Green Skies, A Double Rhythm is a new provocative site specific performance that looks at the ‘Wrens of the Curragh’; a marginalised community of women that lived in gorse bushes outside the army base in Kildare in the 19th Century. These women worked as sex workers and were outcast from society. Their actions and words are documented only through police, court, prison, hospital and workhouse records. Using the location to contextualise the past and create a discussion around women’s rights and societal attitudes towards this subject, Freeman aims to open up new conversations around feminism and politics in Ireland today.

The performance will take place on the Curragh and is approximately 25 minutes in duration. Performers will lead the audience on diverging promenade performances which are centred on a live musical score and scripts that contain moments of improvisation responding to each audience. The audience will witness the unfolding tensions of hidden and coded communications in these groups.

This performance is developed in tandem with historian Maria Luddy’s writings, notably her book ‘Prostitution and Irish Society, 1800-1940’ and Freeman’s finding’s in Newbridge Library’s archive. The script is developed from sources including Freeman’s own writing, internet forums, history books, and poetry.

If you are Dublin-based and wish to attend this performance, the artist has provided a FREE shuttle bus from Dublin (departing City Centre at 12:30pm). Please contact producer Roisin Bohan to book a bus & performance ticket. 

This performance takes place in and around gorse bushes on the Curragh. Please wear appropriate outdoor clothing. Due to the location of this event it is unsuitable for people with mobility issues.

Green Skies, A Double Rhythm is kindly supported by Kildare County Council and Creative Ireland (funders), Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dun Laoghaire, and Riverbank Arts Centre, Kildare (partner organisations).