Behind The Scenes at the Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival Part 2

Still not sure what you want to see and time is against you? Not to worry, here are some more suggestions from the  UBDTF staff and their reasons are to be taking very seriously!! A little reminder also, Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival kicks off with a jump and a leap this day two weeks so get onto buying your tickets before it's too late!

 

Sarah Durcan, General Manager– Rian

The show I’m most excited about this Festival has to be Rian as I’m a big fan of Fabulous Beast’s work. For me, Fabulous Beast create such extraordinary moments on stage and it’s always an unforgettable experience.

Fabulous Beast has a long association with the Festival starting with the magnificent Giselle (2003) which blew everyone away and is still talked about to this day. 

I’m particularly looking forward to seeing how Michael Keegan-Dolan fuses new movement with the traditionally inspired music of Liam Ó Maonlaí, I think it will be quite an event to behold. 

I was lucky to see Fabulous Beast's Rite of Spring in the London Coliseum, approximately a 30 minute piece playing to a packed house of over 2,000 people where each moment seemed to expand in the most powerful way, and the audience was left enthralled and buzzing at the end, and this what I am expecting for Rian. 

Aoife Van Wolvelaere, Development Assistant – The Blue Boy

The show that I won’t be missing this Festival has to be The Blue Boy. I happened to catch an open rehearsal piece before Brokentalkers headed off to Noorderzoon Festival in Groningen in August and I was utterly moved by it. I think Brokentalkers are extremely talented in how they combine dance with a multimedia piece in a way that still feels incredibly well connected. The short snip of the performance I saw gave me goosebumps.

The Blue Boy is a visual a concept and will be breath-taking despite the subject matter. You will be moved beyond words.

Soracha Pelan Ó’Treasaigh, Finance Assistant – Laundry & Trade

I’m really looking forward to Laundry and Trade in this year’s Festival. They are representative of the trend of site specific work emerging in Irish theatre and are part of the Behind Closed Doors season. I am familiar with Mark O’Halloran’s excellent films Adam and Paul and Garage, and have not seen his previous theatre work so I’m interested to see how his unique voice will transfer to theatre. Trade is a thisispopbaby production, and they are one of the most exciting theatre companies working in Ireland today, and I expect that they will not disappoint. The location is particularly interesting as it takes place outside the theatre space in a room in a bed and breakfast.

Similarly, in Laundry, the play takes place in the Magdalene Convent. This is the second part of ANU Productions’ work about an area in North inner-city Dublin, following on from World End’s Lane.  In the wake of public revelations of the institutions and stories about the women who lived there, it is interesting to see how art can respond to this history, and how they choose to represent this history to audiences. These are two of my favorites in this year’s Festival as they promise to offer a unique and exciting experience, and hopefully a real insight into the hidden stories of Dublin.

Aoife Glenn, Marketing and Development Intern – Revolution Now!

I’m most looking forward to seeing Revolution Now!, with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. The company behind it, Gob Squad, are real theatre revolutionaries so there’s a feeling that anything could happen during the production. The fact that they combine audience participation with television, music and even slices of cake means I’m sure this is going to be nothing like any theatre I’ve been to before. The events going on in the world around us at the moment give real resonance to Gob Squad’s ideas about peaceful protest and the use of the media so hopefully there will be much food for thought. I’m going to be brave and immerse myself fully in the experience and if I get too carried away and become a full blown revolutionary UBDTF may be without an intern….

Aisling Mulhall,  Marketing Assistant – She She Pop & Their Fathers: TESTAMENT

I will be making time during the Festival madness to see She She Pop & Their Fathers: TESTAMENT which is part of the Radical Mind programme. I think this German production will be truly unique as it’s based on Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy, King Lear and the cast are accompanied by their real fathers on stage. The show will be to emphasising the issues of ageing and parenthood that affect us all but are seldom spoken. I think it will be witty, soul-baring and therapeutic and mid-way through the Festival madness that is exactly what I need!

Ruth Gordon, Show Programmes Editor – Donka, a letter to Chekhov

I’m most excited about seeing Donka, a letter to Chekhov. It is the perfect escapist piece. Ethereal and dream-like, filled with music, dancing, acrobatics, it’s a front-row seat inside the head of director Daniele Finzi Pasca as he portrays the effect Chekhov has had on his imagination.

Pasca has previously directed work for Cirque du Soleil which speaks volumes for what sort of a spectacle to expect and you don’t need to have seen any Chekhov’s plays to enjoy this piece for what it is. 

The cast are exceptional - singing, dancing, clowning musician-acrobats! I’m expecting to be dazzled.

Marie Breen, Production Manager – Testament

I’m really looking forward to Testament. I think the collaboration of three extraordinary people - writing by Colm Tóibin, direction by Garry Hynes and performance by Marie Mullen will have an amazing outcome.

I’m very excited about Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival hosting the world premiere and the first Festival commission in 11 years of this one women play. The subject matter will be intriguing, witnessing Marie Mullen play the most famous mother of all time – Mary the mother of Jesus Christ, one of the greatest characters whose story has never been told on stage.  I will definitely be putting all my money on this show.

Shauna Lyons, Marketing Manager – Peer Gynt

I’m most looking forward to Rough Magic's brilliant new version of Peer Gynt. I’m a big fan of Arthur Riordan and having followed the rehearsal tweets and updates from the cast, I’m getting more and more excited about it. Asides from an amazing cast, it has the wonderful Tarab playing live and will have spectacular design by the multi-talented John Comiskey and Alan Farquharson. A production packed with lots of laughs, this could be the most fun production in this year’s Festival.  A perfect antidote for a cold Autumn’s evening.