Dublin Fringe: theatre laughs, problem-solvers and immersive night walks
Dublin’s Fringe Festival is almost over, but there is still time to see a few more shows; here’s what we’ve loved so far and what we’re planning on seeing before the Festival reaches its end.
Bump and Grind’s production of Frigid, written and performed by Rosa Bowden, skillfully captures the contradiction of insecurity and confidence that is uniquely typified by a fourteen year old girl’s worldview. The teen disco acts as the setting for an amalgamation of compulsory heterosexuality, the sexual objectification of girls and the parading of toxic masculinity. The performance acknowledges the ambiguities of consent for teenagers who, paralysed by peer pressure, have yet to fully grasp what in later years they may find blatantly non-consensual. The exploration of consent is threefold; from finding yourself surrounded by a chanting circle urging you to kiss a boy, to having your trousers and underwear pulled down in the GAA club carpark, to being sexually assaulted so a boy can assert his Alpha male status amongst his friends. The show brought the audience on a indulgently nostalgic trip to 2007, entertained them along the way and sent them home reflecting on how conventional ideas of consent, sexuality and gender have changed in the last 15 years.
Failed by Design, was the show created by designers for the people. The audience were asked if they needed problems solved, and with over 21 shows, Allie and Cian solved a lot of problems; from being dumped by text, to slow moving tourists, to that particular breed of men that calls grown women “good girl”, the pair brought inventive originality to the issues suggested. The performance tackled pressing predicaments from modern life in a humorous and engaging manner, and each show culminated in the creation of a device that would solve the problem that had been workshopped and voted on by the audience. The show engaged with the typically streamlined concept of design and broke it down into something comprehensible with a playful and irreverent enthusiasm.
We’re really excited to see Xnthony star in Oliver Cromwell is Really Very Sorry at the Project Arts Centre, where a mix of cabaret and colonialism will revisit the infamous historical character of Cromwell. We’re looking forward to a night of laughs, new pop anthems and having a bop all while brushing up on our history!
Art is a powerful tool in confronting topical issues, and we’re looking forward to seeing Rising Tide, Cracking Light Production’s installation in the Smock Alley Banquet Hall. The exhibition consists of the future imaginings of young artists from high flood risk counties – including Dublin, Cork and Clare. This creation from young voices is worth a visit, as we hope that through the invention enabled by art that younger voices, and their anxieties, can find expression and recognition. Make sure to check out the exhibition’s closing event on the 24th September.
And finally we’re ending our Fringe Festival with a quiet, immersive installation in the Botanic Gardens. Running from 21st to 25th September, Remnant Ecologies is a sound and light installation that blends a love of the natural world with anxieties about its future. This immersive night walk is a great way to see and experience the Botanic Gardens in an alternative way and Jony Easterby’s immersive light show will hopefully ease us into the darker evenings ahead.
Want to see more events? Check out the Dublin Fringe Festival website with full list here: Home | Fringe Festival
Dublin Fringe Festival is a platform for the best new, emerging Irish arts companies and a showcase for the finest international contemporary performing arts. For artists, Fringe facilitates opportunities to innovate, to cross boundaries and strengthen the conditions in which they work. For audiences, Fringe is the place to discover meaningful, exciting and unforgettable cultural experiences.
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