All the world’s a stage
By Navjyoti Dalal
In this column, 'Home Is Where The Hearth Is', written by Navjyoti Dalal, we shine the spotlight on the immigrant experience. And, as a cultural exchange, get them to share food recipes they hold dear.
In this edition meet Ekiñe Azcarate Martinez. The theatre actor from Argentina is currently based in Athlone, working at the Dean Crowe theatre, on her journey to discover the drama traditions around the world.
Often, while strolling along the Shannon, Ekiñe Azcarate Martinez gets homesick. The sound of water is familiar, it is the white noise she has grown up around. The Shannon reminds her of the Rio Negro back home in Argentina. One of the largest black water rivers, Rio Negro is the life force of the Viedma region, and also Ekiñe's memories. The waters have held a permanent role for the Azcarate-Martinez family, like an ancestor's picture kept on the altar. This, though, is a living ancestor who comes to meet them in their backyard while coursing through Viedma city.
In 2023 when she decided to discover the theatre traditions of the world, and landed in Ireland on the insistence of her friend and English teacher, Clodagh Murphy, Ekiñe chose Athlone to pitch her figurative tent. Athlone had Shannon, which gave her a semblance of home.
An age by Rio Negro
Ekiñe and her twin sister Beltza have spent a big part of their lives living with nature and observing it. They would catch river crabs in their backyard with their father. The river was their playground. "When my dad saw us bored, he would ask us to find a stick in the garden. To the stick he would tie a thin rope, and from it he would hang a piece of meat or any lunch leftovers. With our fishing rods ready and two small buckets, we would sit the entire afternoon fishing river crabs. Then he would explain to us the difference between a male and a female. The male would have a shape of a bell in the belly and the female an arch. We would spend hours with my sister separating them between a belly with a bell or an arch in the belly," Ekiñe recounts.
Flashbacks of her childhood feature similar activities anchored in nature, training her to be curious and observe, a skill that would come in very handy for her stage career later.
Born to a Spanish mother and an Argentine father, Ekiñe and Beltza are identical twins. The parents wanted the girls to develop their own individual identities, and not be limited to the twin tag. This meant trying out myriad hobbies and interests like music, art, sports, and of course, nature.
"Around the age of 15, I enrolled in an acting lab, which is an experimental space to explore acting and stage. It was a transformative experience," shares Ekiñe. After high school, Ekiñe moved from Viedma to Buenos Aires to study performing arts (in a bachelors programme) at Centre for Cinematic Investigation, a time she enjoyed thoroughly. Ekiñe was hungry for more, and satiety feeds on variety.
A friendship and an adventure
Ekiñe didn't know it at the time, but a friendship with an exchange student was about to take her places (pun intended).
"I had met Clodagh (Murphy), who was in Viedma for an Erasmus course. She was also my English teacher. So, after my BA in acting and directing, I wanted to learn more about the stage and theatre cultures of the world. Clodagh suggested I begin the journey from Ireland," Ekiñe gives a background of her Irish adventure.
Upon her arrival, Ekiñe spent the first few months in Ballycumber, hosted by Clodagh. Her former English teacher turned tour guide for Ekiñe as the girls gallivanted around the island.
"I heard of the All Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone. I came here, saw the Shannon and decided this is where I want to be. I moved here and began knocking on doors to find work. Fortunately, the doors were answered," recollects Ekiñe, whose first job was at the Little Theatre, dabbling in roles from production, to set design, costume, acting and backstage responsibilities.
Serendipity brought her a social media and PR gig for the Drama Festival in 2024. Currently working as a lights and sound technician at the Dean Crowe theatre, Ekiñe is beginning to feel at home. Her favourite part of the town is westwards from the bridge featuring cafes and independent shops like Dooley's (her favourite).
She has made friends in the local theatre fraternity, her neighbourhood, and also fellow Latinos in town. This is also where she met Brian McCormack, a musician and her partner. "He's the best guitarist in Athlone," she says enthusiastically.
In moments of doubt
The last two years have been about acclimatising for Ekiñe. While she has got accustomed to the right-wheel driving and the contrasts in road rules, she misses the languid siestas of Viedma, and community gatherings like the Maté culture.
There are days when she misses the pace and possibilities of a big city, especially in terms of her career. "I do think about exploring a bigger city like Dublin or Galway, for my career. But the rents and logistics are a big hindrance. Also, I am very happy where I am now. The people are very open-minded and there's a sense of community. This is where I felt welcomed with open arms. My landlord, Niall, looks after me like family.
The midlands are where I had a friend (Clodagh) make me empanadas (filled pastries) and Maté. She is married now (to Shane) and has a baby. I remember spending my first Christmas away from home with Shane's parents. The warmth and spirit of the midlands is unmatched," explains Ekiñe, who believes in savouring the here and now. From Rio Negro to Shannon, I see an invisible river around Ekiñe, and the 24-year-old has the spirit of water, of flow. We met on a rainy morning at a cafe on Connaught Street. As we rounded up our conversation three hours later, sunlight soaked us. I might have seen rainbow colours around her, for that's what happens when water meets light.
Recipe: Traditional Argentine Ñoquis de Papa (Potato Gnocchi)
Argentina's culinary traditions have an indelible mark of colonial times. The food is influenced from French, Italian and Spanish influence. While the indigenous practices of Asado (barbecue meats) is popular, there also are traditions like cooking ñoquis or gnocchis every 29th of the month, across kitchens.
The custom is believed to bring good luck. EKIÑE shares a simple gnocchi recipe. The potato gnocchis travelled with the Italians to Argentina. While colonialism is long gone, the Argentines have adopted the food influences beautifully into their cuisine.
Ingredients:
1 kg starchy potatoes (Russets or similar), cooked in their skins
300–350g all-purpose flour
1 egg
50–100 g grated Parmesan (optional, for richer dough)
Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
A pinch of nutmeg
Instructions:
Cook the potatoes in their skins with salted water. Once tender, peel while still warm and mash into a smooth purée. In the warm purée, mix in salt, pepper, nutmeg, egg, and cheese. Blend in flour gradually until the dough comes together and isn’t sticky. Dust your workspace with flour, roll the dough into ropes (1–2 cm thick), and cut into 2–3 cm segments. Shape each piece by pressing with a fork to create grooves that hold sauce. Boil the ñoquis in salted water until they float. Now let them cook for about 1 more minute then remove from water. You can serve directly with a sauce of your choice or briefly sauté in butter or oil for a golden finish.