5 X Short docs, Released on RTÉ Player, Wednesday 22nd May, Docland.
People of the World Spice up your Life! This was the message of 90’s super-group the Spice Girls and boy did they achieve just that! In 1996, when the Spice Girls exploded into our homes it made an everlasting affect on the lives of millions of people around the world, including Ireland.
Over 20 years later we meet some of the die-hard fans who feel like life was never quite the same again. Friendship, Love, Loss, Ambition, Heartbreak, Travel, Bullying– the Spice Girls influenced their lives irreversibly and made these fans who they are today!
Spice Up your Life is a nostalgic trip down memory lane, exploring how the message of one girl-group can leave an enduring effect on the lives of many.
Spice Up Your Life, is a new documentary from Docland, which is a new online short-form documentary strand presented by RTÉ Documentaries.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Presented as five individual short documentaries, viewers can click on each story to find out about Niamh & Caitriona, Anthony, Alex, Lisa and Clara.
Anthony – 35 – Actor – Kilkenny/London
Anthony grew up gay in rural Kilkenny. The Spice Girls message of individualism, inclusivity and being true to you inspired Anthony to be confident in himself and never let the bullies get the better of him. He also related to Victoria’s message of working hard and is now a successful actor living in London with his husband. He has worked on the West End, at the National Theatre, in film and a little TV show called Fair City, playing the role of Shane Cawley.
Niamh /Caitriona – 37 – Rathfarnham
These two energetic best-friends grew up knowing EVERY Spice Girls routine and lyric! They could do the accents, recite the movie and reenact the dance moves in front of anyone who would listen! Their biggest rivals…Take That fans! You will not forget these two feisty young women who were empowered by the message of Girl Power! As life took them down different paths they too grew apart at times, but always came back together again because… Friendship never ends.
Alex – 30 – SUPERFAN – Dublin via Brazil
Now an Irish citizen, Alex first learnt to speak English when his mother translated Spice Girls lyrics for him. He was and still is OBSESSED with the group and dreamed of moving to Europe to be closer to them. Those dreams came true and in 2012 he finally got to see them at the closing ceremony of the London Olympic Games, after paying £1200 for the honour. This was ‘the best day of his life’. He has maxed out his credit cards but is going to see them 8 times on this tour! The other love of his life, his mother, who has supported his dreams all along the way and is proud of Alex’s Spice Girls tattoo in dedication to her.
Lisa – 31 – Vocal Coach – Tralee, Kerry
Lisa was born into a trad loving family in Co. Kerry, but it was the Spice Girls that inspired her. She followed her dreams of having a career in music. When her son Christopher (8), was born with autism she knew that being different was ok, because that’s what the Spice Girls had taught her. Their lyrics also helped to bring Christopher’s speech along so like his mother he now knows the Spice Girl lyrics!
Clara – 27 – Dublin
Our youngest fan, Clara was only 4 years old when her father arrived home with two tickets to the sold out Spice Girls concert in The Point Depot in 1998. Herself and her mom got dressed up and went to the concert. Unfortunately, Clara’s dad passed away when she was 15yrs. She queued up outside the local Ticketmaster in Swords at 5am and made sure she got two tickets for herself and her mum to relieve that great night her dad made possible.