Articles and Reviews
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THE IRISH TIMES review of The Bystander, Dublin Theatre Festival 2018

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THE REVIEWS HUB review of The Bystander, Dublin Theatre Festival 2018

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THE ARTS REVIEW review of The Bystander, Dublin Theatre Festival 2018

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IRISH TIMES review of Man At The Door (Number 54), Cork Midsummer Festival 2018

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IRISH TIMES review of Dolores, Dublin Dance Festival 2018

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IRISH INDEPENDENT review of Dolores, Dublin Dance Festival 2018

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EXEUNT MAGAZINE review of Dolores, Dublin Dance Festival 2018

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THE ARTS REVIEW review of Dolores, Dublin Dance Festival 2018

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THE BIG LIST NI review of Soldier Still, Dublin Fringe Festival 2017

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THE IRISH TIMES review of Soldier Still, Dublin Fringe Festival 2017

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THE ARTS REVIEW review of Soldier Still, Dublin Fringe Festival 2017

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EXEUNT MAGAZINE review of Soldier Still, Dublin Fringe Festival 2017

THE REVIEWS HUB review of Soldier Still, Dublin Fringe Festival 2017

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THE SCOTSMAN review of It Folds, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2016

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THE STAGE review of It Folds, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2016

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THE HERALD review of It Folds, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2016

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EXAMINER.COM review of Walking Pale, 2016

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THE IRISH TIMES review of Dusk Ahead, 2015

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THE IRISH TIMES review of It Folds, 2015

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THE STATE OF THE ARTS review of It Folds, 2015

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BROADWAY WORLD review of It Folds, 2015

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LE COOL review of It Folds, 2015

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THE NEW YORK TIMES review of Dusk Ahead, 2015

TANZ MAGAZIN review of The Falling Song, 2014

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EXEUNT MAZAZINE review of The Falling Song, 2014

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THE PUBLIC REVIEWS review of The Falling Song, 2014

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THE STAGE review of The Falling Song, 2014

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THE IRISH TIMES review of Dusk Ahead, 2013

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THE SUNDAY TIMES review of Dusk Ahead, 2013

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EXAMINER.COM review of Dusk Ahead, 2013

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IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE review of Dusk Ahead, 2013

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IRISH INDEPENDENT review of Dusk Ahead, 2013

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THE IRISH TIMES feature on junk ensemble and Dusk Ahead, 2013

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IRISH EXAMINER review of Dusk Ahead, 2013

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THE IRISH TIMES review of The Falling Song, 2012

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IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE review of The Falling Song, 2012

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RACHEL DONNELLY review of The Falling Song, 2012

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TOTALLY DUBLIN review of Bird with boy, 2012

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THE SUNDAY TIMES review of Bird with boy, 2011

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IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE review of Bird with boy, 2011

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THE IRISH TIMES review of Bird with boy, 2011

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THE VIEW on RTE TELEVISION review of Five Ways to Drown, 2010

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THE IRISH TIMES review of Five Ways to Drown, 2010

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IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE review of Five Ways to Drown, 2010

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THE IRISH INDEPENDENT review of Five Ways to Drown, 2010

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IRISH HERALD review of Five Ways to Drown, 2010

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DANCE EUROPE review of Drinking Dust, 2009

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THE IRISH TIMES review of Drinking Dust, 2008

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THE METRO review of Drinking Dust, 2008

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IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE review of Drinking Dust, 2008

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THE IRISH TIMES review of The Rain Party, 2007

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THE IRISH INDEPENDENT review of The Rain Party, 2007

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THE METRO review of The Rain Party, 2007

IRISH EXAMINER
15 August 2013

Dusk Ahead at Kilkenny Arts Festival
Watergate Theatre
by Marc O'Sullivan

Junk Ensemble's 'Dusk Ahead' enjoyed its world premiere at Kilkenny Arts Festival last weekend. Junk Ensemble is an Irish company that has won critical kudos and several major awards for shows such as 'Bird with boy' and 'Drinking Dust'. They were artists-in-residence at Tate Britain in 2012.

Created and choreographed by Junk Ensemble founders Jessica and Megan Kennedy, 'Dusk Ahead' is inspired by what the French call "l'heure entre chien et loup" the hour between day and night during which one can not easily distinguish dog from wolf, or friend from foe. It also explores the subjects of blindness and invisibility.

Dusk Ahead features five dancers/musicians, along with cellist Zoe Ni Riordain. The show opens with blindfolded figures trying to find their way about the stage. Some extraordinary images follow.

Several sequences recall the fantastical drawings of Alice Maher. In one, two girls whose hair is inter-braided dance awkwardly, as if struggling to break free of the very thing that binds them together. It could be that this is inspired by the Kennedys being identical twins, bound by their mutual interest in dance. But more likely it is the acting out of some ancient folktale.

In another sequence, a boy and girl are conjoined by their mouths. They might be kissing, but the image is anything but sensual. Or they might be breathing life into each other, but it could just as easily be that they are sucking it out again. Either way, theirs is a terrible and seemingly inescapable struggle, and their mutual dependence is disturbing to witness.

There are later sequences where the characters carry each other about the stage, and in one scene a girl walks across the others' bodies. In the end, the dancers gather with Ni Riordain to sing, as if to reinforce the idea that there is safety in togetherness.

IRISH EXAMINER review of Dusk Ahead, 2013