Sounds Like Folk

It seems timely that the last episode of the current Sounds Like Folk podcast series belongs to Jonathan Kelliher, Artistic Director of Siamsa Tire. Jonathan and Joanne go on a journey through his years with Siamsa, from Teach Siamsa Finuge to the Core Group and finally, to his current role. He speaks about his strong connection with North Kerry Dance, and they chat about what it's like being a part of a company like Siamsa. All the while, they reflect and dream about its past, present and future. Enjoy!

This week Joanne chats to another generation of Community Cast performers: Derwin Myers, Helena Brosnan and Jamie Flannery. Members of the cast since they were children, the trio reflect on their memories, proud moments in the National Folk Theatre, the importance of the education within Siamsa and also their hopes and aspirations for the future. Enjoy!

Marianne Kennedy is a lecturer in Drama, Theatre and Performance and Head of Production and Curation of Drama and Theatre Studies at NUI Galway. Marianne is a theatre-maker with 20 years professional experience as a producer and director in the Irish language, performance and traditional arts. She also spent six years as the CEO of Siamsa Tire. Her conversation with Joanne is an interesting and passionate conversation about the Irish language, theatre, and its presence on this country's stages and theatre spaces.

On this week's episode, Joanne chats with Michael Keegan-Dolan, an award-winning choreographer, theatre-maker and the Artistic Director of Teaċ Daṁsa. Formed in 2016, Teaċ Daṁsa's aim is to forge stronger connections with the native traditions, language, and music of Ireland in the classical form. Here Joanne and Michael talk at length about working in the world of folk theatre, musing on the highs, the lows, the music, the people, and everything that makes it worthwhile. Enjoy!

This week's podcast comes ten years after Siamsa Tire was invited to perform at WERK, hosted by Thisispopbaby, the company which is co-directed by today's guest Phillip McMahon. Both companies appear to inhabit very different theatrical worlds which is why Joanne wanted to chat with Phillip, a Dublin-based director and playwright who holds a strong belief in active citizenship and taking responsibility as an artist to create places that people want to be in – be that in a theatrical setting or in the everyday. Enjoy!

This week's episode is a mixture of chat, memories and musings on the future of Siamsa with three of the company's most beloved cast members. Anne is Training and Development Officer with Siamsa and long-serving folk artist. Noirin is a teacher, former board member and Community Cast member, who has toured and performed with the company for many, many years. While Pierce is a wonderful singer/performer and second generation Siamsa cast member. His father Liam (RIP) was one of the founding members of the company. Enjoy!

Hosted by Joanne Barry, the National Folk Theatre’s Repertory Director, Sounds Like Folk will trace folk voices, past and present. In the second episode of the series, Joanne meets musician, collaborator, broadcaster, and new Siamsa friend Ruth Smith. Ruth is a multi-instrumentalist and is a regular presenter on RTÉ Radio 1 where she shares her knowledge and passion for folk music every Sunday evening on her show Simply Folk. She tells Joanne about how this grá for folk tradition came to be and how her new role as Associate Artist with Siamsa Tíre will help to strengthen this relationship.

Hosted by Joanne Barry, the National Folk Theatre’s Repertory Director, Sounds Like Folk will trace folk voices, past and present. In the first episode, Joanne chats to internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy about her Siamsa Tíre Community Cast roots and her incredible career to date. Paula is a regular guest at the world’s major opera houses and concert halls performing a wide variety of repertoire. Previously a member of the Ensemble at the Oper Frankfurt, Paula’s roles have included creating the title role Carmen in Barry Kosky’s iconic production, Octavian Der Rosenkavalier, Dido Dido and Aeneas, title role Pénélope, Fauré and Polissena Radamisto.