Oona Doherty on Specky Clark, Irish Mythology, and the Burden of Making Art

Oona Doherty, a choreographer hailing from Northern Ireland, recently opened her production, Specky Clark, at Pavillon Noir in Aix-en-Provence in November 2024. This show, inspired by her great-great-grandfather's nickname, blends dance, drama, and elements of Irish folklore. Doherty, who earned the Silver Lion award at the Venice Dance Biennale in 2021, talks about the challenges of balancing her artistic career with motherhood, the influence of dramaturg Enda Walsh, and her collaborations with visual artists like Mark Leckey. Specky Clark was showcased at Sadler's Wells in London on May 9-10 and will be presented at Théâtre de la Ville in Paris from June 24-27. Additionally, Hope Hunt and the Ascension into Lazarus will perform at Théâtre Joliette, Marseille, on May 20 and ADC Pavillon, Geneva, on June 21.