West Meath Gothic – Dublin Fringe Festival – Review

Venue – Project Arts Centre – Space Upstairs
Duration – 70mins

The stage is quite striking at the beginning of the production. A black curtain hangs from the ceiling at the centre of the stage, while at the back sits Composer and Sound Designer Brian Dillon, surrounded by keyboards and computers. As the piece begins, an old radio suddenly comes to life, and a voice speaks directly to the audience. It is the unmistakably motherly voice of Marie Mullen. At this point, the curtain at the centre of the stage is raised, and we see the main character, Olwen (Kate Finegan), for the first time.

The voice on the radio seems to know exactly what is happening, although Olwen remains confused. She cannot remember certain elements of her past, and as the production unfolds, it gradually develops into something resembling a fever dream of ideas, memories and fragmented concepts.

This is another unusual production at the Dublin Fringe Festival, blending “aerial dance” with physical theatre. There are elements of linear storytelling, although the premise only becomes fully clear towards the end. We see Olwen seemingly possessed by various women from the past. These are not threatening or devious spirits; instead, their presence sends her into a frenzy of aerial movement as she hangs from hoops and lengths of fabric, twisting and moving through the air.

There are also sections performed closer to the ground, where the production draws on fragments of Ireland’s past. The voice of Gay Byrne features, alongside references to the Housewife of the Year competition, transporting us to a very different era. These moments add another layer to the production, blurring the boundaries between personal memory and physical performance.

The other performer on stage is Darrell Elliott, who operates largely as a silent presence but also acts as a counterweight, lifting Kate Finegan high into the air before carefully lowering her back to the ground. It is fascinating to watch the mechanics of this process.

The production dips into the lives of various women from the past, briefly bringing them back to life through Olwen’s body and movement. It is an intriguing concept, and the piece is visually striking, particularly in the way it combines aerial dance with storytelling. The aerial work never feels like an unnecessary embellishment; instead, it becomes an expressive device through which the production explores memory and identity.

Writer / Performer — Kate Finegan
Director — Katie O’Halloran
Producer — Laura Rigney
Composer / Sound Designer — Brian Dillon
Set + Costume Design — Sarah Foley
Lighting Design — Sebastian Pizarro
Performer (Counterweight) — Darrell Elliott
Production Manager — Grace Donnery
Stage Manager — Amelia Hauer
Production Associate — Jessica Leong
Chief LX — Jess Fitzsimons Kane
Rigger — Tony Mahon

Funded by the Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon. Supported by Solstice Art Centre. Developed at Motion Chapel, Irish Aerial Creation Centre & Dublin Fringe Festival Studios.

Image Credit: Olga Kuzmenko