Collaborative Project:  'The Sea', 2014

 

 

The story centres on a young, unmarried woman at the beginning of the 19th century. When we meet her, she is on the beach. Her gown lies on the shore and she is dressed in light undergarments. It is winter and early evening. It is very cold. She is pregnant. Our proposed piece is about her last few minutes, after which, she ends her life and the life of her unborn child. In an age that offered few choices to women, she has found an empowered certainty in her decision to die. She has chosen to not subject herself to the consequences of an unplanned pregnancy, the threat of social ostracization and the likelihood of a miserable isolated existence.The Sea strongly refers to the element of water. Comparisons were drawn between the water of the sea, the water our bodies consist of, the water of baptism and the water that quenches the fire of passion. We are surrounded with fluid in the womb, our waters break when we are about to give birth and in the catholic faith, we are baptised with holy water. The composition of the piece centres on one woman’s personal ceremony, birth, baptism and death. She is returning to her origins before birth and entering a similar world of water as the child in her womb. This poses the question is it a rebirth, a death, or both?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main objective of this piece is to highlight the shame, social stigma, danger and isolation women have faced in the past and continue to experience in the 21st century when faced with an unplanned pregnancy. It was not initially our intention to make this piece a statement on the rights of women, abortion or suicide. It was quite simply the story of a woman who felt that the only option open to her was to end her life and the life of her unborn baby. However in light of our research and open dialogue on the topic we realize that this taboo topic, shrouded in secrecy and darkness, deserves to be openly discussed and acknowledged. Main topics explored during the creative process:-Taboo topic of unplanned pregnancy, feeling of isolation, familial preference for denial, ‘brush it under the carpet’ attitude-Many women still secretly go abroad for abortion to this day- Exercising the right to be publicly heard- Disintegration of the romantic ideal- Social & moral affects of traditional education and church teachings.

 

While the topics of suicide and abortion are widely covered in the media, we feel that there is still a distance and discomfort amongst people to openly discuss them. The period in which this piece is set relates to a time in the 1900s when women had limited choice in the event of a pregnancy outside marriage. This piece explores the emotional impact of one woman’s decision to end her life due to the realities of the time she was living in. Throughout the creative process we realised that although there are many options available today, there still exists a shroud of secrecy, shame and guilt. The highly sensitive and complex subject matter of this piece is offering the audience an opportunity to consider this dilemma this woman faces and view it from her perspective.

 

Through the cross-disciplinary fields of movement, music, photography, film and poetry we wish to convey the potency and poignancy of this woman’s choice. This is a dilema that women have faced throughout the ages and continue to face today. This original production aspires to bring the audience on an experiential journey into the psyche of this woman and her emotional experience in the last few moments of her life. Through lighting , sound and visual efects as well as live performance and musical composition, we seek to provoke a sensorial reaction within the viewer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collaborating Artists 

 

Laura Sarah Dowdall is an independent performance artist, dancer, actor and improviser. Laura has spent the last few years in the artistic hub of Berlin, performing and investigating new developments in the field of dance and performance art. With a background in drama, classical ballet and contemporary dance, Laura’s current collaborative developments lie in the realm of  performance art, improvisation and site-specific journeys, working with artists of diverse and experimental interests and background. 

 

Sara Weis is a musician and composer. She studied performance art at the Samuel Beckett Centre, Trinity College Dublin and has trained with many well known vocalists throughout Europe. As the daughter of an orchestral musician and actor, she grew up in the atmosphere of music and theatre. Sarah was awarded a scholarship to study piano at the college of music. The inspiration for this production stems from the lyrical story of the character portrayed in her composition ‘The Sea’.

 

Keith Mannix is a film-maker and director. Although always interested in and practising Music, Literature and the Arts, it was in Unversity, while studying English and Philosophy that he first encountered Film as a true art. Having graduated and travelled, Keith returned to Ireland studied, and set up Manx Productions in 2006. In 2007, he wrote, directed, edited, scored, and produced his first short film, Death in the West (2007), winning the Claire Lynch award at the Cork Film festival.