
Artist Support - Tishé Fatunbi
17 February 2025
02-27 September 2024
Lead Artist - Veronica Coburn
Composer - Sinéad Diskin
Dance/Performer - Sibéal Davitt
Visuals - Joe Lee
Artist Support - Without Distinction of Sex - Project Development
As the leaves stayed determinedly green and clung to the branches of the trees in Millennium Park in the first weeks of September of this year, Veronica Coburn & Sinéad Diskin returned to Draíocht to huddle within the welcome walls and reconsider their groundbreaking project, Without Distinction of Sex, post defeat of the Care Referendum on March 8th 2024.
Without Distinction of Sex, aimed at production in 2026 to celebrate Draíocht’s 25th birthday, is an ambitious, participatory art work spanning theatre, opera and visual spectacle exploring the role of women in the Irish State since its origin to the present through the text of the Irish Constitution.
Key to that exploration is Article 41 which remains in the Irish Constitution.
Key to conversations in September were a need to reflect on the timing and wording of the Care Referendum. No one doubts that there is a need for care in a functioning society but the ill timing of the March 8th referendum, aligning care once again with the feminine, and the prioritisation of fiscal caution over social health, enshrined the continuing existence of Article 41 in this the 102nd year of the Irish State. This is 2024. It will soon be 2025. What does the continued presence of Article 41 in our Constitution say about Ireland’s attitude to women.
Sometimes, art can help us to see clearly.
The conversations in September were rich.
Focus was refreshed. Renewed. Words found paper.
Notes filled the air.
A completed text is coming soon.
"It is such a pleasure to have the luxury to develop work over time. When the Care Referendum was scheduled, I found myself wondering if we had missed the boat. Perhaps we were too late with this exploration. I wondered post referendum whether a piece exploring the fact and impact of Article 41 in our Constitution would still be relevant. Or current. Live. It is. The need for Without Distinction of Sex is stronger than ever and the focus is sharper. Razor. Without Distinction of Sex is taking shape. It will be a clarion call. A roar. For Irish women. Spoken. Sung. By a participatory choir. A chorus. Spanning age and experience. Layered text. Holding years, decades, of containment, compression, repression. Pivoting around the shape and form of Irish dance, Sibéal Davitt in motion, and Joe Lee’s visuals. Thank you Draíocht for the time and space and support to dream." - Veronica Coburn, Lead Artist
Article 41 Creative Team:
Lead Artist / Veronica Coburn
Composer / Sinéad Diskin
Dance/Performer / Sibéal Davitt
Visuals / Joe Lee
Article 41 Creative Workshop Group:
Sandra Austin, Colm Deignan, Helena Foley, Niamh Geran, Jean Grey, Ger Halpin, Áine Hayden, Margot Jones, Maura Maycock, Toni McNally, Brenda McSweeney, Anne Owens, Maureen Penrose, Elaine Quinn, Vanessa Smith, Nicola Whelan.
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