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THE REVIEWS HUB review of The Bystander, Dublin Theatre Festival 2018
THE ARTS REVIEW review of The Bystander, Dublin Theatre Festival 2018
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IRISH TIMES review of Dolores, Dublin Dance Festival 2018
IRISH INDEPENDENT review of Dolores, Dublin Dance Festival 2018
EXEUNT MAGAZINE review of Dolores, Dublin Dance Festival 2018
THE ARTS REVIEW review of Dolores, Dublin Dance Festival 2018
THE BIG LIST NI review of Soldier Still, Dublin Fringe Festival 2017
THE IRISH TIMES review of Soldier Still, Dublin Fringe Festival 2017
THE ARTS REVIEW review of Soldier Still, Dublin Fringe Festival 2017
EXEUNT MAGAZINE review of Soldier Still, Dublin Fringe Festival 2017
THE SCOTSMAN review of It Folds, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2016
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EXAMINER.COM review of Walking Pale, 2016
THE IRISH TIMES review of Dusk Ahead, 2015
THE IRISH TIMES review of It Folds, 2015
THE STATE OF THE ARTS review of It Folds, 2015
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THE NEW YORK TIMES review of Dusk Ahead, 2015
EXEUNT MAZAZINE review of The Falling Song, 2014
THE PUBLIC REVIEWS review of The Falling Song, 2014
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THE IRISH TIMES review of Dusk Ahead, 2013
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EXAMINER.COM review of Dusk Ahead, 2013
IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE review of Dusk Ahead, 2013
IRISH INDEPENDENT review of Dusk Ahead, 2013
THE IRISH TIMES feature on junk ensemble and Dusk Ahead, 2013
IRISH EXAMINER review of Dusk Ahead, 2013
THE IRISH TIMES review of The Falling Song, 2012
IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE review of The Falling Song, 2012
RACHEL DONNELLY review of The Falling Song, 2012
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IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE review of Bird with boy, 2011
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THE VIEW on RTE TELEVISION review of Five Ways to Drown, 2010
THE IRISH TIMES review of Five Ways to Drown, 2010
IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE review of Five Ways to Drown, 2010
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IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE review of Drinking Dust, 2008
THE IRISH TIMES review of The Rain Party, 2007
THE IRISH INDEPENDENT review of The Rain Party, 2007
THE METRO review of The Rain Party, 2007
METRO
DANCE REVIEW
**** 4 stars
Friday, February 9, 2007
DANCING IN THE STREETS
On arrival at the Project for The Rain Party you're asked to surrender your shoes in return for a pair of wellies and an umbrella, decorated with hand-drawn pictures of fish. To soften the blow you're given some hot chocolate and marshmallows - which seems a fair exchange - before being taken outside and asked as a group to raise your umbrellas, then led through a stretch of Temple Bar to the outdoor location of the site-specific dance piece.
Understandably, a group of bemused-looking people carrying colourful umbrellas on a dry, crisply cold night attracts attention. 'It's not raining!' some lads jn tracksuits helpfully inform us, while an old lady rushes past shaking her head and tutting disapprovingly at our silliness. Thankfully, we are soon taken through a big metal gate where we hear splashing noises and look up to see a pair of pretty girls in wellies sitting on the wall high above, dousing the path with water from watering cans. So begins The Rain Party.
The girls in question are identical twins Jessica and Megan Kennedy, artistic directors of physical theatre company. Junk Ensemble, who have choreographed this piece, in which they are the sole performers. It's based upon the concept of memory and we're led into a garden filled with polaroids scribbled with childhood memories such as 'jumping in the sea and my knickers filling with sand'. It feels as though anything can happen next - and that seems to be the intention behind such thorough audience participation.
Despite the discomfort of the location you feel yourself becoming part of the Kennedys' carefully choreographed world. The contemporary music, ranging from dreamily plinking pianos to raucous Latin American-style dance, perfectly complements the footwork, which is surprisingly graceful given the clunky footwear. Splashing water, cutlery and even a rope to climb from a balcony are just some of the props used in an unconventional performance that's definitely worth getting wet for.
VICTORIA WATSON
THE METRO review of The Rain Party, 2007