Agnes
The excellent cast of six dancers … provide a physical resonance for the dark emotions evoked in Bernelle’s throaty and raw singing
Who was Agnes Bernelle?
A secret agent at the age of 20, a cabaret legend, a mother, an influential Dublin theatre scenester and Ireland’s oldest punk…She was also a singer – a singer of songs about life and the human condition.
AGNES is a dance work choreographed by David Bolger, who as a child was introduced to the theatre by his neighbour, Agnes Bernelle. She took him to Project Arts Centre, where she was Creative Director, and triggered his love of all things theatrical.
AGNES is a tribute from that wide-eyed boy. Through six extraordinary dancers and the songs she sang, David Bolger’s AGNES will charm and delight you as her wry sense of humour, love for Ireland and ground-breaking performance style are revealed once again on her beloved Project stage.
…this superb, atmospheric, unique production…..incredible dancers turn motion into exuberantly dark poetry
All the nuances of bawdy humour and tenderness are caught in the strutting, technically shining dancing of Justine Cooper, Nick McGough, Jonathan Mitchell, Mónica Muñoz Marín, Emma O’Kane and Don King Rongavilla – individually and in exuberant collusion.
Visually it is wonderful and detailed, transforming the space into its own world.” Alan Foran, The Public Reviews “the whole piece is hugely entertaining. If you’re a fan of Agnes or if you’re open to the world of the smokey bar singer, this is a wonderful piece of music and dance to celebrate a life well lived.
Gallery
Performed at
Dublin Dances Into Spring
Project Arts Centre
Dublin
13 - 22 March 2014
The Parallel Programme
CURTAIN RAISERS
Taking as their base the life and work of Agnes Bernelle, CoisCéim Broadreach presented two different CURTAIN RAISERS choreographed by CoisCéim Broadreach Director, Philippa Donnellan. CURTAIN RAISERS are short works of 5 – 10 minutes presented on the main stage prior to the performance of AGNES.
ARMY ANTS
CREATIVE STEPS – Young People’s Dance Theatre
WHEN Wednesday 19 March, 8pm & Saturday 22 March, 8pm
TALKING AT THE SAME TIME
THE DANCE ENSEMBLE – Performance Group for people aged 50+
WHEN Friday 21 March, 8pm & Saturday 22 March, 3pm
More events at the Project arts Centre
AGNES BERNELLE BY AMELIA STEIN
A series of projected images
WHEN 13 – 22 March
WHERE Upstairs Foyer
PHOTOS FROM THE FAMILY ALBUM
Curated by Amelia Stein
An exhibiton of printed images courtesy of Mark Leslie.
WHEN 13 – 22 March
WHERE Upstairs Foyer
POST SHOW CONVERSATION HOSTED BY VINCENT WOODS
She was also a muse, grandmother and inspirational neighbour…Join Vincent Woods, John Comiskey, Luke Leslie, Mark Leslie and David Bolger in discussion.
WHEN 20 March
WHERE Space Upstairs
AGNES ON SCREEN: From seven to seventy
A series of film screenings curated by John Comiskey. Supported by RTÉ Archives.
AGNES: A COMPLIATION 1930 – 1998
A compilation of film extracts with Agnes Bernelle from her first appearance in 1930 to her last in 1998 and featuring her live performance of ‘Cleptomania’ on Arts Express in September 1989 courtesy of the RTÉ Archives.
WHEN 13 – 22 March
WHERE Ground Floor Foyer
BRECHT ON BRECHT
Screenings from the RTÉ Archives. Adapted for television by Louis Lentin. First broadcast 20 March 1975, duration 1hr 04mins.
WHEN 20 March 2014, 6pm
WHERE Project Bar
I WAS THE LITTLE GIRL
Screenings from the RTÉ Archives. Produced and Directed by John Comiskey. First broadcast 3 June 1998, duration 1hr 28mins.
WHEN 22 March 2014, 5pm
WHERE Project Bar
IHRE MAJESTAET DIE LIEBE, 1931
A special post show projection. The cult film written by the father of Agnes and featuring three of her best-loved songs.
WHEN 18 & 21 March
WHERE UPSTAIRS FOYER
AGNES LIVE AT PROJECT, DUBLIN THEATRE FESTIVAL, 1989
An archive video recording of the stage show of “Mother, the Wardrobe is Full of Infantrymen”.
WHEN 19 & 22 March
WHERE UPSTAIRS FOYER
Find out more about Agnes Bernelle at the RTÉ Archives website: www.rte.ie/archives
Credits
CAST Justine Cooper, Nick McGough, Jonathan Mitchell, Mónica Muñoz Marín, Emma O’Kane, DonKing Rongavilla
DIRECTION & CHOREOGRAPHY David Bolger
set & Costume Maree Kearns
LIGHTING SinÉad McKenna
SOUND & ADDITIONAL COMPOSITION Ivan Birthistle & Vincent Doherty
HAIR & MAKEUP Val Sherlock
PRODUCTION MANAGER Lisa Mahony
STAGE MANAGER Stephanie Ryan
assistant STAGE MANAGER ciara dredge
chief lx kevin smith
set construction ian thompson
Scenic artist vincent bell
costume assistant tullia giacomelli
company class teacher laura macken
publicist conleth teevan
PHOTOGRAPHY Ros Kavanagh (coiscÉim) & amelia stein (agnes)
Graphic Design ALPHABET SOUP
curtain raisers choreographer philippa donnellan
parallel programme curator john comiskey
parallel programme a/v assistant karl mcdonnell
production coiscÉim dance theatre
executive producer bridget webster
company manager sarah latty
A special thank you to The Dancers, The Leslie Family, John Comiskey and Amelia Stein.
Thank you to the following for their support and contributions to the production Becka Barnes, The Gate Theatre, The Abbey Theatre; The Lir; St. Patrick’s College Drumcondra; Eamon Fox; Dave Harris; Samuel Beckett Centre; Castle Leslie Estate; our DUBLIN DANCES into SPRING partners: Liz Roche Company, Irish Modern Dance Theatre, Dublin City Council Arts Office; Dance Ireland; The Grafton Academy of Dress Designing; Sound Training Centre, Clive Welsh.
A special thank you to the following for their contributions to AGNES ON SCREEN: Liam Wylie, Gary Finnegan, Aidan Foley, Louis Lentin, Liam O’Reilly, Michael Hewitt, Brian Dick, Joe Mulholland, Niamh Lawlor, Steven Plunkett.
Music
From the album BERNELLE ON BRECHT AND...
Produced by Philip Chevron, 1977.
Mack The Knife, Surabaya-Johnny, Bilbao Song: Written by Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill.
From the album MOTHER THE WARDROBE IS FULL OF INFANTRY MEN
Produced by Charles Gray, 1990.
Broken Bicycles: Written by Tom Waits | Gone Shopping: Written by Phillip Gaston, Ron Kavana In Amsterdam: Written by Klabund, Michael Dress | Julia: Written by Daniel Cainer | The Road To Marseilles: Written by Daniel Cainer | Harassment (Der Fall In Den Fluss): Written by Alfred Lichtenstein, Michael Dress | It Was Me: Written by Billy McGee, Marc Almond.
From the album FATHER’S LYING DEAD ON THE IRONING BOARD
Produced by Philip Chevron, 1985.
Hafen-Kneipe, Girl With Brown Mole, The Nightingale: Composed by Michael Dress, lyrics by Joachim Ringelnatz.
