‘Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would plant a garden that would become a stage’ - choreographer Eileen McClory bringing dance back to nature on Black Mountain with Roots

FROM the sky, the ‘million brick’ Peace wall dividing the Springmartin Road and Springfield area of west Belfast is said to resemble the Berlin Wall - although unlike it, there is no great appetite to tear down this partition that has become such a defining feature of the city.

However, there is a desire to redefine this historically contested space. Commissioned by Belfast 2024, Roots is a new multi-dimensional large scale work that will blend dance, poetry and storytelling with art and nature, culminating in a series of live dance shows taking place within the newly planted interactive community garden at the Black Mountain Shared Space project facility.

“As a choreographer, never in my wildest dreams did I think we would plant a garden that would then become a set for a show,” laughs Belfast-born choreographer Eileen McClory, who is leading the initiative alongside her Off The Rails Dance company.

“Roots is a dance and theatre show, where you’ll be guided around this newly planted garden. Within it, you’ll be wearing headphones, so you’ll get to hear our gorgeous sound design and listen to poetry and also watch our dancers.

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“You’re essentially invited to look, touch and move around and just experience theatre in a really interesting and innovative way.

“In one area, you’re going to learn a wee bit about folklore, then there’s an allotment area and a mini woodland section where we’ll touch on our place and our roots and how we’re going to move forward.

“So it’s touching on a lot of themes that align with the vision of Belfast 24, like shared spaces, shared futures and the environment.”

Described as an outdoor immersive experience, audiences are encouraged to become part of the performance and engage in this vibrant celebration of growth and community.

“Once you’re in the open space and your audience are moving around with you, it creates a really intimate experience,” Eileen explains.

“There’s no fourth wall in this show, you’re encouraged to actually bend down and smell a flower, maybe pluck some herbs and listen to stories that help you to look at things differently.”

However, those of us who have a tendency to cringe at the thought of audience participation needn’t worry, as Eileen assures me it’s “a really relaxed, gentle vibe.”

“It’s not intrusive, you’re not going made to do anything, if you just want to stand and watch – no worries,” she laughs.

Created in collaboration with the Black Mountain community, the project aims to rewrite the narrative of Belfast’s public spaces and spark fresh conversations and dreams of a collective future.

“We had great chats with the communities from Black Mountain about their relationship with the area and their memories from when they were younger.

“And we’ve taken wee bits and bobs from what people have said and it’s all been embedded in the show in one way or another, whether it’s in the text or within the garden itself.”

These relationships have been a significant source of inspiration for Eileen and the rest of the creative team.

“As artists and having chatted to people from both sides of the community and listened to their different opinions and their views on the future, what really came across was that there’s a lot of hope.

“And that’s what the show is, it’s hopeful: it’s about a shared future and it’s about imagining that and eventually, in years to come, a wall coming down - that’s the utmost dream.

“Art is a way for people to experience these ideas and see things from a different perspective without it being too confrontational or divisive.”

In addition to building a rapport with the locals, Eileen also admits that she and the team have also “developed, an absolute love of Black Mountain.”

“We’re all obsessed with the mountain, every day we’re like ‘how’s the mountain looking today?’,” she laughs.

“I was standing in the garden today and to the right I could see the Mournes in the distance, I can see all these gorgeous wild flowers, the Peace Wall and then to the left of me I can see Black Mountain and it’s just really serene.”

She hopes that the area’s outstanding natural beauty will more than make up for any potential showery shows.

“It carries on, unless there’s torrential, biblical downpours – rain ponchos and wellies are the way forward.

“I promise it’s worth it - even on a rainy, misty day you’re going to come away with something gorgeous.”

Featuring performers Sarah Flavelle, Clara Kerr, Ed Mitchell, Rosie Mullan and Harry Wilson, tickets are on sale now for the Roots live performances, which will last for 75-minutes and are to be staged between Saturday August 10 and Sunday August 18.

“The dancers are just beaut to watch,” Eileen enthuses.

“It’s a really special show, there’s so much in there, so many layers, you could come and see it three times and go away with something different.”

If that isn’t an incentive that gets bums on seats – or rather “feet in soil” I don’t know what is.

For more information on Roots, see offtherailsdance.com/roots.