Reverb – Civic Theatre – Review

REVERB – Luail – Co-presented by Civic Theatre & Dublin Fringe Festival

The Dublin Fringe Festival was in the suburbs on Thursday night, for a performance of a new work by Luail. For those not familiar with the name, Luail is Ireland’s National Dance Company, which was established in 2024. Their premiere production, Chora, took place at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in May of this year. This new production, REVERB, starts life in the Civic Theatre, Tallaght, before an extensive tour around the country, including dates in Armagh, Dundalk, Longford, Newbridge, Sligo, Castlebar, and Limerick.

The production is a collaboration between choreographer Sarah Golding and multi-instrumentalist Lisa Canny, with 3 live musicians on stage and 7 dancers. The musicians include Lisa Canny on Harp, banjo and vocals, along with a violin/ guitar (LaurA Doherty) and percussion (Josh Sampson). The music is a mix of quite traditional-sounding tunes, along with more contemporary moments.

As the audience enters the auditorium, there are already four performers on stage, with the three musicians on individual raised platforms, along with one dancer languishing on stage. As the performance begins, the dancer gets to his feet before quickly being joined by the other six dancers, who descend from the sides of the theatre onto the stage. They’re all wearing flowing gowns of different shades, which look dramatic as they spin and cavort around the stage. There are a variety of moods on display through the performance, with the movement of the dancers matching the speed and atmosphere created by the music, for a varied and energetic performance.

While the world of contemporary dance is often called stuffy, this production is anything but. The piece is quite playful in nature and even offers some audience interaction. You can hear the nervous buzz in the audience at the mention of audience participation, but thankfully, you won’t be required to leave your seat. The audience is requested to stamp their feet, clap and shout at specific moments in time with the players. With its extensive tour around the country, this piece will serve as an introduction to many to Luail and their work. It’s a perfect production if you’ve been tempted to see a contemporary dance piece, but didn’t know where to start.

Choreography: Sarah Golding
Cast: Luail Company Dancers
Composer: Lisa Canny
Musicians: Josh Sampson, Laura Doherty & Lisa Canny
Stage Design: Katie Davenport
Lighting Design: Ciaran Bagnall
Costume Design: Laura Fajardo Castro