – Pic. Colm Hogan_01

Vocal group Coda in Disappearing Islands – Songs from the edge of the World – a new show by The Performance Corporation at Belmullet Tidal Pool, Co Mayo – Pic. Colm Hogan_02

Author’s Note

Loss rewires the brain, sends us to another place. We make connections that ordinarily might seem strange, we imagine things that are not there, as we try to navigate grief. In July 2018, my brother Stephen died from cancer. The months before his death were a devastating time for all of us who loved him. But in the midst of that there was a seed of gratitude that we had the chance to be with him, say our long goodbyes. During that time, after Stephen’s terminal diagnosis, I often thought of families who never got the chance to say goodbye, whose loss came out of the blue.

The previous year, the brave crew of Rescue 116 had died in a crash at Blackrock Island, and I often wondered how they coped. They never got to say goodbye. Listening to Capt Dara Fitzpatrick’s sister Niamh speaking on the radio about her loss, I felt a strong but unvoiced sense of connection with her and an empathy for people, like her, who have lost a loved one suddenly and brutally. It was only towards the end of this creative journey that I plucked up the courage to reach out to Niamh, and I am hugely grateful for her kindness and generosity of spirit in playing a part in this piece.

That kindness and generosity is a hallmark of people in the Mullet, a community that knows more than most about loss at sea. On behalf of our company, I want to thank each and every person who has supported and joined us in making this play. Perhaps it is because of some of the hard histories of this almost-island in the Atlantic that the spirit of empathy thrives. There is wisdom here too – a recognition that while the ocean can be cruel, we can’t turn our backs on it. That is because, whether we are standing on the shore, or swimming in the tide, the sea also gives back, gives life, connects us.

Tom Swift, September 2022

CREDITS & BIOS

Ellen Cranitch – Music

Ellen is a flute player, composer and broadcaster who has been making music for theatre, dance, TV and radio for over 30 years. As a player she has performed with the NSO, RTECO, and countless chamber ensembles in classical, jazz and traditional contexts. She presents the late night show Vespertine on RTÉ Lyric fm and is delighted to be back working with The Performance Corporation again.

Tom Swift – Writer

Tom is a playwright and founder member of The Performance Corporation. Site-specific plays for the company include Dr Ledbetter’s Experiment, Drive-By, Lizzie Lavelle and the Vanishing of Emlyclough. Adaptations of classic texts include Candide (Irish Times Theatre Award winner), The Dead, The Nose, and Alice and the Wolf (Barnstorm). He has also worked with Irish National Opera, The Ark, Fishamble, ANU, Breda Cashe Productions, Boca de Lupo (Canada) and Aldeburgh Music (UK).

Sinead Lawlor – Costume Designer

Recent designs include The Tin Soldier (2022), Theatre Lovett/Gate Theatre; Warrior (2022), Karen Egan; The First Child, INO (associate designer GIAF 2022); Caged (2021), FemmeBizarre; House! (2022), A Handful of Dreams (GIAF 2021) & Bingo Wings (2019), Fidget Feet. Sinéad is delighted to collaborate with The Performance Corporation on Disappearing Islands in Belmullet.

Daragh Dukes – Sound Designer

Daragh is a composer, audio producer, sound designer & songwriter. He writes for film, TV, radio and art projects and produces his own work under the moniker Headgear, most recently Omphalos which was released in May 2022. https:// linktr.ee/DDDukes

The Performance Corporation

The Performance Corporation was founded by Jo Mangan and Tom Swift in 2002. Over the last 20 years, our ambition has been to create “theatrical adventures in surprising places” – shows that delight our audiences and push the boundaries of what theatre is and where it can happen. We have driven at top-speed through Dublin’s dangerous docklands (Drive-By), tip-toed through the gothic halls of Edinburgh’s Old Medical School (Dr Ledbetter’s Experiment), electrified a crumbling sports arena in Washington DC (Swampoodle), danced in the shadow of a tree in a Kenyan fishing village (Paka), and explored conspiracy theories in the world of Virtual Reality at SXSW (Emperor 101).

As a company, our fondest memories are of performing Lizzie Lavelle and the Vanishing of Emlyclough in a natural amphitheatre in the sand dunes at Carne, Belmullet. For that, and many other reasons, it is great to be back in Belmullet to present Disappearing Islands.

Jo Mangan – Director

Jo is Artistic Director of The Performance Corporation and former Director/CEO of Carlow Arts Festival. Recent directing work includes Out of the Ordinary a Virtual Reality Opera for Irish National Opera, 5 films for INO’s 20 Shots of Opera and 14 Voices from the Bloody Field for the Abbey. For The Performance Corporation she most recently directed the live virtual reality work Emperor 101 at Dublin Theatre Festival and SXSW in Austin Texas, and The Dead at Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre. She founded The SPACE Programme – Ireland’s longest running multi-disciplinary international artists residency with a current focus on Arts and Technology, and has served on many boards, including as Chair of the National Campaign for the Arts. Her most recent appointment is to the board of the Gate Theatre

Naomi Louisa O’Connell – Singer / Vocal Consultant

(Deirbhle)

Singer/actor Naomi Louisa O’Connell’s performance career encompasses a broad spectrum of theatrical and operatic repertoire, ranging from plays to operas, recitals and cabarets to sound sculptures and virtual reality performances. Her upcoming season includes engagements with LA Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, New York Festival of Song, and Dublin Theatre Festival. www.naomilouisaoconnell.com

Isabella Oberländer – Dancer and Choreographer

(Life Guard, Selkie)

Isabella Oberländer is a dance artist and choreographer based in Limerick. Her work engages in choreographic frameworks that embrace the materiality of the body and aim for a visceral articulation of physicality and thought. With alienation, otherness and sweaty dancing at its core, her solo work ‘Glisten’ had its live première at Dublin Fringe Festival 2021.

Sarah Ryan – Dancer and Choreographer

(Life Guard, Selkie)

Sarah Ryan has worked as a dancer and choreographer with a wide range of companies from different artistic backgrounds including Irish Modern Dance Theatre, Liz Roche, Philip Connaughton, Laura Murphy, Opera Theatre Company, Áine Stapleton, John O’Brien, Mary Wycherley, Cie Willie Dorner, amongst others. Before returning to Ireland Sarah performed and choreographed in Nantes, France after completing her training in Scotland.

CODA – Declan Askin, Mike Cannon, Alan Drumm, Leonard Kelly, Brian Lennon and Conall Ó Domhnail. (Sea Swimmers/Fishermen)

Coda are a Mayo based group of seven singers and musicians who have developed their own unique and richly-harmonised approach to vocal performance from diverse vocal and instrumental backgrounds, including folk, trad, blues, rock and pop music. Coda have released two CD’s, ’Mouthmusic’ in 2013 and ‘Train of Spirits’ in 2017

Voice Artist (Simon / Shipping Forecast Announcer) Simon Coury

Pyrotechnic Performer Megan Lucy Darby

Community Voice Artists

Pat Cafferkey, Angela Carey, Arlene Gaynor, Deirbhle Healy, Ian Mac Aindriú, Katherine Mangan, Sean Mangan, Ciaran O’Hara, Gerry Sweeney.

Producer Maura O’Keeffe, Once Off Productions
Line Producer / The Performance Corporation Company Manager Tara Clarke
Communications Manager Ciara Gogarty
Stage Manager Michael Greene
Assistant Stage Manager Michaela Connolly
Sound Engineer Kevin Hughes
Script Advisor Sorcha Hegarty
PR Mission PR
Box Office/Production Assistant Emer Gannon

THANK YOU

Liz Healy, Michelle Healy, Agatha Hurst and all the Belmullet Sea Swimming Club, Everyone at Aras Inis Gluaire, Belmullet Gardaí, Mayo County Council Belmullet office, David Carmody, Angela Costello, Eddie and Bridie Diver, Joan Ní Fhathaigh, Sorcha Hegarty, Laura Kriefmann, Sean Mangan, Martha Lohan, Irene O’Brien, Rita O’Donoghue, Martin O’Grady, Damien Reilly, Ciarán Ryan, Fergus Sweeney, Gerry Sweeney, Maureen Sweeney, Vincent Sweeney, Michael Tighe, Comharchumann Forbartha Ionad Deirbhile, An Builín Blasta, Portwest and everyone else who helped us in the creation of Disappearing Islands.

Disappearing Islands includes extracts from:
Report from Belmullet of emigrants leaving on the Unity, Mayo Telegraph, April 22 1846 The Vision – Strange Phenomenon off the Erris Coast, Western People, September 18 1937 Weather Transmission from Blacksod Lighthouse, Maureen Sweeney, June 3rd, 1944
Tell me the truth about loss by Niamh Fitzpatrick, published by Gill Books, 2020

Funded by the Arts Council. Supported by Mayo County Council, Creative Ireland Mayo and Kildare County Council.