ARTS ROUND-UP

SOOTHING STORIES

Tourism NI has launched an audio-series of enchanting Soothing Stories from Northern Ireland, bringing listeners on a tranquil journey through beautiful landscapes, rich culture and extraordinary heritage. Some of Northern Ireland’s fi nest talents were involved in the production of the four-part series, with actors Conleth Hill and Bronagh Waugh lending their voices to bring the local terrains, mythical tales and stories to life. As we all yearn to travel, Tourism NI is providing the ultimate armchair travel experience from the comfort of your own home. These new calming audio-originals are an opportunity for listeners to escape and embrace unique magical adventures from Northern Ireland, even for a short while, as a bedtime story or on a daily walk. Designed to inspire discovery of Northern Ireland’s Giant Spirit, you can unlock your wanderlust and stride through the Narnia inspired Mourne Mountains, then on to Armagh’s blossoming orchards. Transport yourself to the Fermanagh Lakelands and the magnifi cent Sperrin Mountains through to the walled city of Derry~Londonderry, the Causeway Coastal Route, Belfast City and the Ards Peninsula.

The stories have been written by author and acclaimed travel writer, Seth Linder, from his home in Rostrevor, County Down.

You can listen to the four Soothing Stories of Northern Ireland for free on the Discover Northern Ireland Spotify channel: http://bit.ly/SoothingStoriesNI

For more inspirational places to visit in Northern Ireland, visit www. discovernorthernireland.com.

BLACKSTAFF AT 50

At the end of March, the Imagine! Belfast Festival kicked off the 50th anniversary celebrations for local publisher Blackstaff Press with an online event.

Former managing director, Anne Tannahill, and current managing editor, Patsy Horton, chatted to Dr Eamonn Hughes about some of Blackstaff’s most infl uential books and authors. The event also saw contributions from author Paul Arthur, designer Wendy Dunbar and Head of Literature and Drama at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Damian Smyth.

In 1971, at the height of the Troubles, Jim and Diane Gracey took a huge leap of faith and founded the publishing house in Northern Ireland. Fifty years and one thousand titles later, Blackstaff Press continues as one of the most important publishing houses on this island, with a reputation for originality, quality and tenacity.

Next month Blackstaff will publish Susan McKay’s Northern Protestants: On Shifting Ground. Comprised of almost 100 interviews and incisive commentary, this book creates a portrait of a surprisingly diverse community against the backdrop of social justice movements, Brexit and the centenary of the foundation of the State. Also due for release is a new collection of short stories, Moving About the Place, from the brilliant Evelyn Conlon. And there are more short stories in the autumn – from Jan Carson, Bernie McGill, Carlo Gébler and others – specially commissioned for a new anthology of strange stories from Northern Ireland, The Black Dreams. Also in the autumn Blackstaff will publish the third and fi nal part of Colin Breen’s hugely successful series, A Force Like No Other; a new book from the team at the Ulster Fry; and Stand Up, Speak Out, a memoir from the peace activist, human rights defender and former politician, Monica McWilliams.

For more information: www.blackstaffpress.com

NEW DIRECTOR OF FIGHTING WORDS

Hilary Copeland joined Fighting Words Northern Ireland, the creative writing network for children and young people, as its new director in March 2021.

Hilary has worked in the arts sector since 2008, for festivals, arts and theatre companies in Edinburgh, Belfast and Dublin. She has worked across business management, strategic planning, creative programming and event delivery. Hilary started her career in literature at the Stanza Poetry Festival and The Byre Theatre before joining the Programming Team at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, working on the Children & Schools Programme.

As a freelance arts manager, producer and programmer, she has worked for clients including Belfast International Arts Festival, NI Science Festival, Kabosh, Culture Northern Ireland, Whittrick Press, Belfast Book Festival and Young at Art. Hilary led long-standing arts and cultural charity, The John Hewitt Society, from 2013 - 2019, where she ran the John Hewitt International Summer School and founded the Hillsborough Festival of Literature & Ideas. In 2019 she joined the Irish Writers Centre as acting director, where she successfully led the IWC team during the COVID-19 pandemic, moving to remote online delivery to continue offering courses, resources and support to writers throughout the crisis.

Visit www.fi ghtingwords.co.uk

Louise Mathews

REVIEW: IMMACULATE

By Kellie Burch

Like Channel 4’s It’s A Sin, the new production from Louise Mathews is a compelling and powerful piece of storytelling about the tragic AIDS pandemic which destroyed so many lives in the 80s/90s.

Immaculate, a digital theatre performance produced by Tinderbox, directed by Patrick J O’Reilly and premièred as part of the Féilean Earraigh 2021, is based on the true story of Louise’s uncle Anthony.

A gay illegitimate Irish Catholic man, Anthony was born in Belfast in the 1940s but headed for London in the 1960s to be somewhere where he had the freedom to be himself. However, with the arrival of the 80s, Anthony found himself living through the “gay holocaust”. During a period of time when everything he stood for was denounced, Anthony shrouded much of his life in secrecy. This continued with his passing in the early 1990s, with his cause of death still remaining a mystery to Louise and her family.

This two-hander production sees an emotive performance from Louise complemented by a superb portrayal of ‘Anthony’ by Rhodri Lewis. Music by the talented Stuart Robinson soundtracks the journey Louise goes on to uncover the fate of her beloved uncle and to celebrate the man she adored.

Louise’s motivation for creating the piece is very evident from one of her opening lyrics: “I didn’t want the memory of you to be lost in time.” Entitled Immaculate after her uncle’s impeccable appearance, the production, which was to be a full stage show, has been re-imagined during lockdown as a virtual production comprising of seven songs which explore Anthony’s life and Louise’s journey to honour who he really was.

From start to fi nish, it is clear how much Louise adored her uncle Anthony. From the words she sings to her expression when she utters his name, the bond she feels is clearly as strong now, almost 30 years after his death, as it was when she was a child. One particularly telling moment is when she recounts how Anthony held her, and a room full of relatives, captive by his stunning rendition of ‘My Way’ at a family wedding.

Whilst there was no evidence that Anthony had HIV, it affected his community, friends and lovers. In writing Immaculate, Louise spoke to the National HIV Story Trust. With their help, Louise not only tells the story of Anthony but also of “a lost generation, abandoned by the nation”.

Words are at the heart of this production. Not only does Louise use them to capture the essence of her uncle, but they play a visual role as well. The stunning costumes and set, emblazoned with words, strike a stunning balance of light and dark. The effect is dramatic: on one hand it shows how words can be used to cause hurt. One particularly powerful moment sees Louise buried under piles of handwritten paper. Whilst she is initially restricted by their weight, she eventually breaks free and the moment is truly glorious. Immaculate also shows how words can give strength and literally act as a form of armour to protect yourself. Louise reveals Anthony re-appropriated derogatory terms, aimed at gay men, and transformed them to have positive connotations.

Immaculate is a remarkable production. The music pulsates with humanity as it effortlessly switches from light and upbeat to frantic and intense. Multi-level storytelling combining the visual with the auditory creates a compelling, engaging and utterly captivating performance. The result is that by the end, Anthony is a name you will never forget. Although he remains somewhat elusive, he is a multifaceted, fabulous and tragic character whose story will stay with you, long after the music stops.

Immaculate premièred on 12th March 2021.

A Co Down artist is branching out and launching her own homeware line thanks to the popularity of her colourful prints and paintings.

Jacqueline Rooney, a former art teacher, has enjoyed steady success since going full-time with her craft three years ago, but it was an encounter with furniture designer and presenter of BBC’s The Repair Shop, Jay Blades, that really sparked her creativity and entrepreneurship.

Jay reached out to Jacqueline during lockdown last year to compliment her work and express an interest in collaborating. After he shared a picture of one of her paintings to his 95,000 Instagram followers the Rostrevor artist’s sales trebled almost overnight and the pair discussed combining their passions and working together on a project.

Jacqueline explained: “During our fi rst phone call we discussed our mutual passion for colour and interior design and he told me he would love to collaborate. He used one of my paintings on the seat of an old designer chair he had upcycled and reupholstered and I was just blown away seeing my work on one of his amazing pieces of furniture.”

The chair sold within hours of going on sale and kickstarted the idea for a homeware line. Jacqueline has since had her vibrant designs printed onto luxurious velvet fabric which will be used in the range of new furniture designs, including on chairs, cushions, lampshades, curtains and other soft furnishings.

Jacqueline now has plans to open her own shop in the not too distant future and has received support from far and wide including from TV presenter Eamonn Holmes who owns one of her paintings.

To check out Jacqueline’s artwork search for Jacqueline Rooney Art on Facebook, the @jacquelinerooneyart handle on instagram or visit www. jacquelinerooney.com/jacquelinerooney-home