Courtesy of JMA Photography.
Belief systems whether explicit or implicit are a part of our daily lives, religion and spirituality for many sources of security. We all connect with readings, quotes, scriptures, imagery, artefacts and ritual differently – it is inevitably up to us to determine how best to navigate our own lives. The crux of his work Idol, writer and performer Jamal Gerald asks a very important question – as a ‘Black, queer and Catholic in a Caribbean household, which higher order do you bow down to: Queen Bey or white Jesus?’ The answer? The former! Described as the ‘patron saint of empowerment’, Jamal has more of a connection with the superstar. Ahead of the show, Jamal talks to us about debuting the show last year at Transform Festival ’19, what audiences can expect from the show and offers advice to aspiring writers and performers!
In light of our current political climate, we’re left questioning what the future holds – a nation built on the efforts of many cultures, revealing deep rooted tensions heightened by our current political head of state. Migration is the root of all of our stories, whether directly or indirectly; the universality of migration a complex facet of our lives. Exploring this further in her current show NOTCH, writer and performer Danaja Wass draws from her own personal story of leaving Croatia to start a new life in Ireland for a better future. Ahead of the run, Danaja talks to us about exploring the show’s themes, how she approached creating the show and what audiences can expect.
