The 2024 festival spotlight will shine on premieres of novel Irish pieces and internationally lauded works. Performances focussing on the issues that shape our era will be presented and celebrated in settings that range from the personal to the global, in multiple venues around Dublin and its larger area. This year, the festival’s commitment to inclusivity is shown through initiatives like Aviva’s 10 for 10, making 10 percent of tickets from certain festival shows available for just €10 to those under 30, freelance artists, arts professionals and individuals who are unemployed.
The Irish theatre landscape
Notable new group play, Reunion, produced by Landmark and Galway International Arts Festival, brings to Dublin a cast of some of Ireland’s finest actors. The play has garnered five-star reviews from its earlier summer season at GIAF. It was penned and directed by Mark O’Rowe who hones in on the deeper dynamics of family life, resulting in an engaging narrative imbued with sardonic wit, profound wisdom and striking authenticity (from 8-13 October at Gaiety Theatre).
Gare St Lazare Ireland takes Beckett’s character Belacqua on a revealing journey to Dante’s source, examining how Melville’s character Bartleby embarks on a similar route. This devised piece, Shades Through a Shade, juxtaposes a specially commissioned score and visual art, with a theatre-maker ensemble. The performance will run from 23-28 September at the Samuel Beckett Theatre.
Pan Pan offers an unique reimagination of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, this time recounted from the Bear’s point of view, in their retelling titled Exit, Pursued by a Bear, from 3-13 October at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
It’s now September 2018 and with the wake of two referendums and a heated summer, Ireland ushers a new era of inclusivity. A reinvented Ireland faces the challenge of self-definition. Sandpaper On Sunburn, a humorous and intriguing exploration of identity and family relationships, is written and directed by David Horan. Performances will take place at the Smock Alley Theatre from 26 September to 5 October.
In an exciting first-look, the Hatch Theatre Company is set to present the global debut of J.M. Coetzee’s celebrated novel series, The Jesus Trilogy. This emotive tale, unified by a distinguished ensemble including Annabelle Comyn and Eoghan Quinn, will delve into the spirituality of memory and the allure of passion and dance. This spectacle will light up the stage at Project Arts Centre between the 9th and 19th of October.
The international element of the programme is not short of must-see performances either. Three standout pieces hail from England, including Find Your Eyes, a personalised composition by renowned hip-hop theatre turn photojournalist, Benji Reid. Revealing tales from Reid’s life, intertwined with vivid Afrofuturist images, are the crux of this performance set to run from 10th-12th October at O’Reilly.
Experimental theatre ensemble, Forced Entertainment, is set to perform their latest work, Signal to Noise. An AI voiceover synchronised with lip-syncing performers promises an evening of innovative entertainment (4-5 October, Samuel Beckett Theatre). Another highlight is Javaad Alipoor’s Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World, an interactive blend of political intrigue and online deception, who will also present a thrilling combination of lecture, podcast, and play from 10th-12th October, at the Samuel Beckett Theatre.
In anticipation of an Off-Broadway debut, Khawla Ibraheem’s A Knock on the Roof will showcase the measures taken by Mariam for war preparation within the confines of the disputed Golan Heights. The play, produced by Piece by Piece Productions (USA), explores human survival instinct and will be staged at the Smock Alley Theatre.
As for the Family Season, The Ark organises the Theatre for Children section, and it is teeming with vibrant shows such as An Ant Called Amy, BullyBully, Grace, and Dream Factory. These productions, suitable for various age groups, combine theatre with circus and dance elements that promise to delight audiences.
We’re eagerly anticipating a glimpse into behind-the-scenes actions at the Abbey Theatre, including a look into the set and costume creations for Lady Gregory’s rendition of Grania. This will be part of the backstage tours during the Dublin Theatre Festival. Additionally, the festival offers an alternative view of the city through the Older Theatre History Tour as well as the reboot of beloved festival programmes such as The Next Stage and International Theatre eXchange. Furthermore, Festival+ encompasses a range of talks, thought-provoking events and ongoing projects.
The Dublin Theatre Festival is slated to take place from the 26th of September to the 13th of October. The festival base is located at 12 Essex Street East, Dublin 2 D02 EH42.
The event receives funding from the Arts Council, Dublin City Council along with Fáilte Ireland and Fonds Podium Kunsten. With support from RTÉ Supporting The Arts, Aviva, Olytico, Irish Distillers and Oriana B, the Dublin Theatre Festival promises to be a stellar event.
Do make sure you catch the feature image: “Find Your Eyes” by Oluwatosin Daniju.