Since 2003 Artastic have created a pageant spectacle for St Patricks festival parade in Dublin, using a variety of community groups along with our talented artists. This blog will describe in brief of a spectacle along with credits to those involved in the year 2010.
“A topsy turvey world”
Pageant description
Follow Artastic on a journey through the extraordinary wonders of “A topsy turvey world” where nothing is quite as it seems and strangely magical characters are simply the ‘norm’. Inside this world you will meet talking cats in bowler hats, life sized dolls on their way to the ball. Liquorice shops, candy floss mops and spinning tops being chased by clocks! A giant cake would not look altogether out of place either…..
Visual concept for pageant
The visual concept is one of a colourful journey through a Childs eye that not only leaves your eyes wide open with joy, but then has you licking your lips, and stomping you feet. The Topsy Turvey World will leave you with a lasting smirk on your face for the rest of the day.
The show opens with spinning tops whirling you into frenzy. Wave hello to Tic and Toc, the talking clocks, but don’t be alarmed with what they may say to you. While candy sticks fly through the air, candyfloss dancer, show of their long hair.
Watch those cheeky chatty cats, with the funky top hats; try to steal a bite from the liquorish house. Watch the sweet liquorish dancer, twist and twirl.
And look at those large dancing dolls, looks like their dressed for a ball. But with that mischief in their eyes, you can tell someone is for a surprise.
Then the back-to-front boys, full of teenage joys bumble around the huge cake. With a spin in their eyes, were not sure if it’s from sugar, or carousel rides.
The pageant is ushered on by the large twisters, and a flock of hyper active birds, but were are not sure if their singing, or just mumbling strange words..
ARTISTIC TEAM
Artistic Director – Caitriona Mc Gowan
Performance Director: – Vijaya Bateson ( V-JOY – Phonetic pronunciation)
Lead Production Artist –. Ann Marie McGrane
Creative team – Alan Baird, Claire Noons, Niamh Kett, Emer Cloakey,
Music – A mixed collection of Electro Swing.
Sound Engineer – Gordon Turner.
Groups involved in this year parade.
Dancers from Deirdre Brown Dance school – Naas
Transition year from ST Patricks Secondary school – Naas
Transition year from Firhouse Secondary school – Dublin
Students form Model making course in IDAT Dunlaoire
Celbridge Youth Theatre
Balitore Youth Theatre
Youth Group from THE BASE in Ballyfermott, Dublin
Various friends and guest of Artastic
Interesting developments.
Caitriona McGowan has worked with Artastic for a few years, but this is her for first year to act as Artastic Director for the St Patricks day parade. Caitrona, who is from Killybegs in Co Donegal, has been responsible for the pageant from design stage, through to finish. She has leaded the team brilliantly to create this wonderful pageant.