An immersive film experience entitled Declan is a new take on Kieran Hurley’s original work Mouthpiecethat was a hit in the 2019 Festival Fringe. Using cinematography in Edinburgh locations, original animation and audio, it has as its central character 17 year old Declan, who shows viewers his Edinburgh as he confronts the city’s exclusion of sections of its population from its world-famous cultural offerings.
The film features a performance from Lorn Macdonald, who played the role in the original 2018 production and sees Lorn make his Traverse directorial debut. It uses excerpts from Kieran Hurley’s Mouthpiece and includes additional performance elements from Angus Taylor, who won The Stage Award for his performance as Declan in the 2019 Traverse Festival stage production of Mouthpiece.
Kim Moore, who also worked on the original stage production, provides sound design and composition, while Nisan Yetkin makes her Traverse Theatre debut with the film’s animations.
This new take on their 2019 Festival Hit Mouthpiece is the first event of the Traverse Digital Festival 2020 to be announced, and is also included as part of Edinburgh International Festival’s 2020 programme.
Traverse Executive Producer Linda Crooks says, “2020 is a challenging year for many – none more so than the sections of our community already dealing with disadvantage and deprivation, who must not be left behind as we emerge into whatever the future may hold post-Covid. We were pleased by the conversations that ‘Mouthpiece’ generated during the 2019 Festival around cultural appropriation and cultural exclusion, which need to be acted upon more than ever before. We are therefore delighted that Declan’s story is being given a new lease of life, embedded firmly in Edinburgh’s streets, through the vision of Lorn Macdonald and a team of talented collaborators. Declan has much more to say – and it is imperative that we listen and ensure we create culture which is truly representative, accessible and of interest to all.”
Declan,that has beenco-commissioned by Edinburgh International Festival, reunites several members of previous Mouthpiece creative teams with new collaborators to create an original piece inspired by the stage play.
Declan will be available for audiences to experience through the Traverse Theatre and Edinburgh International Festival websites for a limited period from Monday 24 August.
Contains frequent strong language and descriptions of violence.
Age recommend 16+
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 