“We are working on two levels; the obvious, the story, the scenarios, the characters.
The other is the invisible, the luminous, the spirit-world.“
Viola Spolin, Actor, Director, Educator
Dublin Arts and Human Rights Festival
Artists Against Fascism Cabaret-Style Performance, Panel Discussion and Book Launch
Date and Time: Saturday 17 October 2020, 7.30pm
Platform: Online event hosted by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality
Category: Multi-disciplinary film performance inspired by the stories of artists standing up to Fascism during and after the Spanish Civil War and WWII, featuring exhilarating scenes of storytelling, poetry, film, music and dance intercut with reflection and discussion.
Tickets: Open to the public
Booking: Click Here
The event Artists Against Fascism will begin at 7.30pm, Saturday 17 October with the screening of our film Humanity in the Ruins, featuring stories of artists who stood up against fascism during and after the Spanish Civil War and World War II. The screening of the film is followed by an Artists Against Fascism Panel Discussion. The Artists Against Fascism Panel Discussion will remain available to the public after the event has ended. Smashing Times are also launching The Art of Courage, a new book in e-format and if you would like to receive a copy of this book, please contact info@smashingtimes.ie
Moderator: Dil Wickremasinghe
Artists and Guest Speakers:
This event features a new film Humanity in the Ruins starring Carla Ryan, Adam Traynor, Ben Waddell, Fiona Bawn-Thompson, Michelle Costello, Cathy White, Elkin and Kate Canning. The script is based on adaptations and original writing by Mary Moynihan and poetry including On the Ledge of Courageby Mary Moynihan and This Sleeping Heart by Féilim James and Madame Bluebell co-written by Mary Moynihan and Fiona Bawn Thompson. The film features an original dance The Shaman Lament choreographed by John Scott, Artistic Director, Irish Modern Dance Theatre with dancers Diarmuid Armstrong, Kevin Coquelard, Conor Thomas Doherty, Dylan Holly, Sebastiao Kamalandu, Rebecca Reilly and Sarah Ryan. The directors are Mary Moynihan, Mark Quinn and Geraldine McAlinden.
The screening of the film Humanity in the Ruins will be followed by an Artists Against Fascism Panel discussion moderated by Dil Wickremasinghe, Social Justice and Mental Health Journalist and Podcaster, Speaker, Mental Health Service Provider, Social Entrepreneur, Activist and Founder of Insight Matters. The speakers are:
- Senator Alice Mary Higgins, Independent Senator on the National University of Ireland Panel, Leader of the Civil Engagement Group in Seanad Eireann
- Fernando Benavente, Director, IFESCOOP, Valencia, Spain;
- Mary Moynihan, Writer, Theatre and Film-Maker and Artistic Director, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality
- Ellen O’Mahony and Carla Ryan, Members of the band Elkin.
Details
Smashing Times have created an innovative multi-disciplinary film performance inspired by the stories of artists standing up to Fascism during and after the Spanish Civil War and WWII, featuring exhilarating scenes of theatre, storytelling, poetry, music and dance.
The civil war in Spain was seen as a European war against fascism and foreshadowed WWII. What lessons can we learn from the Spanish Civil War in relation to the stories of artists who stood up to Fascism particularly in view of the attacks on democracy and human rights that we are witnessing today?
The film is titled Humanity in the Ruins and features performances by Carla Ryan, Adam Traynor, Ben Waddell, Fiona Bawn-Thompson, Michelle Costello, Cathy White, Elkin and Kate Canning. The script is based on adaptations and original writing by Mary Moynihan, including Madame Bluebell co-scripted with Fiona Bawn Thompson and poetry including On the Ledge of Courage by Mary Moynihan and This Sleeping Heart by Féilim James. The performance features an original dance The Shaman Lament choreographed by John Scott, Artistic Director, Irish Modern Dance Theatre with dancers Diarmuid Armstrong, Kevin Coquelard, Conor Thomas Doherty, Dylan Holly, Sebastiao Kamalandu, Rebecca Reilly and Sarah Ryan. The directors are Mary Moynihan, Mark Quinn and Geraldine McAlinden.
The film captures the spirit of artists touched by war and a desire to change the way things were. The film is inspired by a creative response to the lives and work of artists who spoke out either through their artwork or actions against tyranny and is a creative re-imagining of the achingly powerful stories and work of artists from a range of disciplines.
The film is inspired by and reflects on the work and life of Spanish poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca (1898-1936); Spanish photographer and concentration camp survivor Francisco Boix (1920-1951); German photographer Gerda Taro (1910-1937 ); Irish poet Charlie Donnelly (1914-1937); Irish choreographer, dancer and founder of the world-famous Bluebells chorus line Margaret Kelly (1910-2004); and German artist Kathe Kollwitz (1867-1945). Enjoy mesmerising new work created by artists reflecting on a darkness of the past and dreams for the future.
This event is presented as part of a transnational European project called Art, Fascism and Democracy: The Politics of Division versus the Politics of Inclusion, supported by Europe for Citizens. The project uses theatre, film and new digital technologies to reflect on the ending of the Spanish Civil War and to tell the stories of artists and activists who supported democracy and freedom and stood up against fascism in a time of war. The four European partners from Spain, Ireland, Germany and Italy are: Ifescoop, Valencia, Spain; Smashing Times, Dublin, Ireland; University of Hannover, Germany; and Consorzio per la Formazione L’Innovazione E La Qualita, Pinerolo, Italy.
The screening features a discussion and reflection on what happens when fascism takes over, what can be done to prevent the rise of fascism and what is the role of the EU today and the power of European solidarity to promote civil rights, democracy, and peace. Civil rights includes freedom of speech, the right to vote, free media and open debate which are indispensable elements of democracy and peace today.
The event coincides with the launch of The Art of Courage – Stories of Artists and Activists who stood up against Fascism featuring stories of artists and activists from Spain, German, Italy and Ireland who stood up to fascism, with the majority of stories having links to the Spanish civil war and WWII, recalling the bravery of individuals who stood up to dictatorship and oppression. The book is available in digital format and is supported by Europe for Citizens. Stories in the book include Spanish poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca (1898-1936); Spanish photographer and concentration camp survivor Francisco Boix (1920-1951); German Artist Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945); German Dada and political montage artists Hanna Höch (1889-1978 ) and John Heartfield (1891-1968); Irish writers Kate O’Brien (1897-1974) and Samuel Beckett (1906-1989) and Irish choreographer, dancer and founder of the world-famous Bluebells Chorus line Margaret Kelly (1910-2004).
The screening of the film Humanity in the Ruins will be followed by an Artists Against Fascism Panel discussion moderated by Dil Wickremasinghe, Social Justice and Mental Health Journalist and Podcaster, Speaker, Mental Health Service Provider, Social Entrepreneur, Activist and Founder of Insight Matters. The speakers are:
Guest Speakers
Speaker: Senator Alice Mary Higgins
Talk: The politics of Division versus the politics of Inclusion
This talk explores what can be done to prevent the rise of fascism and explores the role of the EU today and the power of European solidarity to promote civil rights, democracy, and peace. Civil rights includes freedom of speech, the right to vote, free media and open debate which are indispensable elements of democracy and peace today. This talk reflects on what happens when Fascism takes over and free speech and democratic processes are denied, reflecting on how to recognise a ‘scapegoat’ and how to deconstruct the discourse leading to exclusion and marginalisation. How can ordinary people recognise and prevent the rise of Fascism and what are the concrete ways and mechanisms – tools and shared core values of cooperation, diversity and tolerance – at EU and national levels by which civil liberties, rights and inclusion can be preserved.
Speaker: Fernando Benavente, Ifescoop, Spain
Talk: Reflections from the Spanish Civil War
A reflection on the impact of the Spanish Civil War in Spain (1936-1939) and the growth of Fascism in Europe during WWII and the lessons we can take from those wars in relation to standing up to Fascism particularly in view of the attacks on democracy and human rights that we are witnessing today.
Speaker: Mary Moynihan, Writer, Theatre and Film-Maker and Artistic Director, Smashing Times
Talk: The Artist Speaks: In Conversation with Mary Moynihan on Arts and Human Rights
Artist Mary Moynihan speaks about her artistic processes inspired by work of artists who stood up to Fascism in Europe with a focus on the 1936-1939 civil war in Spain which was seen as a European war against fascism that foreshadowed WWII
Special Presentation: Remembering Mary Elmes
Mary Moynihan, Writer, Theatre and Film-Maker and Artistic Director, Smashing Times reflects on the life of humanitarian Mary Elmes (1908-2002) and her involvement in the Spanish Civil War and WWII. Mary Elmes (1908-2002) was a Cork woman who was the first Irish person honoured as ‘Righteous Among Nations’ for her work saving Jewish children from the Nazi gas chambers during World War II. Click below to view.
