Unscripted and Unchoreographed

Today we’re joined by Julie Lockett, a dance artist originally from Essex, England, now living and working in Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Tipperary. We discuss how Julie’s work is deeply influenced by nature and the land around her, and how living in an ecovillage shapes her creative practice.

Julie shares her experience of raising children while working as a freelance artist, offering honest insights into the challenges and rewards of...

On this week's episode we speak to Ciara Carroll, who is a rising Irish actor and multidisciplinary artist with a firm belief that art is for everyone. A 2021 graduate of TU Dublin's Conservatoire of Music and Drama, Ciara has already worked alongside some of Ireland's most celebrated talents, including Michael Fassbender, Robert Sheehan, Brendan Grace, and Pascal Scott. Most recently, she starred in Blindboy Boatclub&#...

This week on the podcast, we speak with Ayesha Mailey and Kelly Quigley, ensemble members of Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company.
Following up on our previous episode with Echo Echo’s Artistic Director, Steve Batts, we dive deeper into the challenges currently facing the company and its members as the future of Echo Echo remains uncertain.

Ayesha and Kelly share their personal journeys—beginning in the company’s youth dance programme...

In this week’s episode, we speak with Steve Batts, Artistic Director of Echo Echo Dance Theatre, about the latest—and deeply concerning—news that the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Echo Echo’s primary funder, has withdrawn 100% of its funding for the company after 20 years of support.

This devastating news has shocked the arts community not just in Derry and Northern Ireland, but across the entire island.

Steve shares his perspect...

On this week's episode we chat to Ali Clarke is a multidisciplinary artist and cultural producer. Artistically her passion lies in creating immersive and interactive performances that explore the interplay between the audience and performers. Her work is grounded in the physical practices of contemporary dance, however, she has further expanded her exploration beyond disciplinary boundaries, gaining extensive experience in cont...

On this week’s episode, we chat with Saorla Rodgers, an actor and comedian.
Saorla completed her training at the College of Dance and the Gaiety School of Acting.

We discuss the importance of including the arts—such as drama and dance—as Leaving Certificate subjects in schools.

We also delve into the behind-the-scenes of her show Porno, which was performed at the Scene + Heard Festival 2025.

Saorla will be performing in Who’s the C...

On this week's episode we spoke to Anatolii Liaskalo, born in Dnipro, Ukraine, and began dancing at the age of four at a local folk dance school. As a folk dancer, he performed regularly and, at 18, began studying jazz techniques. At 23, he joined the Theatre and School of Contemporary Dance POTOKI, led by Elena Budnitskaia, where he danced for three years. A graduate of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University in psychology, An...

In this week's episode, we chat with the incredible Johely Guilarte — a passionate salsa dancer and choreographer originally from Venezuela and now based in Dublin, Ireland. Johely shares her inspiring journey, from discovering her love for dance at a young age, to competing and performing around the world, and the challenges she faced when moving to a new country.

With over 20 years of experience in Latin and urban dance styles...

This week on the podcast, we chat with Ryan O'Neill, a dancer from Northern Ireland.We discuss his journey to becoming the artist he is today, the challenges artists in the North face, and how he once dreamed of becoming a jockey. Ryan is performing in Scorched Earth, a piece by Luke Murphy, as part of the Dublin Dance Festival. The performance takes place on the 23rd and 24th of May at 7:30 PM at the Project Arts Centre. Ryan is a...

In this week’s episode, we chat with Vitor Bassi, a dancer and actor.
We discuss his move to Ireland to take a break from performing, and how the pandemic led him back to dance and to rediscover his passion for physical theatre. Vitor shares his insights on the importance of mental health and self-care. He is currently performing When the Moon Spun Round at the 2025 Dublin Dance Festival.Connect with us:⁠Instagram:⁠   / confessi...

On this week’s episode, we chat with Robyn Byrne — a contemporary dancer, choreographer, and movement director from the Midlands. Robyn works across dance, theatre, film, circus, and outdoor spectacle. She was a 2023 Next Generation Award recipient and is currently a Tipperary Dance Associate Artist.

Her choreographic works include:

O Before / (film, 2020)Glimmer (dance installation, 2022)MOSH (2023) — which won Best Ensemble at the ...

On this week's episode, we’re thrilled to chat with Amy O’Donnell, a powerhouse in the Irish arts scene with nearly two decades of experience. Originally from Oldcastle, Co. Meath, Amy began her journey with Druid Theatre Company and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, before moving into key roles such as Administrator and General Manager at Irish Modern Dance Theatre.

Amy spent ten dynamic years in London, where she worked on large-...

In this week's episode, we chat with Daniela Poch Marquez, an actor, dancer, and movement director whose work spans performance, education, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Daniela holds a BA in Acting (Practice and Body Studies) from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and is currently pursuing an MFA in Movement Directing and Teaching at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London.
Her artistic practice weaves ...

On this week's episode, we chat with James O'Donnell — actor, director, and playwright. Originally from Dublin and now based in Ireland, James shares how he first got hooked on acting after seeing his very first play in his 20s. He went on to study at the Guildford School of Music and Drama and has since performed with both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.

Connect with us:⁠

Instagram:⁠ https://www.insta...

This week on the podcast, we chat with Anna Reid, an actor and singer, about her journey in the entertainment industry since graduating from TU Dublin. We discuss the importance of pursuing what you love, handling rejection, and the positive impact of body positivity and representation in the arts. We also explore how Nicola Coughlan has influenced the industry, promoting greater inclusivity and change.

Connect with us:⁠Instagram:⁠ ...

This week on the podcast, we speak with Judit, a choreographic assistant, artistic advisor, and Certified Advanced Rolfer based in Dublin.

Judit began her dance journey with classical ballet, earning her diploma from the Conservatory of San Sebastián in Spain. At just 12 years old, she expanded her training to include contemporary dance. After completing a degree in telecommunication engineering, she moved to Brussels on a contempo...

On this week's episode, we chat with Leanne Bickerdike, a talented actor, playwright, and all-around hilarious person. We discuss the inspiration behind her play Wretch, the challenges and rewards of creating it, tips for dealing with stage fright, and the bold decisions she has made on stage.

Connect with us:⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/confession_boxcollective/⁠Website⁠⁠: https://confessionboxcollective.com/⁠Facebook...

On this weeks episode, we sit down with ballet dancer Tadhg Quigley Brennan to talk about his journey from youth theatre to pursuing a career in ballet. We explore how he discovered his passion for dance, his experience with imposter syndrome, and the challenges he’s faced along the way.

Tadhg also opens up about the importance of stepping back from performing and how taking a break has helped his mental health. His story is an insp...

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by the incredible Laurie Schneider as she takes us on a journey from disco dancing to becoming an Associate Artist with Echo Echo Dance! Laurie shares how the housing crisis has impacted her artistic life and how becoming a mother gave her the confidence to step into choreography. She also talks about her amazing work with Stage Beyond and Lilliput, two incredible groups that support dancers w...