Debate, Drama and Dreaming Spires at MindField
Another year older, but are we any wiser? Old questions, new arguments, inspired talk, brilliant ideas, great company, ways forward, hope and renewed energy and all of it terrific fun. Highlights of this year’s MindField spoken word arena at Electric Picnic include Bob Geldof in full flow in the Leviathan tent; Booker Prize winners John Banville and Roddy Doyle on the Arts Council Literary Stage, Nobel Laureate Jerry White on surviving landmines; an edgy Theatre Stage programme created by incoming Dublin Theatre Festival director, Willie White; the MindField News Quiz hosted by RTÉ’s Sean O’Rourke; performances by fiery London rapper Kate Tempest in the Word tent; inspiring Ignite talks in the Ignition Stage where Science Gallery will also present a constellation of eye-popping experiments; and much, much more – all set among the trees and the dreaming spires of beautiful marquees. It’s a thought-provoking, entertaining oasis among the madding crowd.
As always, the Leviathan debates will be hosted by economist and broadcaster David McWilliams. Themes this year include “I Predict a Riot: Economic Violence and Civil Unrest” with panellists Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan TD, Kate Tempest and others; “All the News That’s Fit to Print?: Media Ethics and Politics” with a senior figure from News International and controversial political blogger Guido Fawkes; and the past present and future of the music business with Bob Geldof, BP Fallon and others. History Ireland brings its Hedge School to the fields of Stradbally with talks on the Nazis and the IRA and our old friend Oliver Cromwell. Leviathan also welcomes back the intriguing speed-debating of Salon du Chat; Paddy Cullivan’s Picnic Brunch chat show; Nick Kelly’s Oscar Nominated film ‘Shoe’ in See: Hear; and the soothing sounds of the Brad Pitt Light Orchestra.
The Arts Council Literary Stage, curated by Dermot Bolger will feature favourite poems from some of the festival’s musical stars as well as talks, interviews and readings including RTÉ’s Miriam O’Callaghan in conversation with John Banville; Irvine Welsh, Paul Howard as Ross O’Carroll-Kelly, Roddy Doyle, Arlene Hunt, Peter Sheridan, Leanne O’Sullivan, Presidential hopeful Michael D. Higgins, Harry Clifton, Eoin McNamee, Kevin Barry, Colm Keegan, Sarah Maria Griffin, Abby Oliveira, Erin Fornoff, Declan Meade, Dave Lordan, Niamh Mulvey, Sean O’Reilly, Billy Roche, Michael O’Loughlin, Brian Lynch, Ferdia McAnna and Cáca Milis Cabaret with Helena Mulkerns rounding off each evening with sophisticated song, dance and lyricism.
The Word Stage, hosted by the inimitable Marty Mulligan from Mullingar, features the best Irish and international performance poetry, slam, hip hop and highly-charged spoken word artists. Kate Tempest and the Sound of Rum (UK), the Poetry Divas, Glor Sessions, Poetry Ireland, Cuirt International Literary Festival and Tonguebox; Arrow in the Sky, Nellie Murphy, What’s on the Box, Brian Flemming, Kieran McMahon, Olaf Tyaransen, Tom Mathews, Gerry Duffy: Iron Man, Dave Peyton, Rory and the Island, Wounded Bear, Nighthawks, the Hardy Bucks, Gonzo Cabaret and Paul McMahon with Don’s Goodbye Cafe.
For the Theatre Stage, Project Arts Centre director Willie White – incoming director of the Dublin Theatre Festival – has assembled a programme of brilliant short sharp pieces of drama including Lords of Strut; Raymond Scannell’s award-winning Mimic; Victor and Gord; Gary Coyle’s At Sea; I’m a Homebird (It’s Very Hard) by Talking Shop Ensemble; Shane Byrne has Left his Sleeping Bag in the Car Again; and Doris Day Can Fuck Off by Greg McLaren developed by Battersea Arts Centre, Bristol Old Vic, The Junction (Cambridge) and MAC, Birmingham with the support of the Arts Council, England; as well as a number of interactive games from Make and Do.
The amazing inflatable Ignition Stage is home to the cutting-edge Science Gallery the top highlights of their blockbuster summer show ELEMENTS: The Beauty of Chemistry. Science Gallery’s latest exhibition went off with a bang, exploring the beauty of the elements, the design icon that is the periodic table and some amazing chemical reactions in the Atomic Kitchen. 30,000 visitors have already experienced the explosions, reactions and refinement of ELEMENTS, now we’re taking the best of the show to the Electric Picnic, and adding a few special twists— including dissections, crazy chemistry shows, workshops and explosions! There’s also the Irish Robotics Workshop, Pimp My T-Shirt, Mindball, Gian Bubble demos, the Magnetoscope and the Hammer-free strongman carnival game from Queen’s University’s Sonic Arts Research Centre. Dublin Hackerspace will also have a presence with a range of soldering, LED and origami workshops.
An Puball Gaeilge returns among the stages of MindField bringing the blas of the Irish language and featuring RTÉ Radio na Gaeltachta stalwart Rónán Mac Aodha Bhuí who will host his Cabaret Craiceálta from the Theatre Stage on Saturday evening to be broadcast live on RTÉ RnaG. Galway-based theatre company Fíbín will return with their new show “Finscéal Fíbín”: beidh muid ag caitheamh súil ghéar ar na scéalta agus ar na laochra stairiúla ó aimsir na bhFiann go dtí an lá atá inniu ann. Beidh muid ag plé cúrsaí grá, cogaidh, gnéis agus scoile. Tabharfaidh muid deis do dhaltaí spin a thógáil ar an roth rógaireachta le dul siar in am le fáil amach céard a tharla go díreach idir Chúchulainn agus Fherdia ag an áth sin. Agus cén chaoi ar chuir Gráinne an gheas sin ar Dhiarmuid bocht? Also featuring the Gael-Béal challenge ; Manchán Magan’s bi-lingual show Mother Tongue; the JP Trio, free-style sean-nos dancing with Sibéal Davitt; and Naomh Pádraig agus Naomh Bríd sna Flaithis performed in the traditional Irish drama format of Agallamh Beirte.
