The Dublin Fringe Festival 2017 runs from 9 to 24 of September all over the city, and with dozen and dozens of shows to pick from, it can be a little daunting to know what to choose.
Thankfully, your good friends here at JOE have done some of the heavy lifting for you.
We’ve picked out some of the best in the mix in terms of comedy, drama, fact, fiction, dance, artistic and everything in between.
Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg, with these 17 picks just a helpful push in the right direction, as part of the fun of the Fringe is going to a show you know nothing about and just letting it wash over you. However, if you are looking for a little help, you can’t go wrong with any of the following:
This show is half theatre/half rave. The performance allows you to be as involved as you like from the minute you enter the Soiled Dove Saloon. You can grab a drink and join the performers or simply wait to see what happens next.
Choreographer Luke Murphy explores the radical advancements of knowledge in the field of science and medicine and just how much this affects modern society.
Set in the early 1900s, Russian ladies in disguise Ida and Bubbie become world famous for their male impersonations. But on the night of their Broadway debut, disaster strikes.
Somewhere between horror and comedy lies Dummy, the story of a family who were made famous by their celebrity ventriloquist parent, but never get out of the shadow of that wooden doll. Now, years later, the family come together to air their grievances, but the doll may not be as completely lifeless as everyone is letting on…
Four women tackle common misconceptions of those with disabilities in this laughter-filled hour long production by Mary Nugent.
Lords Of Strut: Absolute Legends
You might remember these two from when they visited The JOE Show and give us some dancing lessons! Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists return to the Fringe after their success in THISISPOPBABY’S Riot at the 2016 Dublin Fringe. A hilarious glimpse into the life of Sean and Seamus on the dance their way to fame and fortune.
Co-produced by Stomptown Brass & Collapsing Horse and set in St Werburgh’s Church, this is a major once-a-year type gig and total Fringe experience of big brass band music that will also hit the streets.
Good old story telling in tents in Dubin’s city centre and how we can affect change to our future.
Why Won’t You Have Sex With Me?
A colourful exploration of sex and disability. Written by wheelchair user, disability activist and journalist Louise Bruton, this show is a response to those who think that disabled people aren’t getting any.
This isn’t ACTUALLY on the closing night, instead we enter the world of the Theatre Royale, where all the performers have been told that it is about to close, so to celebrate, each act performs the one thing they’ve always wanted to do for their final appearance on the main stage. Expect nudity!
We’re obviously very big fans of FA&H here in JOE, and we’re very happy to see their new show as part of this year’s Fringe. As they’ve told us themselves, their new show has yet to be reviewed but when it is, it will be “utterly spellbinding” and “a triumph”. And we’ve no reason to believe they’d be biased about that.
Inspired by East London’s queers, queens, squatters and strikers, post-popular prodigy Lucy McCormick and her Girl Squad present a trashstep-dubpunk morality play for the modern world, and will attempt to re-connect to her own moral conscience by re-enacting the New Testament via a Nu-wave holy trinity of dance, power ballads and performance art.
A site-specific spectacle of circus and theatre set in the Dublin Docklands, this was already a massive hit at the Kilkenny Arts Festival 2017 earlier this year.
Choir music by the Theatre Replacement and Tonnta choir, who will perform at St. Stephen’s Green Centre.
Spliced is the story of Timmy Creed as he contemplates living his life outside the institution that raised him: the GAA. With the support of visual artist David Mathuna, Creed attempts to understand the intimate details of his childhood.
Nine women take to Temple Bar’s Meeting House Square armed with only a set of steel drums. Every hour, on the hour, these women will produce a symphony of aural delights for their passers by.
Sleepy California town Los Alamos is known for its wine-tastings, kooky antique stores, an annual Glass Blowing Festival and now: muuuurrrrddderrrrr. Sure, it’s “unfathomable” that anyone could ever lay a finger on an aspiring oncologist and ex-beauty queen, but this small-town has BIG secrets. American comedian Erin McGathy plays every suspect in this murder mystery set in California wine country.
For more info on listings and get your tickets, head to www.fringefest.com
