‘Niki
na Meadhra performed her one-woman show, Dancing the Bones of Irish Myth and
Legend, to a mixed audience of Celtophiles, Narrato-philes, and some enthralled
adults and children, at the Celtic Club on Sunday 29 March. It was storytelling
taken to the next level -Art, a melding of fine acting and fine story-telling.
She is an experienced actor, who is passionate about her Irish heritage, and
relishes its extravagance, comedy and craftiness.’ Dr Frances
Devlin-Glass
Niki na Meadhra is passionate about her
Irish heritage; her knowledge of Irish story is deep, giving her telling a
richness that is satisfying and powerful. Her most recent show is called
Dancing the Bones of Irish Myth and Legend.
Q.
Niki, you recently performed Dancing the Bones at the Melbourne Celtic Club to a
spellbound audience. For those who couldn't be there, can you tell us a little
about this project?
Dr Frances Devlin-Glass saw my show at
Words On The Wind with Storytelling Australia Victoria and we got talking about the
possibility of developing some of the Irish warrior legends for a fund-raiser
for Bloomsday 2015. It was a challenge but a great opportunity for me to get
some these epic tales under my belt. It was also an opportunity to weave in my
favourite tales of the ancient Irish Crone, the Cailleach. Working concurrently
on a show about my ancestors for Scotch College lead to incorporating some
parts of their stories into the show as a way of showing my personal connection
to these legends.
Q. What draws you so strongly to
exploring your Irish heritage?
Exploring
my Irish ancestry has been a passion for many years and has given me a potent
sense of my cultural identity, my roots. This is something I have longed for
and been curious about ever since I was a very fair-skinned little girl. It has
been great to discover strong, unconventional female role-models in these
stories, the extravagant, vibrant tales of the heroes and the deep cultural
love of a story.
Q. Can you tell us about your name: 'na
Meadhra'?
I
gave myself the name ‘na Meadhra’ when I turned 50. Naming myself was a
powerful thing to do in many ways, including honouring and claiming my Irishness.
It translates as 'of the sea'. My family have long been coast dwellers, I was
always in boats as a child, almost drowned at 12 and love nothing better than
strolling a beach. Since my first trip to Ireland in 2008, which affected me
deeply, I feel I inhabit the waters between this land I was born in and that
land that holds my deepest roots and the stories of my ancestors.
Q. You are well known in Melbourne for
the series of storytelling evenings that you curated at the Abbotsford Convent.
Can you tell us about 'Enchanted Evening' and are
there any plans for another series?
‘Enchanted
Evening’ was presented monthly at Abbotsford Convent, in 2012 and 2013. The
format included collaborations with many Melbourne-based storytellers and
musicians. It was a night of stories and music, served up with a tasty supper,
in the atmospheric Bishop’s Parlour. It
was wonderful to do and generously supported, but it had its day. I will have a lot of new work coming up this
year, but it won't be in the Enchanted Evening format. I’m just about to leave
my studio at Abbotsford Convent. A new chapter is beginning in my storytelling
work.
Q. You are off to Ireland again in
September?
Yes!
I've been invited to be a guest storyteller at Sneem International Storytelling Festival - which I'm delighted about! I've also lined up a show in Waterford,
where my ancestors most recently left Ireland from. It will be a moving event
for me. Visiting Bunmahon the first time had a visceral impact. I have several
months to prepare for this next trip and hope to organize several more
performances, some study, and some adventures for my travels. I might even
include some storytelling in Scotland. Looking forward to it! I will
return with a swag of tales, no doubt!
To
learn more about Niki na Meadhra and Dancing the Bones I encourage you
to go to the Tinteán online magazine (an initiative of the Australian Irish
Heritage Network) and read the article posted by Dr Frances Devlin-Glass. HERE
‘The
choice of material and welding of it together was mistress-ful, and
structurally very satisfying, beginning with fantasy, moving into gentle
feminism, and ending up with the mad OTT hero. It is not easy to find a pathway
through conflicting and multiple versions, but Niki did just that, and made it
look easy, which it emphatically is not.’
Congratulations
Niki. Storytelling Australia Vic love your stories and wish you well for you
next Irish adventure.
You can follow Niki na Meadhra on Facebook HERE
Linkedin HERE
Posted by Jackie Kerin for SAV
