DETACHED: An Interdisciplinary Performance by Elaine McCague, Loosysmokes
Friday 3 and Saturday 4 November | 6:30pm – 7:00pm
Friday 3 and Saturday 4 November | 8.00pm – 9:30pm
Tickets, €8 matinee, booking essential on Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/719291850287
Tickets, €10 evening, booking essential on Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/723333288337
Age suitability 10+, use of strobe lighting
Film duration: 9mins, Performance duration: 20 mins, no intervals

Each evening performance will be followed by a Drinks Reception and Audience Discussion

Combining film, installation, live aerial acrobatic dance and soundscape, DETACHED explores the complex relationship between personal identity and the impact of our surroundings and the concept of home on our sense of self.

Detached film (9 min) by Elaine McCague is a collaboration with filmmaker and photographer Olga Kuzmenko will be presented on loop in Gallery II from 3 to 5 November.

Through intricate aerial acrobatics and choreography, and stunning visual installation, Detached takes the audience on a thought-provoking journey.

DETACHED is an interdisciplinary performance work combining film, installation, live aerial acrobatic dance, and soundscape.

Influenced by the discomfort of a derelict house, the work contains several layers exploring the complex relationship between personal identity and the impact of our surroundings on our sense of self. A disorient between the conscious and unconscious on the site of the primal shelter, restless layers blur the lines between reality and fantasy, prompting a deeper questioning of the intricacies of personal identity and the concept of home.

This piece is the first stage of an ongoing series of personal experiments working with the art form of circus and integrating knowledge and methods from various other disciplines, striving to escape conventional circus and storytelling stereotypes.

CREDITS
Live performance credits
Direction and Choreography: Elaine Mc Cague
Installation in collaboration with Hazel Mc Cague
Sound: Oliver Ryan
Imagery: Olga Kuzmenko
Lighting, rigging and technical design: Conor Mc Cague
Movement research with Paz Nantes, Beatrice Calzado Bidault and Emmen Jude Donnelly.
Performer: Elaine Mc Cague
Film Credits
Film developed in collaboration with cinematographer Olga Kuzmenko.

ABOUT Elaine McCague
Elaine Mc Cague is a multi-disciplinary artist interested in bending contemporary human based circus. Her ambitions are to construct unique site responsive and immersive works in the collaboration and experimentation of the physical, visual and audio scape, that is not bound by the traditional trapping of art, circus or performance. In 2017 Elaine was recipient of the prestigious Next Generation artists award from the Arts Council of Ireland. Since 2014 she has been working as co-artistic director of Loosysmokes. Bringing an eclectic background of interest and skills, including years in film, writing and production work as well as an extensive history of training in traditional circus techniques, the aim was to create powerful and high quality artistic productions that draw in audiences outside of traditional theatre goers. Loosysmokes two major works to date, Behind the Dark and Raven Eyed, have both received five star-reviews, toured to sold-out audiences both nationally and internationally, and been nominated for multiple awards. In 2020, Loosysmokes were Artists in Residence at the Gate Theatre, Dublin and are currently associate artists at Circus Factory, Cork. In 2022 their latest work In Rhythms was programmed as part of the Cork Midsummers and Kilkenny Arts Festival. Since relocating to West Cork in 2020, Elaine has been involved with the creative team of the annual Jazz parade alongside local artists and community as part of the Ballydehob Jazz Festival.

Sean O'Toole spoke to Elaine about her work. Read the blog here.

loosysmokes.com

westcorkartscentre.com/loosysmokes

REVIEWS
Raven Eyed:  “another unique theatrical half world, mesmerising and atmospheric, allusive and seductive”
☆☆☆☆☆ The Irish Times
Behind the Dark:  “The festival’s first unmissable moment” ☆☆☆☆☆ The Irish Times

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Development funded by the Arts Council of Ireland, Cork County Council and supported by Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre.
Performance supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, Cork County Council and supported by Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre.
Film originally commissioned by the National Circus Festival of Ireland, supported by the Arts Council of Ireland. Production support from Loosysmokes.

Uillinn Dance Season 2023 is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media's Night-Time Economy After Hours at the Museum Scheme.
The Contemporary Dance Programme at Uillinn is in partnership with Cork County Council and supported by the Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon.
Proud members of Dance Ireland.

We extend our gratitude to our Curator and Dance Artist in Residence, Luke Murphy, the artists, arts workers, funders and everybody involved in bringing you this live and exciting programme.