Irish Storytellers and Stano Team for 'IN BETWEEN SILENCE' at Barrow Street

A spellbinding collaboration between several of Ireland's top contemporary writers and the composer Stano, comes to the Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow Street, for a limited 12-performance engagement from December 3 to December 13.

Conceived and directed by Stano, and produced by Denise Dunphy, "In Between Silence, where we really exist," is the result of a unique collaboration between several writers and the composer, in which a custom soundtrack was improvised to accompany short vignettes from the works of the authors. In each case, without prior rehearsal, an original performance was elicited - a distinct, and, in many cases, unexpected reading from the authors, merged with a spontaneous and personalized musical setting devised by the composer.

There are over 30 stories in this ongoing collection; among the authors on the project are Roddy Doyle, Anne Enright, Joseph O'Connor, Dermot Bolger, Theo Dorgan, and Paula Meehan. Included at Barrow Street are the New York-based Dennis Driscoll, Vanessa Ronan, and Brian Palm. Each of the stories -- spanning a wide range of characters and themes, and set in places as different as Ireland, the Australian Outback, the US, and as far away as Sri Lanka - conveys its own universe. "In Between Silence" weaves these worlds together in a unique film format devised by Stano to create a synesthetic storytelling experience.

"In Between Silence" has been called, "Something brand-new, a new form of storytelling" by Roddy Doyle. In describing the project, Stano says, "It's almost like doing a soundtrack to a film that doesn't already exist." Although the point is to set the stage for the audience to participate in full, bringing their own imaginations to bear on this deeply collaborative process. "It's harking back to when we sat around the fire telling stories, the crackle of the fire would have been the soundscape. I'm trying to recreate that feeling."

A composer and avant-garde recording artist known for his soundtracks and sonic structures and events, Stano has collaborated with musicians and artists of many styles and genres like Colm O'Ciosoig ("My Bloody Valentine"), BrIan Downey (Thin Lizzy), and Donald Teskey (visual artist), as well as the Irish Chamber Orchestra. He has composed and performed numerous soundtracks on a wide range of films, and so far has 13 albums to his name.

"In Between Silence" -- a unique multi-media storytelling performance blending the words of contemporary Irish writers and the music of the Irish composer and sonic experimenter Stano, will be seen a total of 12 times from Saturday December 3 to Tuesday December 13, at the Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow Street. For tickets, which are $8, call 866-811-4111, or visit www.barrowstreettheatre.com. For additional information, visit www.stanoarts.com.