Turnabout

Turnabout is a new Maiden Voyage dance and music performance commissioned from choreographer Jennifer Rooney and composer Elaine Agnew. Turnabout is an expression of all aspects of hope; holding on to hope, losing hope, shared hope, keeping hopeful hearts and all our stories being stories of hope.

Text is based on a piece compiled by poet Olive Broderick and drawn from stories of hope created by St Joseph’s PS P7, St Kieran’s PS P6 and Rathcoole PS P6&P7 during workshops facilitated in late 2020. Elaine Agnew’s score is performed by pianist Gail Evans and text is sung by 80+ young voices from the Belfast Philharmonic Youth and Chamber Choirs directed and conducted by Lynsey Callaghan.

Nicola Curry, Artistic Director of Maiden Voyage, said:

“The title, ‘Turnabout’, suggests movement and change which can be both physical and mental. We look at times when we have lost hope and how we responded to that in our lives and how, keeping hopeful hearts and sharing our hope, it can be restored. It also suggests how we take turns to hold hope and can pass it on to others, which is especially relevant to us all at the moment.”

Turnabout was created socially distanced, so the performers stayed 2 metres apart throughout. Due to the ongoing pandemic, instead of live performance in public space, Turnabout was presented free online during Belfast Children’s Festival.

Initial development of Turnabout was been made possible by Commission Funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Maiden Voyage is funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and is supported by Belfast City Council.

AUDIENCE COMMENTS

Looking forward to ‘Turnabout’, Caoileann Curry-Thompson, Arts Development Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said:

“Maiden Voyage excels in creating vibrant new work that engages and excites young audiences and their adults alike. With ‘Turnabout’ they show the magic potential of dance: exploring hope in a seemingly hopeless time, and togetherness in a world of social distancing and mask-wearing. The coming together of words, music and movement in this piece is very inspiring, and the array of talent is thrilling. It promises to be a celebration of the very best of human creativity and collaboration which will give us all hope for the future. The Arts Council is proud to support this wonderful new project from Maiden Voyage Dance.”