Dance artist and choreographer Deirdre Griffin introduces her acclaimed performance Soup, which tours Ireland this September and October.
Soup is a kinetic shrine to my mother and an absurd, atmospheric meditation on the process of grief.
It is written through an exploration of the everyday reminders surrounding my mother's death; the surreal experience of watching her body become something other than its own; the sensation of detachment following her death: and a series of dreams that chart the process of grief.
The piece is inspired by my mother Mary Griffin, nee Heneghan, from Taugheen, Co. Mayo who died 9 years ago from stomach cancer.
Mam loved nature. She loved the sea. She was an amazing cook, and kept an allotment where she grew vegetables in Trim. She was fun, humorous and witty, pro-nature and strongly against any chemicals or sprays that were harmful to the environment or wildlife.
When she developed stomach cancer, she couldn't eat her own food any more. Instead, she was put on a drip. The drip reminded me of a soup in a bag and it helped sustain her through an ordeal of operations and treatment.
It is difficult to put into words all that my mother meant to me. Through tone, ridiculous costumes and the behaviour of the body that carries everything. I tried my best in Soup to convey the divine, fun character of my mother and how dear she was to us through my own absurdity, sadness and grief of her loss.
Mam died in November 2013. She is dearly missed.
Soup is at Dance Cork Firkin Crane, Cork, on 23rd/24th September, The Source Arts Centre, Thurles on 27th September, Linenhall, Castlebar on 29th September and Black Box Galway on 3rd October.
