On March 4rth 2023 I made a live participatory performance for Ennis Book Club Festival. We scheduled the performance for the Saturday of the festival, and placed it in the main foyer of glór, to get as many people as possible to witness it and hopefully participate.

My proposal was as follows:

Interactive Performance Art proposal for Ennis Book Club launch

Ennis based performance artist Rachel Macmanus presents an Interactive Performance for Enns Book Club Festival.

EAT YOUR WORDS

eat one’s words (third-person singular simple present eats one’s words, present participle eating one’s words, simple past ate one’s words, past participle eaten one’s words)

1. (figuratively) To regretor retract what one has said. quotations ▼

He didn’t think I could do it, but I proved him wrong and made him eat his words.

This time, you have to eat your words, because, like it or not, you lost.

The performance is a cathartic action, and a visual show. The idea that you can write a message and have it eaten and swallowed up. Your words can be eaten. Play on the phase- you will eat your words- when you are proven wrong about something or have to admit defeat. This can be a positive or negative experience depending on the context of course. The artist offers to eat your words for free. Swallowing down the thoughts of another, be they good or bad thoughts. (The paper is rice paper, and the pens write in edible ink. )

How this would work within the EBCF
I would see the performance as a quirky complementary add on to the Festival programme, which would take advantage of the erudite minds in attendance, who could appreciate the dark humour of the performance concept. It would not be meant to take away from other events, but more as to enhance the general purpose of the Festival, a celebration of books, literature and words.

The performance itself went great, see link to a blog I wrote about it for the details and post-performance thoughts.