The Arts Review​

1975//Naoi Déag Seachtó Cúig by Teac Damsa. Image, Emilija Jefremova ***** What can you say about Teaċ Daṁsa’s excellent 1975/Naoi Déag Seachtó Cúig? Well, it’s a dance conversation with the iconic album by Irish traditional group The Bothy Band entitled 1975, originally released in 1975. Yeah. But that’s just facts, it speaks nothing to the truth. How about, 1975/Naoi Déag Seachtó Cúig sees dancers respond to music from the past rather than crafting something physically insp

The Lost Tapes of Lydia Howell. Image, Ros Kavanagh. *** If you were to outline a theme for Cork Midsummer Festival 2026, it might be artistic almost rans accepting their fate or rediscovering their mojo. Often blushed with a touch of rediscovered art. Ray Scannell’s meditative and moving The Lost Tapes of Lydia Howell embodying all of the above. Beguilingly simply, Scannell’s story within a story results in leaden storytelling theatre offset by beautiful, musical interludes.

Liv O'Donoghue, Jacob McCarthy, Evanna Lynch and Rowan Finken in Pool (No Water). Image, soundofphotography ***** Pool (No Water). The words in italics essential. Mark Ravenhill’s excoriating interrogation of humanity and art affirming a self-evident truth. That when it comes to manufactured meaning and self-justifying snake oil, art is the greatest false religion of them all. All compromised Franciscans, no St. Francis. Ravenhill’s tale of four second rate artists and their