Babor‪ó‬ Baboró

As humanity seeks to write a new story about our place within nature, what are the roles and responsibilities of artists working across cultures and borders?

How do we use our work to repair (re-pair) connection to place and landscape? How do we collaborate in ways that honour local voices alongside international perspectives? Can art help us forge togetherness allowing us to move beyond separation; from each other, from nature? And if we must travel to be together, how do we reduce and reconcile our climate impact?

Listen to artists from across Ireland and Australia discuss how we morally and practically collaborate within our modern world.

This event was supported by the Australian Embassy.

Recorded on October 17, 2023 during Baboró’s annual festival.

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About the Panellists
Amy Conroy is an award winning actor, playwright, and theatre maker. Her writing credits for stage include I Alice I, Eternal Rising of the Sun, Break, Luck Just Kissed You Hello, Far Away From Me, and The Boy Who Talked to Dogs. Amy has performed in countless production over the years, including The Taming of the Shrew at the Globe Theatre, London, directed by Caroline Byrne, Citysong, directed by Caitriona McLaughlin (Abbey Theatre and Soho Theatre, London), Holding – ITV, and Every Brilliant Thing, directed by Andrea Ainsworth (Peacock/ National Tour).

Andy Packer is an award-winning director of theatre, music theatre and opera. He has also worked as creative producer of multidisciplinary arts programs, creative director of large-scale events and festival director. In 2007 Andy co-founded Adelaide based theatre company Slingsby. The company is now well-established as a leading international immersive theatre company, having toured to more than 170 venues, with over 1,000 performances to more than 145,000 audience members, across 13 countries and counting. 
Andy is renowned for creating original live performance moments that are emotionally powerful and visually bold. His work across theatre for young audiences, opera, cabaret, music theatre and symphonic concerts has pushed him to develop a distinctive theatrical aesthetic that is at once personal and epic.

Jessica Wilson is leading practitioner of participative art with children and their adults based in Melbourne, Australia. She draws on local people and places to create experiences that change the way we see the ordinary world around us, regularly commissioned by arts centres around the world to create concepts that are adapted to new locations, and made in collaboration with local artists.

Maisie Lee is a director interested in work with a strong storytelling element. Her work spans theatre for adults and young audiences, radio drama and documentary. 
Recent work includes Her Sive, Abbey Theatre; Lúminaria, National Tour; Don’t Forget to Wash Your Hands (Audio - Winner of Gold IMRO 2021), Commissioned by Baboró; EMBARGO, Fishamble and In Our Veins, Abbey Theatre. 
Maisie is currently Baboró’s Artist in Residence and helped to set up and now facilitates their inaugural Children’s Panel.
[Note: Maisie was going to discuss her work with Jessica Wilson on The Shape of Quiet Feelings but she was unfortunately unable to take part due to illness.]

Tony Reekie (Panel Chair) hails from Scotland and has worked in the performing arts sector for children and young people for a long time. He is based in East Lothian and if you stand still long enough he'll show you pictures of the beaches he walks every morning. He's worked with some wonderful organisations and even more wonderful people including Imaginate, Lyra, Spark Arts for Children, Take Off Festival, The Arts Space for Kids in Shanghai and has helped curate a number of festivals around the world. He currently works with Catherine Wheels in Scotland.

Artists and educators share their experiences of working on the pilot Arts in Early Learning and care (ELC) and School-age Childcare Scheme (SAC). The pilot scheme, developed and funded by The Arts Council in partnership with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), is supporting professional artists and arts organisations to work with ELC and SAC settings, and to explore the Draft Principles for Engaging with the Arts in Early Learning and Care, published by the DCEDIY. 

Artists Maree Hensey and Naomi Draper, working with Kids' Own Publishing Partnership, early years educators Melisa Skrzyszewska and Joanna Wyvar, from Inspiring Mind Preschool and Kids’ Own’s creative director, Ciara Gallagher, share their projects and their experiences of the pilot scheme. Amanda Pintore, Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Fulbright US Specialist, concludes the discussion, reflecting on her experiences of working with early years educators, students and young children at Arizona State University, USA. Other contributors include Seona Ni Bhrian, Head of YPCE at the Arts Council, Kate Delaney, Creative Ireland Programme and Jane Heffernan Department of Tourism, Culture, Art, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. 

This discussion was facilitated by Dr. Rita Melia, Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at ATU and Coordinator of the pilot scheme.

This event was funded by the Creative Ireland Programme which is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Recorded on October 18, 2023 during Baboró’s annual festival.

What needs to shift in order to better support a thriving inclusive arts landscape in Ireland? This panel of creatives share their current arts practices and learnings from developing work with and for people of diverse abilities.

This recording includes practitioners who are breaking down barriers and exploring what it means to make performance work in an inclusive way, some of whom are, by their own admission, learning as they go. The discussion explores what it takes to create inclusive work for and with all artists and audiences, including those with intellectual and physical disabilities and what is needed to better support this work. Expect a generous sharing of expertise and experience from some of the most pioneering makers of work for adults and children in Ireland.

Chaired by Linda Geraghty. Presented in partnership with Branar’s Meitheal Initiative.

Recorded on October 18, 2023 during Baboró’s annual festival.

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About the Panellists

Brian McSweeney is a dance artist with Down syndrome based in Waterford, Ireland. He has been dancing for over 17 years, initially with WYDmoves and then as a founding member of Traces Dance Ensemble Waterford under the direction of Libby Seward, Jess Rowell & latterly Dee Grant. He has featured in the 12th World Down Syndrome Congress in South Africa, performed for the President of Ireland and danced at festivals in Waterford, Dublin, Wexford and Birr. Most recently Brian has worked with Jess Rowell during her three year dance residency at Draíocht, Blanchardstown (2020-2022) as a co-facilitator and performer on numerous projects presented on stage, film and live on RTÉ News.

Jess Rowell is an inclusive dance artist, facilitator and maker of multisensory dance theatre for young people with additional needs based in Ireland. Inclusivity is at the heart of her practice and she is committed to making dance accessible. She has performed, collaborated and directed work in both professional and community contexts for over thirteen years. Jess completed a three year dance residency (2020-2022) in Draíocht, Blanchardstown supported by Arts Council Ireland, during which time her work was documented and presented on film, stage and live on RTÉ national news. She was awarded a YPCE Bursary and Touring Award from the Arts Council in 2022 and recently received a Cruinniú na nÓg 2023 commission from Creative Ireland. Jess is very proud to be supported by Meitheal: A Branar Initiative 2022-2023.

Jody O'Neill is an autistic theatre maker and screenwriter, based in Dublin. She has spent the past five years researching and developing ways of making inclusive theatre that promote acceptance and social change. Her play What I (Don’t) Know About Autism received the WGI Zebbie Award for Best Theatre Script in 2021. She is Theatre Artist-in-Residence at University College Cork and Cork Opera House and received a 2022 Markievicz Award from the Arts Council. She is currently under commission by Graffiti Theatre and The Gate Theatre, and is co-lead artist for Home Sweet Home (CMF & Suisha Arts/Cope Foundation).

Michael Hayes is an accomplished actor with a career spanning award winning productions of stage and screen such as Sanctuary by Christian O’Reilly and most recently Into the Dark Woods by Charlene Kelly. Michael is an integral member of Blue Teapots acting ensemble, He is an actor with great sensitivity and a subtle sense of humour, he has a unique dreamy quality. Michael’s other creative interests include drawing, animation and puppetry.

Niall Cleary is the Artistic Director and CEO of Graffiti Theatre in Cork. Graffiti directing credits include: ‘Humans: A Robot Musical’ by John McCarthy, ‘The Sleep that Ceased to Settle’, ‘This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing’ by Finegan Kruckemeyer and ‘Trasna’; a bilingual show devised by the company. Niall has directed numerous productions f

In this discussion a roundtable of makers, educators and thinkers explored models of practice to aid artists in the creation of work for very young audiences, in early years education and crèche settings. Panellists mapped and articulated models of best practice arising from International and national projects such as 'Mapping', 'Small Size' and 'Graffiti BEAG'. Using the work created during these projects as case studies, panellists shared their experiences and explored the challenges and opportunities in bringing work to these settings.

The panel featured Gaëtane Reginster (Théâtre de la Guimbarde, Belgium), Marc Mac Lochlainn (Branar, Ireland) and Dr. Rita Melia (Atlantic Technological University, Ireland). Chaired by Marianne Kennedy (University of Galway, Ireland). 

Opening Doors was presented as part of the Creative Europe MAPPING Project. 

Recorded on October 17, 2022 during Baboró’s annual festival.

Learn more about MAPPING here.

In partnership with Branar’s Meitheal Initiative, this panel discussion explored models of practice which support the sustainable development of career paths for independent artists making work for young audiences. 

The panel featured Tony Reekie (Catherine Wheels, Scotland), Kate Cross (The Egg, England), Dan Colley and Matt Smyth (Creators of 'The Man with Enormous Wings' and formerly Collapsing Horse, Ireland), Emer McGowan (Draíocht, Ireland). Chaired by Linda Geraghty (Branar/Meitheal, Ireland).

Meitheal is a pilot creative supports initiative committed to the development and presentation of performing arts for young audiences across Ireland. Devised by Branar, funded by the Arts Council.

Recorded on October 18, 2022 during Baboró’s annual festival.

Learn more about Meitheal here.

The participants and stakeholders of Baboró’s LEAP artist support programme discussed the pilot project's development and execution. 

The panel featured Rachel Baltz (Baboró, Ireland), Alexandra Craciun (LEAP Participant, Ireland and Romania), Fernanda Ferrari (LEAP Participant, Brazil and Ireland), Justyna Cwojdzińska (LEAP Participant, Poland and Ireland), Ionia Ní Chróinín (Moonfish, Ireland) Jo Cummins (Moonfish, Ireland) and Maeve Stone (Cracking Light Productions, Ireland). Chaired by Dr. Charlotte McIvor (Drama and Theatre Studies, University of Galway, Ireland).

This recorded discussion asks:


What did we learn from the process? 
What were the successes as well as the failings? 
What unique role does diversity play in the Theatre for Young Audiences sector in Ireland today?

LEAP is a partnership between Baboró, Moonfish Theatre, and University of Galway. LEAP aims to bridge the gap between the diversity of Ireland's young audiences and that of the artists programmed to create and present work for them. 

Funded by the Arts Council with further support from the Irish Research Council.

Recorded on October 17, 2022 during Baboró’s annual festival.

Learn more about LEAP here.