Letters from Afar with Naoise: Irish Diaspora Diaries

Interview with award-winning theatre practitioner, director, sociologist, and educator Frédérique Lecomte

The Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio show broadcast on Wednesday 27 May, 6-7pm (repeated Wednesday 3 June 2026, 6-7pm) and available as a podcast), features an interview with the award winning internationally recognised theatre practitioner, director, sociologist, and educator Frédérique Lecomte. Frédérique is the founder, CEO and artistic director of Théâtre et Réconciliation located in Brussels, Belgium. The company uses performances and workshops to support reconciliation, trauma recovery, and human rights work, using theatre to promote social engagement and to empower and transform individuals and communities. They have the aim of making theatre with everyone to save the world and create a shared humanity. Frédérique has developed her own theatrical method for over 40 years called Théâtre et Réconciliation, named after the theatre company she founded. Frédérique has worked extensively in Belgium and in conflict zones including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi. Enjoy a unique interview with Frédérique as she chats about her work in Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, about her unique theatrical methods and about her one woman show Mere Patrie or The Motherland. The Motherland is described as political cabaret with burlesque and whacky acts, on themes ranging from patriarchy and war to anxieties and alienations, a joyful show of energy and humour, where unmentionable acts happen including a strip tease, and peeling potatoes with your vagina!!!! The play is described as being full of energy and laughter, deconstructing masculinity, how we are brainwashed to support war and the rise of the Far Right.  Frédérique is currently visiting Ireland to work with Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality on a European project called We Are Europe, supported by Erasmus+. Frédérique returns to Ireland in October 2026 for the annual international Irish Arts and Human Rights festival which runs from 9 to 18 October 2026. Frédérique will present what she joyfully calls a ‘one night stand’, a three hour workshop to create a live improvised performance. People can sign up to take part in the workshop and live performance or simply to come and see the show as a spectator. The event is called  Theatre for a Shared Humanity and takes place at the Smashing Times Visual Art Gallery and Centre for the Arts and Human Rights, 30 Sandycove Road, Dublin, A96V9P1 on Monday 12 October, 2026. The workshop runs from 3 to 6pm and the live improvised performance runs from 7.30-9.30pm. Book at smashingtimes.ie or here [https://smashingtimes.ie/event/theatre-for-a-shared-humanity-arts-and-human-rights/] (for workshop + performance) and here [https://smashingtimes.ie/event/theatre-for-a-shared-humanity/] (for performance only). ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Reflections on War and Peace & Interview with Aoife McAtamney

The Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio show broadcast on Wednesday 10 and 16 June 6-7pm (and available as a podcast) features a reflection by Mary Moynihan on war and peace. Global military spending now exceeds €3 trillion every year. Who benefits and where is the equivalent investment in peace? Instead of spending 1.7 billion on defence, should the Irish government spend this money on housing, job creation and peace? Why can billions be found for war spending while poverty homelessness, wealth inequality and climate breakdown continue to worsen? These are the debates we need to have in Irish society and the media.  Artist Mary Moynihan says ‘Ireland can be a leading voice for peace. Defend our neutrality, defend the Triple lock and challenge the growing influence of military and corporate interests on public policy and governments. As our former president Michael D. Higgins said, we need to ‘make space for peace.’   The show features a guest artist interview with Aoife McAtamney, a multidisciplinary artist working with contemporary dance, choreography, filmmaking, music and education. Aoife is Artistic Director of Daughter of a Drum, and a part of Choreography Connects, a CoisCéim artist-led residency project. Aoife is currently doing an Artist Residency with Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality at 30 Sandycove Road, Dublin. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Interview with award-winning theatre practitioner, director, sociologist, and educator Frédérique Lecomte

The Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio show broadcast on Wednesday 27 May, 6-7pm (repeated Wednesday 3 June 2026, 6-7pm) and available as a podcast), features an interview with the award winning internationally recognised theatre practitioner, director, sociologist, and educator Frédérique Lecomte. Frédérique is the founder, CEO and artistic director of Théâtre et Réconciliation located in Brussels, Belgium. The company uses performances and workshops to support reconciliation, trauma recovery, and human rights work, using theatre to promote social engagement and to empower and transform individuals and communities. They have the aim of making theatre with everyone to save the world and create a shared humanity. Frédérique has developed her own theatrical method for over 40 years called Théâtre et Réconciliation, named after the theatre company she founded. Frédérique has worked extensively in Belgium and in conflict zones including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Interview with John Scott, Artistic Director, Irish Modern Dance Theatre

Today’s show is dedicated to the art of dance in the context of arts and human rights. The show begins with a call by presenter Mary Moynihan for peace and non-violence across the world and for greater investment in international diplomacy, humanitarian action, accountability measures, and meaningful sanctions as a constructive path forward for peace and an end to funding for the arms industry. This is followed by a reflection on arts and human rights and the power of dance as a form of resistance and protest.   Numerous families in Chile today are still searching for relatives who disappeared during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet who violently took over and ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990. The show highlights how the ‘cueca sola’ or ‘solo dance’ has been used, and continues to be used as a form of peaceful protest by relatives of the ‘disappeared’.   Our feature guest artist today is John Scott, a Dublin-born choreographer, performer, and founder of Irish Modern Dance Theatre. John is also a founder and Artistic Director of the Dancer from the Dance Festival and a member of Aosdána.  Listen to John talk about the artistic practices that inspire his work as a dancer and choreography and his creative journey into arts and human rights.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Letters from Afar with Naoise: Irish Diaspora Diaries

The Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio Show, broadcast Wednesday 29 April and Wednesday 3 May, 6-7pm, is  presented by Mary Moynihan on Dublin South FM. On the show, we are launching a new occasional segment called Letters from Afar with Naoise: Irish Diaspora Diaries. Over the coming months, Naoise will be joining us from Australia, sharing stories from the Irish abroad, exploring migration, identity, and the realities of building a life far from home. On today's show Naoise recalls his adventures in Nepal and Thailand before heading to Vietnam and then Australia. In addition to exploring the adventures of a young Irish person travelling far from home,  we will use the opportunity to talk about artists, culture and sport in some of the locations Naoise is travelling to.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.