Contributor biographies

Peter Rollins is an author, philosopher, storyteller, producer and public speaker who has gained an international reputation for overturning traditional notions of religion and forming “churches” that preach the Good News that we can’t be satisfied, that life is difficult, and that we don’t know the secret. Challenging the idea that faith concerns questions relating to belief, Peter’s religionless reading of Christianity attacks the distinction between the sacred and the secular. It critiques theism and it sets aside questions regarding life after death to explore the possibility of life before death. Peter gained his higher education from Queens University, Belfast where he earned degrees (with distinction) in Scholastic Philosophy (BA Hons), Political Theory and Social Criticism (MA) and Post-Structural thought (PhD). He's the author of numerous books, including Insurrection, The Idolatry of God, and The Divine Magician. He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, currently lives in Los Angeles and will die somewhere as yet not known.

Pádraig Ó Tuama is a poet and theologian. His work centres around themes of language, power, conflict and religion. Working fluently on the page and with groups of people, Pádraig is a skilled speaker, teacher and group worker. His work has won acclaim in circles of poetry, politics, religion, psychotherapy and conflict analysis. His work has been featured in Poetry Ireland Review, Academy of American Poets, Post Road, Cream City Review, Holden Village Voice, Proximity Magazine, On Being, Gutter, America, and Seminary Ridge Review. His books include In the Shelter, Sorry for Your Troubles and Readings From the Book of Exile. Pádraig lives and works in Belfast.

Leonie McDonagh is founding member and director of ponydance, with a focus on marrying comedy and dance theatre. In 2014 she was choreographer in residence at the American Dance Festival and was associate artist at the MAC, Belfast. Leonie studied dance at Middlesex University, Sallynoggin College and London Contemporary Dance School. She has been granted several bursaries in professional development from Arts Council Ireland and Northern Ireland. In 2016 she was commissioned by Belfast International Festival to make her first solo show, which was supported by Belfast City Council and presented at Holland Dance Festival. With ponydance, she has produced numerous full scale productions. She also works as a facilitator for community projects in dance, movement and as a freelance choreographer and performer.

Iain Archer is a writer, producer and solo artist. He is a two-time Ivor Novello Award winner, winning the 2004 Album Award – Final Straw by Snow Patrol and Most Performed Work in 2016 for Grammy nominated "Hold Back the River", which he co-wrote with James Bay. Additionally, Archer was a 2013 Ivor Novello Award nominee for Best Song Musically & Lyrically – "Two Fingers" by Jake Bugg.

Helen Rollins graduated as top student in Corpus Christi College at Cambridge University, with a double first in modern languages. She was also a boursière étrangère at the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Lyon. At twenty-two, she taught French language, film and literature at Eton College, leaving that post two years later to work as a filmmaker. She has a particular interest in psychoanalysis, continental philosophy and film and literature from the French and Spanish-speaking world and is one of the presenters of the podcast The Lack. She founded The Magician’s Niece Production Company and is currently an Executive Producer on a four-part documentary series exploring the life and legacy of Tammy-Faye Bakker. Her most recent project was the experimental philosophical documentary called A Guide to Making Love, which will be shown at the retreat.

Adam Turkington is the person I collaborate with most closely, especially for my Wake festival. He has decades of experience in festival based programming, Street Art, magic, children's workshops and creative industries training. He was also the founder of the incredible Vault Artists Studios.

Joel M is a magician and mentalist who, as a teenager, was known locally for being both incredibly skilled at his craft and a super nice guy. Then, in his early 20’s Joel shot to world-wide fame when he shared his magic skills on social media. Since then, he has established himself as one of the preeminent magicians of his generation. Joel is also an author, tv personality and has just launched his own podcast ‘Influenced’, which explores the art of persuasion.

Barry Taylor is a theologian-philosopher, musician, artist, academic and writer who has spent more than thirty years challenging traditional notions of religion and church and creating alternative communities built on the idea that life is uncertain, the future is unwritten and that none of us has the answer. Barry's work collapses the boundaries between the sacred and the profane, blurs the lines between theism and atheism and raises new questions about life, death and everything in between. Barry also writes books, makes music, produces daily art works and spends a lot of time in coffee shops reading. Born in the U.K. he recently returned to London after living in Los Angeles. 

Conner Habib, is an American writer, podcaster, academic, activist and former pornographic actor. He hosts the popular podcast Against Everyone With Conner Habib, where he discusses current events and politics, as well as philosophy, science and spiritual ideas. He recently released his debut novel Hawk Mountain.

Jonny McEwen began painting in 1986 and first exhibited in 1991. A Graduate of the Art College in Belfast, he has exhibited widely in Ireland, England, Wales and Germany. Since returning from his travels in Eastern and Central Europe in 1997, Jonny set up a studio in Belfast. McEwen’s work is part of the following public collections: UTV, Dept of Environment NI, Secretary of States Office, Office of Public Works, University of Cork as well as many private collections. He also created one of Ireland’s biggest public art pieces for the Skainos Building in East Belfast. 

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Spark | Timetable

On this page you’ll find a rough outline of the Spark program. I don’t want to give everything away up front, but this will give you a sense of what to expect!