The Dublin Fringe festival kicks off this September and there are loads and loads of amazingly inventive, creative, and entertaining shows to see from September 8th to 23rd. We’ve put together a few options that might be of interest to the Publin audience. We’ve paired several shows worth seeing with some local pubs where you can have a pint or food before or after the show.
Arachnophilia- New Theatre Temple Bar
A story about love. And spiders. And to a lesser extent; a grasshopper. In an attempt to secure their long-term future and prepare for a baby, Conor buys Alice a Chilean rose tarantula. Understandably upset, Alice leaves, and Conor’s obsession with Bellhop the spider begins. With only his own shed exo-skeleton for company, can Bellhop find some meaning in a life lived in captivity? This new comedy by Aidan Fitzmaurice is suitable for both arachnophobes and arachnophiles.
Have a pint in…
The Oak on Dame Street. Just around the corner from The New Theatre. The bar on the right hand side is a comfortable spot with velvet red walls and couches. Next door there’s fine food, wine, and spirits.
Trial of the Centurys- Project Arts Centre
Fun-loving popstar twins Trevor and Elliot Century (AKA ‘Trelliot’) are more accustomed to talent show judges than those of the legal variety. Alas, after being served a summons by a dodgy merch salesman, the pair encounter a miserable magistrate who has no time for their larks – or their tunes. In this courtroom musical that’s more “two giddy boys” than Twelve Angry Men, Giles Brody (RTÉ’s Irish Pictorial Weekly) and Bobby Aherne (art-pop act No Monster Club) take you, the jury, on a bizarre, toe-tapping adventure about fame, family, friendship and aliens.
Starring Irish comedy superstars Kevin McGahern and Tony Cantwell.
Have a pint in…
Garage Bar is right across from The Project. Pop in for a pint and don’t fret about having to run from the pub to the show.
Down The Drain- Lir Academy
When Chris and Sophie move in to a toilet, they think they’ve hit rock bottom. When their rent is raised to €1,400, they know they have. Faced with the prospect of dropping out of Trinity and moving home, Chris hits on the perfect solution – selling drugs! They don’t know the difference between ecstasy and acid, or where dealers get those little plastic baggies. But they can learn on the job – can’t they? Freedom, friendship, and sanity are all on the line in this darkly comic new play by Annie Keegan about Dublin’s rental crisis.
Have a pint in…
O’Neill’s pub on Pearse Street is a fine example of a Victorian era pub and only 12 minutes walk from the Lir Academy.
Witches and Dogs- New Theatre Temple Bar
Two actors and master improvisers present a funny, compelling and frequently poignant, never-before-seen production based on interviews with the audience. Each show is the opening and closing night of an original play, never to be performed again. A theatrical experience, electric with discovery that dares you to remember that it’s being made up.
Have a pint in…
Street 66 on Parliament Street is a great spot for a G and T and some dog spotting (it’s very dog friendly). This is a good shout for a drink just around the corner from The New Theatre.
The Cat’s Mother- Smock Alley
Sinéad arrives at her sister Ciara’s door in London, all set for a weekend of respite from caring for their mother, Eileen. At least, that’s what Ciara thinks this visit is about. Sinéad has other ideas. Over one long weekend, they are forced to make a choice that will affect their lives forever. Oh, and there’s also the small matter of the family cat. This laugh-out-loud dark comedy asks: how far are you willing to go for your family?
Have a pint in…
The Lord Edward is just up the hill in Christchurch. For performances Thur-Sat, so upstairs and enjoy the lounge.
Oneday- Project Arts Theatre
Dick Walsh and James Moran are staging news articles published on 13th March 2012. Or in other words, they’re examining a dying media using a dead artform. News articles are essentially information and typically lose their value after you’ve read them once. But theatre is a place where things must be repeated. This experiment then, is about what bears repeating and its relationship to subjectivity and storytelling.
Have a pint in…
The Palace is the other end of Temple Bar, but only a 5 minute walk. Have one of the finest pints of stout in a pub synonymous with some of Ireland’s literary greats before exploring what contemporary Irish artists have to offer.
