Narrative Arts Club to be founded in Dublin

dublin | arts and media | news report Sunday September 11, 2005 20:54 by Coilín ÓhAiseadha - Narrative Arts Club +353-86-060 3818

Prospective performers invited to submit proposals

Experienced international storyteller Coilín ÓhAiseadha is preparing to launch an innovative narrative arts club for the promotion of new kinds of storytelling performance in Dublin this autumn.

Prospective performers - professional and amateur - are invited to submit proposals.

In a break with the dusty cliches and preconceptions of traditional storytelling, the Narrative Arts Club will host Irish and international performers working with new narratives and new ways of presenting narratives, at a venue in Dublin city centre this autumn.

In recent years, a very lively comedy scene has sprung up around the city, with two or three comedy clubs being held every night of the week. Meanwhile, storytelling has been relegated to the sidelines.

Traditional storytelling has apparently very little attraction for young urban Irish audiences, possibly because of a number of cliches and preconceptions associated with it, but perhaps also through a failure to promote itself to young urban audiences. Meanwhile, stand-up comedy leaves little room for more elaborate performances, and no room at all for the performance of narratives that leave the audience moved to tears, or have them sitting on the edge of their seats in suspense.

From this, an exciting opening emerges to create a forum for a new kind of narrative performance. The phrase “narrative arts” is designed to convey new concepts of storytelling performance that are yet to be discovered by the adventurous performer and revealed to the inquisitive audience. And the “club” concept conveys the idea of an intimate setting, where the performers can exchange experiences and where the listeners belong with each other and meet like-minded people.

The club is currently seeking a venue with the following characteristics:
- city centre location with passing trade
- a dedicated space, without the interference of sound from elsewhere or of people passing through
- comfortable, intimate, atmospheric decor and furniture
- some point where a performer can easily be seen and heard by everybody in the room, preferably without amplification
- seating for initially 50 to 70 people, arranged in rows or intimate clusters
- access to a bar where the audience can buy drinks in the breaks
- available on a week night, e.g. Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday
- availability once a month if and when the concept becomes established.

Several possible venues have already been approached and given positive signals.

An admission fee of initially perhaps €5 will be charged, and the club expects to receive funding or private sponsorship to help with promotion and advertising.

The concept will be promoted through listings in the Event Guide, In Dublin, The Ticket, Day and Night, etc., and through postering and leafletting in the environs of the club. Relevant newspaper columnists and radio shows will be invited to interview the performers in advance, and to publish reviews. Television may also be interested.

Performers may include professional storytellers, comedians, actors, screenwriters or other artists who are keen to participate in the creation of a new artistic concept focusing on the presentation of narratives in what might be described as a new kind of intimate, eye-contact theatre.

The founder, Coilín ÓhAiseadha, himself has five years' experience as a performer in festivals and cafes in the very lively and innovative storytelling scene in Denmark and Sweden, as well as outrageous narrative comedy sets in the Battle of the Axe and the Bulmer's comedy competition.

Performers who might like to participate, or at least to find out more, are invited to contact Coilín at coilin -at- aatchoo -dot- com or 086 060 3818.