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Liz Roche Company presents

WRoNGHEADED

Wrongheaded merges film, poetry and movement to confront the realities of women's rights and freedom of choice in Ireland. It was created in response to the on-going debate to abolish the Irish constitutional ban on abortion; a ban which was eventually overthrown by referendum in May 2018. While standing as a testament to a momentous time of change in Ireland, WRoNGHEADED also delves deep into the institutional repression that mediates much of our society's behaviour to this day. Driven by Elaine Feeney's spoken word poetry and electrifying performances from the dancers, the piece is a jolt to the system.

Alongside the fearless poetry of Elaine Feeney, the piece features the exquisite work of film director Mary Wycherley, composer Ray Harman and lighting designer Stephen Dodd with electrifying performances by dancers Sarah Cerneaux, Justine Cooper, Jack Webb and Kevin Coquelard.

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"...you will certainly be stimulated, challenged, and provoked to deeper engagement by what is an undeniably powerful production by a truly remarkable artist."★★★★ Chris O Rourke The Arts Review May 2018

"[Roche's] choreography is sharp and expressive, thrashing us with the narrative and revealing the savage beauty at its heart"...... "the fierce and feisty spoken words of Galway poet Elaine Feeney; a fire-cracker delivery of vicious text that has emerged from the so many dark, heart breaking and sickening examples of women subjugated through their bodies" Review by Mike Smith Art Scene in Wales

4 Stars  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from

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The Irish Times

The Stage

The Arts Review

The Edinburgh List

The Outlier Scotland

The Fringe Review

Arts Scene in Wales

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Photo by Maria Falconer

This extended version of the original 2016 production, played to full houses and critical acclaim at the 2018 Dublin Dance Festival. Featuring a new male dance duet performed by Kevin Coquelard and Jack Webb, which mirrors the choreography of the two superb female dancers Sarah Cerneaux and Justine Cooper. Together with Elaine Feeney’s spoken words this creative ensemble staged a new extended interwoven tapestry to the exquisite work of filmmaker Mary Wycherley, projected in a new format for this show; alongside new music from composer Ray Harman (from the band Something Happens); and superb stage illuminations by lighting designer Stephen Dodd. All these elements gathered together to create an intense forum for emotion and physicality but ultimately, Wrongheaded is a refuge from the necessary but ongoing debate; and a space to consider these issues from a new perspective.

Wrongheaded at EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL 2018

August 3rd - 19th at 1.30pmt DANCE BASE  14-16 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2JU, UK

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Supported by Culture Ireland as part of GB18: Promoting Irish Arts in Britain

WRoNGHEADED Edinburgh Fringe

17/08/2018

“WRoNGHEADED examines women’s rights with diligence and finely balances vulnerability

with determination, reminding its audience of how far women have come, and how much

farther to go.”

4 Stars (4 / 5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Outlier Scotland

http://www.theoutlierscotland.co.uk/2018/08/17/review-wrongheaded/

05/08/2018

“Sarah Cerneaux and Justine Cooper are sublime dancers. (…)

The combined effect is intense without hectoring. The elements of WRoNGHEADED are

perfectly balanced, and the piece ends as the women embrace, a poignantly humane image

for this timely work.”

4 Stars (4 / 5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The List

https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/102535-wrongheaded/

“Liz Roche has produced a show that deals with hard-hitting subject matter through the

arts, which is an effective way to open up and continue the debate about these important

issues. The visual and aural storytelling in this show is impactful and resonates with people

in different ways, allowing each person to step back, reflect and consider what was the past,

is the present and may be the future. (…) A very creative and moving show with excellent

dance quality: Highly Recommended!”

4 Stars (4 / 5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fringe Review

http://fringereview.co.uk/review/edinburgh-fringe/2018/wrongheaded/

04/08/2018

“It’s a piece that plays cleverly, but never explicitly, with the scrutiny and judgement of

female bodies. (…) There’s a sense of lonely interiority here, even in the shared effort of a

lift or the touch of hands. This intense inwardness is heightened by the verbal

accompaniment of Elaine Feeney’s poetry, a striking stream-of-consciousness that traces

evocative nuances of guilt, rage and grief.”

4 Stars (4 / 5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Stage

https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2018/wrongheaded-review-at-dance-base-edinburghsubtle-

and-poignant/

"The women are here to count,

To sit together and carve out arms.

To bury their dead, to feed their living,

When they are done they can

Dance in the end clutches of their spat energy,

Bone of bone’s, sharp cuckoo barrage.

Sweet desire,

All spent."