Irish storytelling in the Narrative Arts Club

by The Oh-Aissieux - NAC Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:10

Here come a few interesting and relevant comments about innovative artistic effort, from a recent interview with a Canadian rapper by the name of Cadence Weapon:

"Of course, yes, it would be cool if the mainstream clicked with what I was doing, but I'm not losing any sleep over them coming or not coming onboard. It's not why I make cuts sound the way they do. For me, the idea of being an experimental artist and being really creative is about pushing myself all the time. ... It's important for me that I don't repeat myself. ..."

"I think we're both people who want to stay away from doing what people think we should be doing or playing. We don't want to be obvious; we want to bring someting different to an audience who may not be too familiar with what we're doing. We're looking at the aesthetic and how we can further our particular genre."

Thanks for these good thoughts, Cadence. All of these key ideas apply equally well to the development of innovative Irish storytelling.

In particular, I think we should stay away from doing what people expect us to do, push ourselves to explore the unique aesthetic potential of our chosen art, and strive to bring someting different to audiences who may not be too familiar with what we're doing.

Coilín.

by tHE oH-aISSIEUX - Narrative Arts Club Wed Mar 19, 2008 09:25

The programme was as follows:

Mushroom soup
Ta-rah McCormack - Adam Wilson
Don't touch anything / Cut himself shaving / Experience with firearms
The diamond-cutter's apprentice - Michael Phelan
Gormlaith's revenge (from Njal's Saga)
Una and Felix - Caroline Hill

interval

Mael Dún's voyage
Ripples - Seán O'Donoghue

There was a good crowd, with just two empty seats. Oddly missing the scattering of Italians etc. who have turned up before.

Adam Wilson made a very impressive debut with the story of John "Ta-rah" McCormack.

Gormlaith's revenge seemed to go off well, especially for a premiere, but Mael Dún's voyage seemed to get the better of some people.

I wonder what anybody else thought of it all?

Coilín.