Creator: James Hosty
Before the audience were welcomed into the Cube Theatre at Dublin’s Project Arts Centre for the performance, we were given a brief background about The Heart Room Experience. It is a production that needs an intimate, enclosed setting. Therefore there are about twenty audience members and we hear how it was previously performed in hospitals and public corridors.
Creator James Hosty is part facilitator, part sharer / performer. The first half is a curious mix of dance, music, and a version of show and tell on a projector; James shares items from his life with the audience. There didn’t seem to be any thread being followed, which created a sense of disjointedness. However, once the audience was included in the process, it became much more enjoyable.
Hosty demonstrated a number of little movements and moments that we were invited to perform on the stage. Everyone seemed eager to participate, and quickly people were throwing themselves into the performance. There was something cathartic in laughing loudly in a group of strangers and pretending to be attacked by wasps; there were a number of projectors we were welcome to use – some participants created beautiful shadow work on the walls. It was a heartwarming and welcoming experience to engage in play with strangers, a lovely opportunity to share in an increasingly isolated world.
The short production (it runs to only 40 minutes) brought a warm sense of sharing an experience of others, feeling comfortable enough in a public space to express ourselves freely, joyously. It definitely felt good for the soul, letting loose and seeing what comes out. We were forewarned that audience members would also be participants in the performance, and it seemed that people were prepared for this and threw themselves into play gladly. It would be an even more interesting experience to see how people in a different environment such as a hospital would participate and express themselves in this type of forum. It was a welcome change from sitting silently in a theatre to jump up and dance.
Reviewed 17th January 2026.
