Irish tap meets a pole-dancing funeral party at Factory International
I'M not saying that the press image (see above) was the only reason I went to see Wake at Aviva Studios but I’ll admit it played a part. I was also intrigued by the show description which talked about ancient funeral rites and 'a celebration of transformation and moving from one realm to the other'. Mixing slam poetry with pole dancing and Irish tap, and comedy with club anthems, this ‘Irish variety phenomenon’ looked like a really fun show about death. Sign me up.
Wake begins with its performance-poet emcee FELISPEAKS asking the audience to consider why they’re here - as in, what brought them to this show? Was it grief, desire, disillusionment, the burning need for a really good night out? This is theatre that openly states in its first ten minutes what all artists are secretly hoping to achieve; Wake wants to make a connection, strip away the protective layers, and change the way people see and feel. It’s a bold move to say so outright; it’s rare to find art that good. Was it promising too much?
The show unfolds in a dizzying sequence of variety acts, each worthy of a show in its own right. The comedy from the drunk gay uncle played by Philip Connaughton (opening line after falling over: ‘I want to be seduced’) was hilarious and daft. While the ‘as yet undiscovered celebrity DJ, Duncan Disorderly (played by Emer Dineen) got everyone on their feet, belting out ‘Free from Desire’ like we were all best mates three drinks in at a cheesy nightclub.
These moments of joy, silliness and cathartic, communal laughter contrasted with performances that cut deep in the opposite direction. A scene that combined soul-stirring singing with a solo aerial dance took me from impressed to awed to feeling frankly quite sad. Five minutes later, I was up and dancing again. You don’t stay in one emotional state for long at Wake.
These shifts in tone are what makes it so exhilarating and mesmerising. It’s powerful in the moment - like they said it would be - and it isn’t going to fade from my memory and thoughts any time soon. What could be more apt at Easter than a celebration of death and rebirth? It’s what this weekend - and this life - is all about.
Wake is showing at Aviva Studios on Friday 18, Saturday 19, Sunday 20, and Monday 21 April. There are limited tickets available at the time of press.
All images by Ruth Medjbe.
