We were delighted to recently host Deirdre Griffen for a short residency at An Táin Arts Centre. Deirdre is an Irish Dancer, choreographer and teacher. Her work blends Contemporary Dance, Circus, physical Theatre and Cabaret.
The residency was a research in character and song development, specifically working on the re-imagining of the heroine, Deirdre of the Sorrows; transcending the ancient Irish Myth into modern reality. Weaving a narrative that questions power, identity and resilience in a world that seems to be constantly changing. The work invites the audience to consider the impact of the past on our present- and the power we hold to reshape the future. The research was presented locally at “POW” scratch night in Dundalk following the residency.
Deirdre writes and directs her own high physical and absurd performance work under the name HEADONBODY. Soup is a full length Solo performance which was nominated Best Performer and Radical Spirit of Fringe award 2019. She received a touring award from Arts Council Ireland to tour Soup nationally in 2022/23.
Deirdre has also created a number of short cabaret works.
She performed in THISISPOPBABY’s hit shows WAKE and RIOT.
Deirdre is Choreographer and performer with LORDS OF STRUT, THE PING PONG GIRLS for Paradise Cabaret and PING PONG DISCO. She is co-collaborator with Cian Kinsella and Breda Larkin on their hilarious and entertaining family street show SWARM. She choreographed MALAPROP theatres award winning HOTHOUSE.
Other companies she has worked for include; T.R.A.S.H.(Netherlands), Milla Virtanen(Finland), Katja Heitmann(Germany), Brokentalkers, Junk Ensemble, Theatre Lovett, Loosysmokes (Winner Best Ensemble, Dublin Fringe Festival 2015/ 2017.
She has toured internationally with Comedy dance theatre company Pony Dance (NI). (Winner Best Dance Award at Adelaide Fringe Festival 2012).
Deirdre was recently awarded Irish Arts Council of Ireland’s Next Generation Award.