Away with the Faeries
In Irish folklore, the fairy are mischevious, dubious, almost-human beings that are said to live on the threshold to the otherworld. To cross a fairy could bring you good luck or terrible misfortune...
Through the figure of the Fairy - both the beings from Irish folklore and indeed a slur used against queer people - Away with the Faeries reimagines Declan’s personal history with Irish dance.
At once an homage to and a rebellion against a traditional dance form, Away with the Faeries rethinks what Irish dance could be. Unfolding as a series of uncanny vignettes, the work conjures an ethereal terrain of mischief and magic.
The work is performed by Declan himself, Mickey Mahar, and Astrid Sweeney, all performers who were competitive Irish dancers in their childhoods.
Credits:Declan Whitaker - Choreography, Artistic Direction, Performance
Astrid Sweeney - Performance
Mickey Mahar - Performance
Jenny Nordberg - Costume and Stage
Ultan O’Brien - Music/Sound Design
Eulalie Déguénon & Linus Jacobson - Light Design
Lucia Gugerli - Artistic Assistance
Susi Tenner - Hair Consultation
Naima Ghoul - Costume Adjustments
Paula Alonso Gómez - Production Management
Angela Demattè - Production Assistance
Residency: Milvus Artistic Research Center
Supported by: Fachausschuss Darstellende Künste BS/BL, Embassy of Ireland; Switzerland, Landis + Gyr Stiftung, Atelier Mondial, Fonds Respect, Ernst Göhner Stiftung, Stiftung Edith Maryon, Stiftung Anne Marie Schindler
Co-Production: Kaserne Basel
Photos: Guillaume MussetPremiere: 27th May 2026, Kaserne Basel
