Hear Me Speak!

A theatrical adventure for ages 7+, combining physical theatre, object manipulation, and audio of Sligo children’s voices.

An image of a child sitting on an office chair on the right side of the image. They are holding a megaphone and speaking into it. There is a speech bubble graphic pointing from the wide end of the megaphone with the words "Hear me speak" inside it.

Directed by Hawk’s Well Theatre's ‘Artist-in-Residence’ Miriam Needham (Lecoq-trained actor, theatre-maker and voice-over artist), Hear Me Speak! was a theatrical adventure for ages 7+, combining physical theatre, object manipulation, and audio of Sligo children’s voices.

In March 2023, Miriam Needham visited primary schools in Sligo and facilitated workshops with children from 1st class - 4th class, asking them questions about how they see the world and creating space for them to talk about what they find important in life. During the workshops, children had the use of microphones, and could step up to the mic to say things in their own way. These workshops facilitated young people to explore their ideas and thoughts about the world around them, and the audio recordings were them used to form the sound design of Hear Me Speak!, and informed the devising process from the beginning.

Hear Me Speak! handed over the microphone - it cleared the space of adult thoughts, adult rules, and adult order. Time to listen up and hear what the young folk have to say!

CREATIVE TEAM

Director: Miriam Needham

Performers: Caoimhe Feehily, Fiona Maria Fitzpatrick and Niamh McPhillips

Set, Prop and Costume Design: Sinéad O’Donnell-Carey

LX Design: Caroline Norris

Stage Manager: Heather Rose

Hear Me Speak! premiered on Thurs 27 April 2023 and ran until Sat 29 April 2023.

With special thanks to St. John's National School, Ballisodare, Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál, Ballymote, and Sligo Sudbury School.