Author: The Reviews Hub - Ireland

Writer: Gráinne Holmes Blumenthal Director: Alison Ryan Feet Pics Aren’t Free! is an evening in the theatre that can’t help but leave one feeling there was more to be said and felt around the topic it purported to address. The programme contains an information slip on intimate image abuse in Ireland, followed by text from gov.ie informing readers of their legal recourse if they have been a victim of the crime (report it to Hotline.ie), so while the subject matter is weighty and serious, writer and solo performer Gráinne Holmes Blumenthal has crafted a funny, yet uneven production that doesn’t…

Writer & Director: Joe Wright Colombia March is a show of perfect absurdity. From the moment Eoin O’Sullivan steps onto the stage to introduce the piece and remind the audience to turn off their phones the farce begins, to the point where this reviewer is still not sure if the plan is to eventually have more actors or to always have O’Sullivan madcap as every character other than Joe Wright’s delightful Ger. The level of energy in the show, particularly from Wright himself, is absolutely incredible; the momentum is breakneck and the urgency builds to an uncomfortable level by the…

Writer & Director: Ois O’Donoghure This reviewer was unsure what to expect from Hyper, but if anything was wary – did 60 minutes of something that seemed likely to live up to its name seem ideal for the first truly autumnal Monday evening of the year? Turns out he needn’t have bothered – this was a poised, engaging rumination on identity, and the disjuncture that occurs when what we feel inside is distinct from how we fear people see us. The title, by the way, comes from “hyperpop” – a musical genre, helpfully explained in the programme for those of…

Writer: Matthew Tallon & Cian Jordan Director: Matthew Tallon & Cian Jordan There is a perfect irony in going to see DublinLand in the Lir, placed as it is in the middle of Grand Canal Dock’s massive regeneration project. When leaving the theatre, you have the choice of Silicon Dock to the left, or Google’s Ireland headquarters to the right; this can’t help but direct one’s attention to the huge targets that have been aimed at in this show, but unfortunately, mostly missed. The parts are all in place here for a brutal satire that really has fun with its…

Writer: Shauna Carrick and Conor O’Rourke Director: Mollie Molumby Shauna Carrick Wants a Dog is a sweet and thoughtful musical that explores the effects of the pandemic and the struggles that young adults face in this particular time period where 30 sounds adult but it’s still perfectly common to be single, living at home, and unsure of what the future holds. Shauna Carrick and Conor O’Rourke have done a lovely job of writing several catchy little numbers that bring lightness and humour to some serious topics surrounding mental health, isolation, and the perils of the doom scroll. Carrick plays herself,…

Writer and Performer: Louisa Ní Éideáin Director: Franziska Detrez Louisa embarks on a captivating musical journey, delving into the profound impact of her late ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) diagnosis. Fluent in English, Irish, and adding the occasional touch of French, she masterfully guides the audience through a cabaret-style performance that traverses her life from the moment of diagnosis at the age of thirty-eight, back to the formative years of her childhood. Throughout this narrative, Louisa sheds light on the profound influence both her condition and societal expectations have had on her. Notable highlights of the show include Louisa’s intriguing…

Writer:  Sadhbh Malin  Director: Bellaray Bertrand-Webb Every seat is taken for Philomena Production’s ‘In Heat’ at Temple Bar’s ‘The New Theatre’ this evening. This is a strong debut for writer/actor, Sadhbh Malin and creative producer, Sinead Gallagher. The play unfolds in a bedroom of the flat 29 year old junior doctor, Conor, played by Aidan Moriarty, shares with housemate ‘Tony’.  He and Jessica Dunne Perkins as his ex-girlfriend, Helen, have returned there after having met for coffee.  She has momentous news to share and is nervous as to how it will be received (“Promise you’ll go easy on me!”). Conor,…

Writer & Director: Rachel Ní Bhraonáin  MOSH is a fascinating exploration of a niche subculture through the medium of spoken word and dance. The concept of a mosh pit is familiar to most people, whether as a mysterious moving mass at a concert, a group of people acting insane, or something that you enjoy partaking in yourself, it is a well-known feature of the music scene, but Rachel Ní Bhraonáin’s MOSH allows for a look behind the curtain and into the heart of the experience, telling the story of why people want to place themselves in a crush of other…