Tuesday, December 18, 2018

2019 theatre preview: 10 shows to watch out for

Promotional image for Citysong. A Thomas Kilroy adaptation, two Tennessee Williams dramas, and several new plays are on the way. 


Saturday, December 8, 2018

The Signalman review: Another Charles Dickens ghost, another counsel

A spectre visits a signalman on the eve of disaster, in Charles Dickens's story. Photo: Alan Craig

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Thursday, November 29, 2018

The Best Theatre of 2018

My favourite theatre moments of 2018: The Lost O'Casey, Bluebeard's Castle, Orfeo ed Euridice, Asking for It, and Dolores


Monday, November 26, 2018

Before review: The familiar melody of Pat Kinevane's extravagantly intimate song

Pat Kinevane's new play follows a man reunited with his daughter after 17 years apart. Photo: Patrick Redmond 

Monday, November 19, 2018

Woman Undone review: A reimagining of Mary Coughlan's life, ethereal and terrifying like a nightmare

The singer watches her younger self suffer predatory attacks and downspins through addiction, in this avant-garde play. Photo: Simone Rudolphi

Friday, November 16, 2018

We Can't Have Monkeys in the House review: A dark surreal comedy about traumatised sisters

A woman is reunited with her sisters to fulfil their mother's dying wish in Ciara Elizabeth Smyth's affecting new comedy. 

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Asking for It review: Home truths on rape culture in an outstanding production

Louise O'Neill's acclaimed novel moves to stage, and puts new shape on this essential era. Photo: Ros Kavanagh 


Saturday, November 10, 2018

The Bystander review: A blurry dance about staying on the sidelines

Junk Ensemble's brooding production is driven by the shocking murder of Kitty Genovese, out in the open, in 1964 New York. Photo: Marco Novara 

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Double Cross review: Thomas Kilroy's hi-tech play gets an analogue production

Kilroy frames Brendan Bracken and William Joyce as Cain and Abel-like brothers, forged together by one actor's performance. Photo: Melissa Gordon

Saturday, October 13, 2018

Bluebeard's Castle review: A magnificent art-horror opera exposing a male monster

A woman throws open the doors of Bluebeard's Castle, bringing her closer to his crimes, in Béla Bartók's terrific opera.

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

The Fever review: Compassionate interactive theatre, recognising cries for help

In 600 HIGHWAYMEN's fascinating production, the audience play guests and neighbours at a house party. Photo: Waleed Shah


Saturday, October 6, 2018

Company review: Samuel Beckett's life-retrospective is a big ask for the stage

Samuel Beckett's late novella about mortality receives a sombre adaptation by Sarah Jane Scaife. Photo: Futoshi Sakauchi

ELIZA'S Adventures in the Uncanny Valley review: Some eccentricities in this absurd drama don't seem well scripted

A group of androids struggle with feelings of irrelevance in Eugene O'Brien and Gavin Quinn's new play. Photo: Ros Kavanagh 


Saturday, September 29, 2018

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man review: James Joyce's coming of age refuses the move to stage

Arthur Riordan's kaleidoscopic new adaptation of Joyce's novel takes the novelist at his word. Photo: Ste Murray


Thursday, September 20, 2018

Shame review: Garage rock theatre, dissenting and triumphing

Pom Boyd and Seán Miller's new music-theatre production gives paralysing self-doubt the longed-for pathos of a rock song. 


Abbey Theatre (Peacock Stage), Dublin Fringe Festival 
Sep 19-22


My review of Shame by Pom Boyd and Seán Miller coming up just as soon as I smile ...

Saturday, September 15, 2018

The PeopleSway review: Artists addressing the housing crisis how they know best

Grainne O Carroll's promenade production drags otherworldly displays down to ground.


MLV Studios, Dublin Fringe Festival 
Sep 13-15


My review of The PeopleSway by Dance Among Other Things coming up just as soon as I stretch my hands like an accordion ...

Everything Can Be Dismantled review: Freewheeling contemporary theatre in search of a rulebook

Discotheque Collective's interactive play involves an audience conversation about the housing crisis. 

The Lir Academy (Studio 2), Dublin Fringe Festival
Sep 12-16


My review of Everything Can Be Dismantled by Discotheque Collective coming up just as soon as I hand you a lamp ...

Friday, September 14, 2018

Astronaut review: A caustic stream of consciousness thrums towards Apollo House

Joe Wright's impassioned solo work tells the story of a homeless man. Photo: Gary James Doyle. 


The New Theatre, Dublin Fringe Festival
Sep 12-15


My review of Astronaut by Joe Wright coming up just as soon as I introduce Christy Dignam from Aslan ...

Stop / Over review: A light-flickering escape to New York unsure of what it's fleeing from

In Gary Duggan's promenade play, two reunited friends try to recreate the abandon of their student days over 48 hours. Photo: Futoshi Sakauchi.


Chocolate Factory, Dublin Fringe Festival 
Sep 12-23


My review of Stop / Over by Gary Duggan coming up just as soon as I sip on my Masochist ...

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Oneday review: Striking and revitalising avant-garde theatre

Dick Walsh's riveting new play uses news reports to reconstruct what happened on March 13th, 2012. Photo: Aine McBride. 


Project Arts Centre (Cube), Dublin Fringe Festival
Sep 10-15


My review of Oneday by Dick Walsh coming up just as soon as I play Count Dracula on Broadway ...

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

A Holy Show review: Multiple-role comedy about Aer Lingus highjack spreads itself thin

Janet Moran's vigorous comedy revisits a bizarre episode from 1980s Ireland. 


Abbey Theatre (Peacock Stage), Dublin Fringe Festival
Sep 10-15

My review of A Holy Show by Janet Moran coming up just as soon as I consecrate Russia to my immaculate heart ...

Monday, September 10, 2018

Assisted Solo review: An affectionate and surreal dance about elderly care

Philip Connaughton's absorbing new production features an appearance by his mother, who suffers from dementia. Photo: Ste Murray 


Project Arts Centre (Upstairs), Dublin Fringe Festival 
Sep 8-15

My review of Assisted Solo by Philip Connaughton coming up just as soon as my ex-boyfriend is a gynaecologist ...

Sunday, September 9, 2018

FABLE review: A dance production buckling under the problems of modern life

The Human Collective's lively production for young audiences ushers street dance into the theatre. 


Project Arts Centre (Upstairs), Dublin Fringe Festival
Sep 10-16

My review of FABLE by Matt Szczerek coming up just as soon as I hop on an escalator ...

Saturday, September 8, 2018

Everything I Do review: Mesmerising gig theatre, in tune with all-consuming love

Zoe Ní Riordáin's new musical performance begins with gestures of devotion necessary for love songs but becomes something more complex. Photo: Ros Kavanagh. 

Project Arts Centre (Cube), Dublin Fringe Festival
Sep 8-15

My review of Everything I Do by Zoe Ní Riordain coming up just as soon as I meet an alien ...