Jake Mace
Highlighting women’s peace activism over the years, Morna Burdon’s show Gie’s Peace looks set to combine powerful storytelling with evocative songs of protest, Morna is aiming to create a moving, timely tribute to the struggle for peace, with a unique lens. Following sell-out performances at EdFringe and Adelaide Fringe, the show will arrive in Dundee in just over two weeks time.
We caught up with Morna for a pixelated pint to talk about the show, history, women’s contributions to the movement, and everything in between.
You can catch Gie’s Peace at Sweet @ Keiller Centre on the 22nd September at 15:00. Tickets are available through the Dundee Fringe Box Office.
Jake: Tell us about your show’s journey from creation to ending up at the Dundee Fringe stage.
Morna: My other show Bonnie Fechters was about brave women and a story in that was about how women peace activists helped prisoners of war survive many years ago in Vietnam – that and the women themselves singing “ songs of hope and defiance”. So I thought I would do a whole show about women who had found creative, courageous, sometimes illegal ways to make the world a more peaceful place. And I would sing songs of resistance inspired by the women of Vietnam.
The other aspect of its journey is that I started off my one woman shows with a 30 minute piece at Edinburgh Free Fringe, on to 5 star sellout shows at Edinburgh, a Fringe Laurel Award and then off to Adelaide Fringe with Prague Fringe in between.
Jake: So what’s the inspiration for telling this story in today’s world?
Morna: The theme of peace is sadly, very relevant today – and war has been with us for a very long time. This story now is about hope and about how so called “ ordinary” people can do something.
From my niece who stayed at Faslane Peace Camp to Dr Ruth Mitchell, a Fife miner’s grand-daughter who lives in Australia and is a Nobel Peace _ prize-winner for her work against nuclear weapons and who saw my show at Adelaide Fringe and kindly commented
“Magical storytelling – I love your work”
It connects with people of all backgrounds and ages. From a Ukraine Theatre Director at Prague Fringe who was in tears at te show as we sang a famous song of peace (their company had rehearsed in an air raid shelter) through to a young Russian man who had fled Russia because of intolerance of gay people and who was an usher at one of my shows “ More people need to see this”. And, of course, the many women peace activists, past, presentt and future who come to the show and, of course, individuals who have been touched by war.
Jake: What are you hoping the audience will walk away thinking/feeling, and how do you aim to achieve this on stage?
Morna: Well, at previous shows, I have left pens and paper outside the venue so people can say how they feel – it includes
“Moving, emotional , inspiring” “ So many interesting stories interwoven with such evocative songs of struggle” “ Illuminating and empowering”
“I loved this reminder of the gentle power of ordinary women to shape world events by protests that can be quirky, fun and loving as well as dangerous and demanding.”
That last quote probably sums up what I am trying to achieve and also a flavour of the show – humour, sadness, stories, and songs – life, really – and how inspiring “ ordinary” people are. Hope into actions changes the world.
Jake: Now that we’re gearing up for Dundee Fringe, what are you most excited for?
Morna: I love the audience. I love the buzz. I love Dundee where most of my family live and I love the Keiller Centre!! I like singing, and I enjoy telling these stories – us all just being in that wee space for a while and making it happen together.
Jake: Fitting with the themes of our magazine, if your show was an alcoholic beverage (think cocktails, shots, beers, be creative!) what would it be?
Morna: A S’mores Campfire Cocktail.
Actions have been planned and songs of resistance sung around many peace campfires over the years (not usually cocktails though but they deserve one).
Here’s a toast to them all –
“Sith!” (Sheimh) – Gaelic for Peace.
Phoebe Bakker
