What we saw at the Dublin Fringe 2022: who to look out for after the festival
When it comes to Dublin Fringe there can be almost too much to choose from, but here are the performances and creators who impressed this year and who you should keep an eye out for. Watch this space!
Xnthony’s Oliver Cromwell is Really Very Sorry was a brilliantly clever production which retold the story of Oliver Cromwell through a queer lens with many modern day flourishes. The energy and talent of the cast was commendable and a particular mention goes to Alison Arnopp, nominated for the Festival’s Best Performance Award, her talent and stage presence did not go unnoticed.
Mentioned previously on Dublin Art Life, Rosa Bowden, who starred in Bump&Grind Theatre Co’s production of Frigid, is also nominated for a Best Performance Award. Bowden’s funny yet subtle performance had the audience laughing and empathising with her character and we’re excited to see what Bump&Grind do next.
Dylan Coburn Gray’s Absent The Wrong showcased the playwright’s talent in this production which explored Ireland’s recent history and shame through an artistic mediation on memory, generational baggage, and a racialised quest for identity in an Ireland that wants to ignore its less than rosey past. Julie Jay’s Oops This is Toxic, was a topical comedy show in a time in which we are beginning to criticise the ways the media treated female celebrities of the noughties and nineties. Jay’s take down of the misogyny riddled pop culture of her formative years feeds into the zeitgeist’s love of Britney Spears revisionism. In all, a lot of promising talent and we’ll be looking out for what’s happening next for these skilled creators and performers.
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.
Xnthony’s Oliver Cromwell is Really Very Sorry was a brilliantly clever production which retold the story of Oliver Cromwell through a queer lens with many modern day flourishes. The energy and talent of the cast was commendable and a particular mention goes to Alison Arnopp, nominated for the Festival’s Best Performance Award, her talent and stage presence did not go unnoticed.
Mentioned previously on Dublin Art Life, Rosa Bowden, who starred in Bump&Grind Theatre Co’s production of Frigid, is also nominated for a Best Performance Award. Bowden’s funny yet subtle performance had the audience laughing and empathising with her character and we’re excited to see what Bump&Grind do next.