First Thought

Audio Guide: Patricia Piccinini's We Travel Together

Welcome to the official Audio Guide to We Travel Together By Patricia Piccinini as part of Galway International Arts Festival.

Patricia Piccinini is one of Australia’s most acclaimed artists who has received worldwide attention for her startling sculptures, installations and digital environments. Born in Sierra Leone, Patricia uses her craft to create striking images of hyperrealistic hybrid animals, humans and creatures to question the way that contemporary technology and culture changes our understanding of evolution and what it means to be human.

When leaving this exhibition the artist hopes the audience are inspired to ask questions about the changing relationship between us and the world around us and that hopefully, we can begin to imagine a new way forward, together with other creatures rather at their expense.

The Festival Gallery is presented in association with The Dean Galway who also provided support for this audio guide. For more information about other shows in the festival visit www.giaf.ie.

Vinyl Hours with Brian Cross

Vinyl Hours is a series of talks with music aficionados in conversation with music maestro Tiernan Henry. On this episode Tiernan sits down with internationally renowned photographer, film maker, DJ, and chronicler of hip hop music and culture Brian Cross [AKA B+] to discuss the music, particularly music on vinyl records as you'll hear, that moves him. This episode was recorded live at GIAF 2023.

Listen along to Brian Cross's playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/11xKo54H41Dp8TARbh6qit?si=031e520755014011

Spend an hour on an aural journey of treasured musical memories with special guests, who reveal their go-to playlists, the soundtrack to their lives and explore what exactly it stirs within them; fun, heartbreak and revolution.

First Thought Backstage: Life & Times of Michael K

Welcome to First Thought Backstage with Galway International Arts Festival, a series where we sit down with theatre-makers from GIAF 2023 to discuss the making of their shows.

Life & Times of Michael K, is a hugely ambitious theatrical staging of Nobel Prize-winning author J.M. Coetzee’s novel which combines puppetry, performance, film and evocative music bringing together some of South Africa’s most revered, multi-award-winning artists in this epic production adapted and directed by Lara Foot. Listen to Charlotte McIvor, lecturer in Drama and Theatre Studies at University of Galway, catch up with cast members in this post-show talk recorded live after their performance at Galway International Arts Festival 2023.

First Thought Backstage is presented in association with University of Galway.

First Thought Backstage: The Pulse

Welcome to First Thought Backstage with Galway International Arts Festival, a series where we sit down with theatre-makers from GIAF 2023 to discuss the making of their shows.

The Pulse by Gravity & Other Myths is a hugely ambitious and monumental work of scale that unites audience, acrobat and choir into a single mesmerising organism. A shimmering mass of sixty acrobats and choir members unite and divide, becoming a spectacular being of muscle, bone and voice as a mountain of bodies crumbles into an ocean of sound. Listen to Charlotte McIvor, lecturer in Drama and Theatre Studies at University of Galway, catch up with cast members in this post-show talk recorded live after their performance at Galway International Arts Festival 2023.

First Thought Backstage is presented in association with University of Galway.

First Thought Backstage: Volcano

Welcome to First Thought Backstage with Galway International Arts Festival, a series where we sit down with theatre-makers from GIAF 2023 to discuss the making of their shows.

In this post-show talk Ian Walsh, lecturer at the University of Galway, sits down with Luke Murphy and Will Thompson to dive deeper into the (out of this) world of ideas that went into creating Volcano. Recorded live at Galway International Arts Festival 2023.

Acclaimed director and choreographer Luke Murphy blurs the lines of experimental theatre, contemporary dances and a psychological sci-fi thriller in live performance made for the Netflix era. Taking audiences on a unique and voyeuristic journey Volcano explores the all too familiar struggles of power, time and trust, across four, forty-five minute episodes.

First Thought Backstage is presented in association with University of Galway.

Vinyl Hours with Robert Forster

Vinyl Hours is a series of talks with music aficionados in conversation with music maestro Tiernan Henry.

On this episode Tiernan sits down with Robert Forster. Robert Forster is one of Australia’s most literate songwriters, with a solo repertoire drawn from a deep well of ideas and imagery, delivered in a conversational tone and impossible beautiful melodies. This episode was recorded live at GIAF 2023.

Listen along to Robert Forster's Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5LOgzr0I3BzorvCUBFKXzW?si=6973a9a5280b4b4a

Spend an hour on an aural journey of treasured musical memories with special guests, who reveal their go-to playlists, the soundtrack to their lives and explore what exactly it stirs within them; fun, heartbreak and revolution.

Vinyl Hours with Elaine Mai

Vinyl Hours is a series of talks with music aficionados in conversation with music maestro Tiernan Henry.

On this episode Tiernan sits down with Irish Electronic powerhouse Elaine Mai. Elaine Mai has captivated fans and critics alike with her mesmerising performances and unique blend of emotive dance music and in this episode she shares the music that moves her. This episode was recorded live at GIAF 2023.

Listen along to Elaine Mai's playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3cUv9Sver3eXtEygyblojo?si=895cfe1c9c2149a1

Spend an hour on an aural journey of treasured musical memories with special guests, who reveal their go-to playlists, the soundtrack to their lives and explore what exactly it stirs within them; fun, heartbreak and revolution.

Vinyl Hours with DJ Fitchie of Fat Freddy Drops

Vinyl Hours is a series of talks with music aficionados in conversation with music maestro Tiernan Henry.

On this episode Tiernan sits down with New Zealander DJ Fitchie, AKA Mu, of Fat Freddy Drops ahead of his performance at the Heineken Big Top. Recorded live at Galway International Arts Festival 2023.

Listen along to DJ Mu's playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2pa8X7jUOJg4jaiw8vNaUj?si=ce41ca2ff2214bfe

Spend an hour on an aural journey of treasured musical memories with special guests, who reveal their go-to playlists, the soundtrack to their lives and explore what exactly it stirs within them; fun, heartbreak and revolution. 

GIAF23: David Mach and The Oligarch’s Nightmare

An official companion to David Mach's The Oligarch’s Nightmare at the festival gallery. The Festival Gallery is presented in association with The Dean, Galway, who also provided support for this podcast.

 

This podcast was produced by Andy Gaffney, The Shift Podcast Network.

First Thought Backstage: HOME

Welcome to First Thought Backstage with Galway International Arts Festival, a series where we sit down with theatremakers from GIAF 2022 to discuss the making of their shows.

Geoff Sobelle’s Home throws open the doors and invites you to a must see moving meditation of the relentless passage of time, and a breath-taking spectacle of illusion, choreography, music and storytelling. Listen to Dr El Putnam, Lecturer in Digital Media at NUI Galway catch up with cast members Home in this post-show talk. Hear the ensemble members' thoughts on the characters they play and explore the everyday drama of what makes a house a home.

First Thought Backstage is presented in association with University of Galway.