‘Where I am, I don’t know, I’ll never know, in the silence you don’t know, you must go on,
I can’t go on, I’ll go on.‘
Samuel Beckett, Writer and Playwright
Dublin Arts and Human Rights Festival
Politics of Division versus Politics of Inclusion – Schools Performance and Discussion
Date and Time: Friday 16 October 2020, 10am-12pm
Platform: Online event hosted by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality
Category: Multi-disciplinary cabaret-style 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 second level schools only
Booking: Booked out
Moderator: Dil Wickremasinghe
Artists and Guest Speakers: Fernando Benavente, Director IFESCOOP, Spain; Senator Alice Mary Higgins, Independent Senator on the National University of Ireland Panel, Leader of Civil Engagement Group in Seanad Eireann; Mary Moynihan, Writer, Theatre and Film-maker and Artistic Director, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality. Performances by Irish Modern Dance Theatre, Carla Ryan, Adam Traynor, Ben Waddell, Fiona Bawn-Thompson, Cathy White, Elkin, and Kate Canning.
Details
The ground-breaking Smashing Times are honoured to present the international public premiere of an innovative multi-disciplinary cabaret-style performance inspired by the stories of artists standing up to Fascism during and after the Spanish Civil War and WWII. The cabaret-style performance features exhilarating scenes of theatre, storytelling, poetry, film, music and dance, all captured on film and screened to the public for the 2020 Dublin Arts and Human Rights Festival.
This event will be viewed by Ballyfermot College, CBS Brunswick St., Mount Temple Comprehensive School, and Stanhope Street Secondary School.
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 we are witnessing today?
This performance art film captures the spirit of artists touched by war and a desire to change the way things were. Experience a creative re-imagining of the achingly powerful stories and work of Spanish poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca (1898-1936); Spanish photographer Francisco Boix (1920-1951); German Artist Kathe Kollwitz; Irish writers Kate O’Brien (1897-1974) and Samuel Beckett (1906-1989); Irish choreographer, dancer and founder of the world-famous Bluebells Chorus line Margaret Kelly and more. Enjoy mesmerising new work created by artists reflecting on a darkness of the past and dreams for the future featuring an original soundscape by Lisa McLoughlin and a modern dance piece by John Scott Dance.
This unique film and post-screening panel discussion is presented by Smashing Times as part of our commitment to working with young people using the arts to promote equality and rights for all in a free and democratic Europe. The 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.
Guest Speakers:
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: Mary Elmes and the power of European Solidarity
Mary Moynihan talks about the life of humanitarian Mary Elmes and her involvement in the Spanish Civil War and WWII, Reflecting on lessons we can take from the Spanish Civil War in Spain (1936-1939) in relation to the story of Mary Elmes who stood up in a non-violent way to Fascism.
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: 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.
Funded by Europe for Citizens 
