in this beautiful piece, we get a sense of
both sides, armour on and off,
and behind it the universal
human condition.
Irish Times
ARMOUR OFF!
Armour Off! is a solo performed by Linda Fearon, and created in collaboration with performance artist and choreographer Caroline Bowditch, and Composer Niall O’Carroll. A deeply personal and insightful exploration of Linda’s own experiences of navigating the world, Armour Off! is set within Linda’s own home and explores the notion of an "outer and inner" self; how Linda prepares herself to face the world outside her front door and what happens when she is truly at home and can let herself go free.
In lieu of a cancelled live show, her piece was instead filmed at her home in Co. Armagh, Ireland at the height of lockdown 2020. The film interweaves movement and spoken word written by Linda, exploring her relationship with her body and self throughout her life.
Linda Fearon, a dance artist with a disability from Armagh, trained with Luminous Soul and has since worked with seminal artists in integrated and disability dance development including, Marc Brew, Caroline Bowditch, Claire Cunningham, Candoco Dance and Blue Eyed Soul. She is currently Co-Artistic Director of Croí Glan Integrated Dance.
Caroline Bowditch is an internationally renowned director and choreographer with a disability based in Melbourne. She has worked with Croí Glan as a director on two previous solo works.
Niall O’Carroll is an established composer and performer for television, radio and theatre, with a deep knowledge of Irish, European, American roots, Rock and Contemporary/Electronic music. Niall has previously worked with Croi Glan on the Aerial Dance Theatre production, TILT, for which he both composed the music and performed live.
Film Credits:
Director: Anna Rodgers
Producer: Zlata Filipovic
Performer: Linda Fearon
Movement Direction: Caroline Bowditch
Music: Niall O’Carroll
Armour Off! is funded by an Arts Council Arts Grant award for Dance.
Images: Eddie Bryans
2021
Still Voices Short Film Festival
Kerry International Film Festival 2021
Light Moves Film Festival
Galway Film Fleadh 2021
Dancer from the Dance Festival of Irish Choreography
Carlow Arts Festival
Catalyst International Film Festival - Winner of the Best Documentary
Nominated for Radharc Documenrary Award, 2021
