Our Puppet film on the RTE People's Angelus

A bit of exciting news. 

Nothing to do with hospitals!

Remember the Puppet project I facilitated? 
Well, a few months ago, before the screening of the Life Outside the Box  Film in Canada and Dungarvan Cinema our IWA group were reflecting on where to show the short film next.
One of the suggestions from Margaret Ann Foley was to ask RTE (our national broadcaster) if they would like to show it on the People's Angelus ...

The one minute daily reflective Angelus broadcast on RTÉ One is one of Ireland's longest-running programmes, having been aired daily at 6.00pm since the inception of RTÉ television in 1962.

Ireland has changed enormously over that time and the nature of the broadcasts has changed with it. They are now changing again. Since October 2015 New commissioned films create a reflective space for all in the peak-time schedule… In addition to these commissioned professional films, RTÉ One has designated one slot per week, on Fridays at 6pm, as The People’s Angelus slot

More about the People's Angelus

And you know what.
I contacted RTE's Roger Childs, Senior Production Executive, Genre Head of Religious Programmes RTE. I emailed a little bit of information, and the film. I received a Very Enthusiastic response that same day.

A few months have passed, with several edits to the film made, to fit it in a one minute slot, and add the Angelus (Bells) , but still try to tell our story of stepping out of the Disability Box.
Contracts and permission signed. And now...

THIS FRIDAY 2ND JUNE, 6 PM

OUR LIFE OUTSIDE THE BOX 

one minute version 

WILL MAKE IT ONTO 

NATIONAL TELEVISION!

So please tune in.

It will be included in a regular rota of People's Angelus submissions

every Friday, over the coming months. 

This Friday is probably the only Friday I am not in Ireland,
But please watch for me!

From this early start of the puppet project...

...to dancing outside the Disability Box! and onto national television

Thank you all who were involved in this project.
Members and Staff at the IWA.
Alan O'Callaghan of The Bootleg studios.
Roger Childs at RTE.
And all who supported us along the way.

* I have also been asked to talk about the project at the upcoming The Broken Puppet:  A Symposium on Puppetry, Disability, and Health. At UCC in August


What a journey!

(Most of this blog post was first published on the Puppet Blog, posted on Sunday 28th May)