Lets Talk About Theatre in Flanders
Season 3, Episode 3, Apr 02, 02:28 PM
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Baboró was delighted to present the work of two companies from the Flanders area of Belgium during the 2024 festival: Grown Ups by Compagnie Barbarie/BRONKS and The Pale Baron by Kopergietery. Performances for children made in Flanders are world renowned for their ambition, sophistication and innovation. They don’t shy away from difficult topics, they don’t patronise.
What makes Flemish work so unique? What can we in Ireland learn from this innovative approach? Hear about the rich theatre for young audiences scene in this area of Belgium from some of the leading makers.
With the generous support of Galway Culture Company and The Delegation of Flanders (Embassy of Belgium) to the UK and Ireland.
With the generous support of Galway Culture Company, Creative Europe Desk Ireland and The Delegation of Flanders (Embassy of Belgium) to the UK and Ireland.
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About the Speakers
Amber Goethals (Compagnie Barbarie)
Amber is a founding member of Compagnie Barbarie, a Belgian theatre company known for its innovative and thought-provoking theatre productions. The company was founded in 2003 by a group of young theatre-makers who set out together in search of an idiosyncratic and uncompromising theatre language. Compagnie Barbarie creates performances that often combine humour and social issues. They are not afraid to tackle topics that are sometimes considered uncomfortable or controversial, and they often do so in a visually strong and sometimes absurd way. Their work targets both young audiences and adults, and their performances are characterised by a mixture of physical expression, text and image. Furthermore, Amber has been active as a drama teacher for more than 15 years. She taught at the DKO for several years, and is associated with Studio BRONKS, the educational wing of BRONKS. She gives workshops and creates performances with young people. Since 2020, Amber has been working at RITSC as a guest lecturer in the educational arts programme.
Geert Vandyck (BRONKS)
Geert began his career as a theatre-maker, working in both acting and directing. Over time, the organizational side of the arts became more prominent in his path and he managed both aspects for several years across various companies. This combination of skills eventually brought him to BRONKS, where as a member of the artistic team working closely with the artistic director Veerle Kerckhoven, he focuses on policy and vision development. Alongside this, he provides dramaturgical advice in BRONKS productions, coordinates artistic projects and workshops, and facilitates youth engagement in the arts.
Aoife Tunney (Creative Europe Desk Ireland)
Aoife is the Head of the Culture Office, Creative Europe Desk Ireland. Aoife has over 16 years’ experience as a Visual Arts Curator and Public Arts programmer & manager with in-depth knowledge of the Irish arts and culture sector. The Creative Europe Ireland Desk team work to make the Creative Europe programme more accessible to the Irish creative and cultural sectors. Through the Culture and MEDIA Offices they give advice, support and information on Creative Europe funding calls to the Irish audiovisual and cultural sectors.
Zita Epenge (hetpaleis)
Zita is the Head of International Relations at hetpaleis.
Aislinn Ó hEocha (Baboró)
Aislinn is the Executive Artistic Director of Baboró. In this broad role she oversees all aspects of the organisation as well as curating the annual international festival in October - a multi-disciplinary festival of Irish and international theatre, dance, music and visual art in theatres, schools and galleries across Galway City and county. Baboró's year round arts in education and artist support programmes have expanded significantly under her stewardship. Aislinn is on the Committee of Theatre for Young Audiences Ireland (TYAI), a voluntary organisation which supports artists and advocates for the performance arts for children sector in Ireland.
Marilyn Gaughan Reddan (Galway Culture Company) Chair
Marilyn is an experienced cultural manager with over 20 years leadership experience in cultural and European programmes. She is currently the CEO of the Galway Culture Company and serves as a member of the panel of experts on European Capitals of Culture at the European Commission as well as a member of the European Urban Initiative pool of experts. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to ensuring the onward development of the cultural sector and developing projects and programmes that intertwine with sectors like research, tourism, education, science, business, technology, environmental sustainability, and both rural and urban development, as well as climate and health initiatives.
What makes Flemish work so unique? What can we in Ireland learn from this innovative approach? Hear about the rich theatre for young audiences scene in this area of Belgium from some of the leading makers.
With the generous support of Galway Culture Company and The Delegation of Flanders (Embassy of Belgium) to the UK and Ireland.
With the generous support of Galway Culture Company, Creative Europe Desk Ireland and The Delegation of Flanders (Embassy of Belgium) to the UK and Ireland.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
About the Speakers
Amber Goethals (Compagnie Barbarie)
Amber is a founding member of Compagnie Barbarie, a Belgian theatre company known for its innovative and thought-provoking theatre productions. The company was founded in 2003 by a group of young theatre-makers who set out together in search of an idiosyncratic and uncompromising theatre language. Compagnie Barbarie creates performances that often combine humour and social issues. They are not afraid to tackle topics that are sometimes considered uncomfortable or controversial, and they often do so in a visually strong and sometimes absurd way. Their work targets both young audiences and adults, and their performances are characterised by a mixture of physical expression, text and image. Furthermore, Amber has been active as a drama teacher for more than 15 years. She taught at the DKO for several years, and is associated with Studio BRONKS, the educational wing of BRONKS. She gives workshops and creates performances with young people. Since 2020, Amber has been working at RITSC as a guest lecturer in the educational arts programme.
Geert Vandyck (BRONKS)
Geert began his career as a theatre-maker, working in both acting and directing. Over time, the organizational side of the arts became more prominent in his path and he managed both aspects for several years across various companies. This combination of skills eventually brought him to BRONKS, where as a member of the artistic team working closely with the artistic director Veerle Kerckhoven, he focuses on policy and vision development. Alongside this, he provides dramaturgical advice in BRONKS productions, coordinates artistic projects and workshops, and facilitates youth engagement in the arts.
Aoife Tunney (Creative Europe Desk Ireland)
Aoife is the Head of the Culture Office, Creative Europe Desk Ireland. Aoife has over 16 years’ experience as a Visual Arts Curator and Public Arts programmer & manager with in-depth knowledge of the Irish arts and culture sector. The Creative Europe Ireland Desk team work to make the Creative Europe programme more accessible to the Irish creative and cultural sectors. Through the Culture and MEDIA Offices they give advice, support and information on Creative Europe funding calls to the Irish audiovisual and cultural sectors.
Zita Epenge (hetpaleis)
Zita is the Head of International Relations at hetpaleis.
Aislinn Ó hEocha (Baboró)
Aislinn is the Executive Artistic Director of Baboró. In this broad role she oversees all aspects of the organisation as well as curating the annual international festival in October - a multi-disciplinary festival of Irish and international theatre, dance, music and visual art in theatres, schools and galleries across Galway City and county. Baboró's year round arts in education and artist support programmes have expanded significantly under her stewardship. Aislinn is on the Committee of Theatre for Young Audiences Ireland (TYAI), a voluntary organisation which supports artists and advocates for the performance arts for children sector in Ireland.
Marilyn Gaughan Reddan (Galway Culture Company) Chair
Marilyn is an experienced cultural manager with over 20 years leadership experience in cultural and European programmes. She is currently the CEO of the Galway Culture Company and serves as a member of the panel of experts on European Capitals of Culture at the European Commission as well as a member of the European Urban Initiative pool of experts. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to ensuring the onward development of the cultural sector and developing projects and programmes that intertwine with sectors like research, tourism, education, science, business, technology, environmental sustainability, and both rural and urban development, as well as climate and health initiatives.