Premiere of a hugely fun outdoor performance by Louise White Performance in Fitzgerald’s Park for Cork Midsummer Festival 2022. Created for 20 audience members at a time, in the space of an hour they shared their failures, learned a song that included their failures in it, and performed it live with costumes, dance moves, and a backing track. We decided that a slightly lopsided and handmade aesthetic would be perfect. Failure that is still glorious.

I worked with Louise to help shape the audience journey. When they arrived to the park, the stage was not set up – only the fencing with the show title. They went into a space created by the fencing to have the more ‘private’ part of the show where they shared their stories. While in there, the stage management team began to set up the stage. When the audience emerged on stage, they practiced their song, helped finish ‘building’ the set, and picked out a costume for themselves. They then performed their song full blast for the passersby in the park.

The run was short and beset by bad weather. But everyone who came to the show walked away with a big grin on their face.

Set Design + Participant Costume Design: Lian Bell
Performers Costume Design + Making: Deana Hedderman
Production Management: Scott Duggan
Stage Manager: Clive Welsh
Set building: Andrii Kalyniak

Performers: Louise White + Michelle O’Rourke