Saturday 15 March 2008

Pearl at Dublin Docklands

Went to see PEARL around the IFSC in DUBLIN DOCKLANDS last night, it's part of the St. Patrick's Festival weekend celebrations.

So many great street theatre groups arrive in Dublin and are then forced to restrict their show because of a bunch of bureaucrats who lack creativite vision or an understanding that while the Irish like to have the craic, we don't need to be caged in for 'our own safety'. (There is definitely a much more relaxed and involved audience at similar events in latin countries - can you ever imagine Ireland agreeing to a bull-run or city-wide tomato fight?)

So when we went along to the show last night we were in two minds. French street theatre company PLASTICIENS VOLANTS are certainly capable of putting on one amazing show, but would it retain it's sense of fluidity that is a hallmark?

Well what a show - giant helium inflated 'puppets' controlled by their 'handlers' with guide ropes - then smaller 3 meter sea-horse, crabs, shrimp, shellfish running through the crowds glowing colourfully in the dark. Rather than being focussed on a single stage area the action weaved over 60 or 80 metres, all around the Dock so that, no matter where you were standing, you'd find yourself caught-up in the 'underwater' battle at some stage, no where was safe.

We floated around the space, above us massive fishes and lobster protecting their giant pearl. Then out of no-where, somewhere behind us maybe, a giant sea snake is skimming over our heads (he must have been 20 or 30 metres long with a 4 metre girth).

He part-flew, part-bounced above us then dived head-first into the crowd about 5 feet from where we were standing. The music was thundering around the space almost drowning out the screams (we later heard he took-out an adult and a few kids).

A shrimp and a few crabs ran up to us as the snake slithered in chasing them in our direction. They trembled with fear, holding onto my jacket and clearly seeking help in some weird language. Somehow we got the message across that they should swim out of there fast and they fled (ok we were being selfish but they glowed like hell and were only drawing the snake's attention to where we were hiding).

What a show, it's repeated tonight again and, although it's listed as a ticketed free event if you don't have one go along anyway. There was no one asking for tickets last night.

19.30
Georges Dock / IFSC (International Financial Services Centre)
Dublin Docklands,
D.01
(take public transport, little parking around there)

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