The Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio show broadcast on Wednesday 27 May, 6-7pm (repeated Wednesday 3 June 2026, 6-7pm) and available as a podcast), features an interview with the award winning internationally recognised theatre practitioner, director, sociologist, and educator Frédérique Lecomte. Frédérique is the founder, CEO and artistic director of Théâtre et Réconciliation located in Brussels, Belgium. The company uses performances and workshops to support reconciliation, trauma recovery, and human rights work, using theatre to promote social engagement and to empower and transform individuals and communities. They have the aim of making theatre with everyone to save the world and create a shared humanity. Frédérique has developed her own theatrical method for over 40 years called Théâtre et Réconciliation, named after the theatre company she founded. Frédérique has worked extensively in Belgium and in conflict zones including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.
Enjoy a unique interview with Frédérique as she chats about her work in Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, about her unique theatrical methods and about her one woman show Mere Patrie or The Motherland. The Motherland is described as political cabaret with burlesque and whacky acts, on themes ranging from patriarchy and war to anxieties and alienations, a joyful show of energy and humour, where unmentionable acts happen including a strip tease, and peeling potatoes with your vagina!!!! The play is described as being full of energy and laughter, deconstructing masculinity, how we are brainwashed to support war and the rise of the Far Right.
Frédérique is currently visiting Ireland to work with Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality on a European project called We Are Europe, supported by Erasmus+. Frédérique returns to Ireland in October 2026 for the annual international Irish Arts and Human Rights festival which runs from 9 to 18 October 2026. Frédérique will present what she joyfully calls a ‘one night stand’, a three hour workshop to create a live improvised performance. People can sign up to take part in the workshop and live performance or simply to come and see the show as a spectator. The event is called Theatre for a Shared Humanity and takes place at the Smashing Times Visual Art Gallery and Centre for the Arts and Human Rights, 30 Sandycove Road, Dublin, A96V9P1 on Monday 12 October, 2026. The workshop runs from 3 to 6pm and the live improvised performance runs from 7.30-9.30pm. Book at smashingtimes.ie or here (for workshop + performance) and here (for performance only).
The Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio show is broadcast every Wednesday 6-7pm with Dublin South FM with each episode available as a podcast. The show is hosted by Mary Moynihan, writer, poet, creator of art and photography and Artistic Director, Smashing Times. Enjoy an engaging hour of in-depth discussions focused on all things arts, culture and human rights. Tune in to Dublin South FM 93.9, or listen online at www.dublinsouthfm.ie.
Mary Moynihan, MA, she/her, is an author of novels, poetry, films and plays, from Dublin,
Ireland. Mary embarked upon her award-winning career as a writer in theatre and film and has garnered much acclaim for her plays, poetry and short film scripts, and for creating
interdisciplinary artworks combining writing, poetry and photography presented in galleries and online. She established and became Artistic Director of Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and is Artistic Curator for the annual international Arts and Human Rights festival.