Rigout Productions

As the days crunch on, Raven's Watch is taking shape. With my music directors cap on I can say that the music is making its way through the script, although this time around it is a very different process. 

We are keeping within the realms of nature and of the outdoors in so far as we must and the script itself lends itself to that. As the story moves, so does the audience, as does the sound. 

It is an interesting, sometimes challenging force to be reckoned with but we have been delicate and sensitive for the most part. 

The audience can expect to see and hear a new side to Rigout Productions that I'm sure will only please and intrigue once more. Where the musical ensemble is pared back in numbers, it has gained new layers and another role in the production as a whole.

Sunday 16th August 2015

An early start after a late night, we met in Dunhill early Sunday afternoon to walk the route of the performance. Outside Harney's the sun warmed our backs as we ate ice-creams before being collected by Paul for the second leg of our journey. We piled into his red Micra and headed down the road. A dense sheet of crows shot out from the field beyond the hedgerows, filling the visible sky with their bodies as we passed beneath.

At the foot of the castle, we came upon Joe perched high on the rock and Shauna below plotting and calling, discussing placements and positions. From here we started our journey, working our way back down the road and along the Anne Valley walk.

We stopped intermittently, at benches, low walls, posts, platforms, grassy verges and standing stones, each a space to host it's own part of the story. The placements within the spaces were assessed, and lines of sight established .

We continued on in this vein, chatting and walking, gesticulating and discussing, all the while Amy making detailed notes of the decisions and requirements along the way.

The overhanging trees soon changed into a landscape of low undulating hills which opened up around us. We rested a while on a long bench and ate our sandwiches in the warm Sunday sun. Staying still it became more noticeable that the walk was full of families, dog walkers, very young cyclists, people of all ages, admiring the scenery, the wildlife, the fairy doors. Even so there is a great feeling of isolation and peace in this valley.

On the move again, the hilly landscape gave way to wetland; bulrushes poked up from the land around the trail and there was the sound of water flowing. Soon we reached the final staging area, the track giving way to an open gravelled area and a large amphitheatre of concrete and stone.

Reading about the proposal is one thing, but seeing how the individual stories will unfold as one progresses along the constantly evolving trail is another. Open road becomes a yellow surfaced trail meandering through marshy landscape, woody sheltered glades and open quarry faces, river views and rolling hills. These all form the backdrops for the different scenarios and characters as the walk progresses and the stories are woven. A more appropriate theatre could not be gotten or foretold.

To see more images check out https://www.facebook.com/RigoutProductions

We’ve come down the mountain into the valley - Rigout Productions are making an escapade to Dunhill, to the beautiful water and walkways of the Anne Valley.

Inspired by the scenery and the history of the local area, Éadaoin Breathnach took some of the positive feedback from Lackendara Jim by the Coumshingaun Lake and set upon directing the creation of a story in another site-specific scenic location. 

Currently we have a group of directors, writers, actors, musicians and artists creating an original art work based on the locality but with some mythological layers of the faery world surrounding us.

The working group consists of a good portion of last years show with some new people in the mix. 

Shauna Farrell is our lead director, Joe Meagher is facilitating the writers and also directing with Éadaoin leading the soundscape once more. There are new writers, new performers and new artists. All will be revealed in due course.

To bring you up to speed on the progress of our work.

As a music director I used the same approach as I had with 'Sirra' in that a mood, a feel, a key and a basic idea is given and discussed. Once that is settled with, we jam it out and see what comes to the surface.

Kevin Power

We have tried out different ideas, and each person has had different perspectives on the work itself but all of us have wanted the ultimate goal to pursue the idea that suits the bigger picture, the piece as a whole. 

Eoin Dalton

The night we had our first full run through was very exciting. All the pieces had been practiced and we knew they were there in isolation but bringing them together as a whole framed the experience and our efforts. 

I arranged to have Joe Meagher call around at our next practise to help direct the narration as I wouldn't have the skill base to tackle such a job. Even just having a new set of ears on the soundscape was worthwhile. Joe's professional experience was immediately obvious in the speed at which he understood what we were doing and what needed to be done. He gave us some excellent notes and left us with things to work on but with more positive vibes to carry on. 

Robert Doherty

At this stage, the piece is ready for an audience. It is ready for ears, eyes, hearts and minds to envelop it and take it in. We are looking forward to peoples reactions. Any feedback on the work is welcome so come along and feast your souls on 'Something Familiar'. 

Niamh Dalton

Éadaoin Breathnach and Kevin Power

Nick Bankes

Images by Keith Currams

Rigout Productions comprises of a group of musicians that have engaged themselves and other talented artists to create this original piece of work.

Nick Bankes 

The project came about as a result of Éadaoin Breathnach's wish to carry on her work after the success of Parallel Shed's film project 'Sirra' of which she was the musical director.

Éadaoin Breathnach

The artistic vision that fueled this new venture suggested a tour of the West of Ireland in order to musically develop some basic ideas and skills. Upon return to the Deiseland, the group of musicians formed, each of them well known to each other from Tuesday night's musical adventures in Jordan's Bar.

Niamh Dalton

 A traditional Irish story was chosen as a base point for our writer, Stephen Walsh. From this, 'Something Familiar' came about. It was brought to the middle room of William St. for improvisation and discussion.

Different ideas came and went, the chance for other musicians being involved was often a possibility but time constraints didn't allow for it in the end. We ventured into different musical styles and arrangements and so here we lie, with 'Something Familiar'.

Nick Bankes

Kevin Power

Robert Doherty

Niamh Dalton

Kevin Power

Nick Bankes

photos by Keith Currams