Hats off to art of street performance

The ‘Gentleman Juggler’ is just one of the magical street performers set to wow at this weekend’s City Spectacular, writes Frances Gleeson.

I crossed paths with a street and circus performer, a clown and animal balloon maker some years ago in a creative writing class we both took.

Having gone through the treadmill of the Irish education system and traversed into the tedium of office shift work, I was fascinated by someone living in a very different ecosystem.

A uniquely concentrated sample of that creative ecosystem is coming to us in the form of the City Spectacular international festival of street performance art in Cork this weekend.

Featured artists include the ‘Piano Juggler’ Dan Menendez (who appeared on the Late, Late some years ago), acrobatic archer Sara Twister (as seen taking aim at Donncha O’Callaghan’s face on The Ray D’Arcy Show’) and ‘Gentleman Juggler’ Mat Ricardo (as seen on The Jonathan Ross Show).

Mat, famous for his “putting the tablecloth back on the table” trick, is known for his polished presentation and mix of juggling, variety, cabaret and comedy.

Ahead of his appearance at the festival, he speaks about how the flame of street performance first ignited in him: “The first time I knew this was what I wanted to do was when I saw a street performer as a young teenager. There was a certain element about the street performer that was cool, charismatic and funny.

“But also I liked that he generated something from nothing.

"I think that’s the thing about street performing, by it’s very nature, you go to a place that is not designed for a show and you use your skill and your wit to create something out of nothing and you get an audience out of people who weren’t planning to see a show and you kind of create this momentary magical space and when you stop it’s gone again.

"That’s what first made me think it was special.”

Over 30 years later, he has the same intrigue and sense of magic: “In an artistic environment where most entertainment is, I think, predictable, street performing is still somewhere where anything might happen and I think that is still interesting to an audience and to a performer.”

While he took an unconventional route, Mat went to college to study child and developmental psychology.

“I started college when I was 16, I think at that point in my head it (juggling) was still a bit of a dream and I didn’t quite have the confidence to think it would actually be a viable way to earn a grown-up living.

"My parents didn’t understand at that point that performing was something I wanted to devote my life to. I‘m not sure that I knew. I went to college because that is what people did. With the promise that it will set you up for proper job.

"As I finished college, it became apparent that there weren’t that many proper jobs and as it turned out I wasn’t interested in one any way.”

As one might expect, making a living from street performing is difficult and requires a certain creativity.

“It is really hard making a living. There’s no point in sugar-coating it, I don’t make a lot of money, I’m not rich, I’m a juggler.

"If you go into this looking for riches or fame then you’re an idiot but if you’re someone just looking to make a modest living out of that thing that makes you happy then that’s totally doable.

"In terms of how to do it, be different, offer something that is unique. I have a couple of tricks that I am known for. I hate myself for even using this word but I’ve got a fairly clear personal brand.

“I’m lucky enough that I work in a lot of different environments and mediums. I just finished a theatre tour, I write quite a lot, I make pieces for the internet.

"I try and have as many fingers in pies as possible but I am genuinely, and I’m not just saying this because I am here to talk about a busking festival, I am genuinely never happier than when I’m in the middle of a street show because of the complete freedom that anything can happen.

"All the crazy things that happen on the streets will happen in your show and it’s just this fantastically free artistic adventure, and if you have an audience that understands that, as most audiences do, then it’s just such fun.”

Mat, now aged 49, is grateful for the path he has chosen, as he speaks of meeting his wife, also a street performer, and the many friends, as well as overcoming issues with shyness and confidence: “It has literally given me everything I have and value in my adult life.

"When I first stepped onto Covent Garden Piazza for my first audition, I was a nervous, stuttering teenager. And as soon as I did that, I realised that all this community of street performers in Covent Garden were also broken biscuit misfits washed up there.

"It really gave me confidence and I redefined myself as the person I wanted to be as opposed to the person I was. I did that through performance, I let my performing persona influence my real persona.

“My real name is not Mat Ricardo but that is the name that defines me. The name I was born under does not apply to me anymore because I’m not the same person as I was when I had that name.

"I mentioned that my family are not actively in the picture, then audiences and other performers become very important to your wellbeing.

“I went through various incarnations of my performing persona before I found one that felt like the real me and it’s OK to try things and have them fail, that is absolutely part of it. Nobody has succeeded without first failing, it is absolutely impossible.”

We can’t all be street performers but what about those of us who want to experience the magic or tap into our own creativity?

“We can’t all be street performers because then I wouldn’t have an audience but we can all be creatives and we can all be makers.

“I’m someone who is open about suffering with my fair share of mental health issues, in fact I continue to and one of the things that I’ve found helps me the most is the act of making something, of creating something.

"I think that is fairly well known, there is no down side to sitting down and picking out a tune on a piano or writing something or whatever. Everyone can absolutely have that same journey.

"Everyone should have an artistic outlet because it is a very important part of one’s humanity and humanity as a whole.”

In a Ted presentation, author and educator Ken Robinson talks about the eroding impact of current education systems and the fear of failure on creativity.

He speaks of the importance of nurturing that creativity we have and fearlessly express as children into adulthood.

Mat has a similar perspective: “There is a point in growing up when we are told that play isn’t productive, that play is wrong. I am at my best when I’m in the middle of a show, surrounded by people and I’m totally in the moment. That is me playing with Lego. It’s the same skillset.

“With Lego you get given a bunch of blocks and the more you play with them, the more you learn how the different blocks fit together and that’s what I do and then you can just see what you can make.

"The things that kids have that adults should have is that ability and that permission that it’s okay to be doing something that doesn’t have a grown-up end product.”

He is really looking forward to his shows at the City Spectacular festival and his first visit to Cork: “I hear nothing but good things, I know the festival has got an excellent line up and that means audiences will stick around and they won’t be disappointed.”

Prepare to be entertained and inspired.

Admission to the Laya Healthcare sponsored festival is free. Information on other artists, maps and timetables are available online at www.cityspectacular.com.