YARN Residency Finale
Friday 15 November 2024
| Friday 15 November
8pm |
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A highlight of our festival, please join us for a very special evening in Mermaid Arts Centre as we celebrate the a deep connection that exists between Morocco and Ireland forged through our shared oral storytelling tradition.
We are thrilled to have partnered with the World Storytelling Café in Marrakech and Killruddery House and Gardens in Bray on an exciting artist residency exchange.
This residency been kindly supported by the Arts Council International Residency Initiative Scheme.
Mermaid Arts Centre is thrilled to have partnered with the World Storytelling Café in Marrakech on this exciting artist residency exchange, which has been kindly supported by the Arts Council International Residency Initiative Scheme and Killruddery House & Gardens in Bray.
Marrakech has been named as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World 2024 and what better time to celebrate together.
In September 2024 storyteller Fiona Dowling travelled to Marrakech and share her culture and stories. In return, we will welcome Moroccan teller Zouhair Khaznaoui to Wicklow, kindly hosted by Killruddery House. Both artists will work and create together, bringing us this unique offering at this special residency finalé event.
With special thanks to the Embassy of Morocco in Ireland who will provide some refreshments on the evening.
Zouhair Khaznaoui
Zouhair Khaznaoui is an accomplished Storytelling artist whose unwavering passion for the rich and diverse cultural traditions of Morocco has been the driving force behind his illustrious career. With a deep appreciation for the art of oral storytelling, Zouhair has been trained and initiated by renowned Maalems (masters) of storytelling in Morocco such as Haj Ahmed Ezzarghani, Abderrahim AL-Azzalia, and Mohamed Bariz.
Drawing from his extensive training and exposure to a wide range of artists and scholars from around the world, including Moulay Jaafar El Kansoussi, John Row, Baba-C, Sef Townsend, and Raymond de la Fontaine, Zouhair has developed a unique and authentic style that reflects his profound understanding of the universal appeal of storytelling.
In addition to his artistic pursuits, Zouhair’s academic background in English Literature and Cultural Studies, Graduating from The Technical University of Dresden, Germany, has provided him with a solid foundation for his interest in storytelling. As an international student, he was able to travel and study abroad, gaining exposure to a diverse range of artistic perspectives and experiences. In 2022 Zouhair Khaznaoui Co-founded and Directed the Marrakech International
Storytelling Festival and presided over the Storytellers Union for Cultural Innovation and Art of Storytelling.
In mid 2023 Zouhair Khaznaoui established the very first storytelling school in the Arab world and Africa under the name International Storytelling School of Marrakech: The latter is a gateway for young and passionate individuals to become professional storytellers.
Currently Zouhair Khaznaoui runs a year-long storytelling Odyssey: Tales Across Borders. The project is a celebration of the storytelling art in Marrakech as a capital city of culture for the Muslim world.
Fiona Dowling (Ireland/France)
Fiona Dowling is a French-Irish storyteller and visual artist born in Dublin. As a storyteller, she has been bringing folktales, wisdom tales, myths, riddles and songs to primary schools, hospitals, libraries, pubs and festivals since 2009.
As a visual artist, she tells her own story in autobiographical comics and paintings, and create participatory events building temporary communities around an art form.
In order to bring new audiences to storytelling, she has told stories dressed up as a television (Live Television - 2009), had storytellers tell bedtime stories to adults (Story-Nap, 2010 & 2016), or answered the public’s existential questions with folktales (Wisdom Fair – 2016 & 2023).
In 2016, Fiona was storyteller in Residence for Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a featured teller at the Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival. In 2019, she represented Ireland at Vent de Paroles Festival in France and Verbale in Germany.
In 2023, thanks to an Arts Council Agility Award, she has injected new energy into her storytelling for adults, through undergoing mentoring, starting a regular storytelling night and practice group in her local area, curating storytelling events, and testing out new stories in storytelling clubs. This is leading her this year to developing three new shows for adults including one built around the Moroccan folktale “The Robe of Love”.
Fiona is passionate about the ability of stories to reflect the human experience in all its shades, from laughter to tears, and build connection and community.
For more information about her work, please visit: www.fionadowling.com
Kindly supported by the Arts Council International Residency Initiative Scheme, World Storytelling Café and Killruddery House & Gardens
