Dublin Theatre Festival 2024: An Ant Called Amy

Julie Sharkey in An Ant Called Amy. Image by Emma Brennan

****

The upshot of simplicity is that it gives shoddy work nowhere to hide. The downside is that great work can seem almost effortless. Even as simplicity requires a phenomenal amount of effort. Like Julie Sharkey’s touchingly clever An Ant Called Amy. The story of an award winning ant who constantly busies themselves so they don’t have to think about…, well, let’s not think about that right now. Sharkey’s sharp tale showing little in terms of surface extravagance. But scratch that surface and there’s a whole world underneath. One asking its young audience about slowing down and self-care. About scary brown spiders. About fame almost going to your head. About sad things too.

A woman, a ladder, and a story. Mostly it’s the woman. Olyn Wrynn’s set design and Sarah Jane Shiels’ mood shifting lights ensuring Amy, looking ready for a hard days work in Deirdre Dwyer’s overalls, is always the focus. The ladder an anthill climbed endlessly as Amy delivers leafs and wins her employee of the month award. The audience participants at the award presentation ceremony. Amy’s life an endless rush until one fateful night she meets the brown spider. Sharkey’s puppetry simply superb, as is her performance. Leading her young audience into imaginative engagement. By the time their special message is sent out at the end, they are totally won over.

If some of its themes are likely to pass over the heads of the very young, Sharkey’s tale serves as a launching pad into post show discussions on the way home. Even as the show itself is a thing of joy. Sharkey, an impressive children’s performer, is made even more so by the impeccable direction of Raymond Keane. A master of physical theatre, Keane’s influence is clearly evident. Sharpening everything from pace, to composition, to expression. An Ant Called Amy stepped in Keane’s unhurried calm. The end result a simple tale simply told making for a joyfully delightful, A plus experience.

An Ant Called Amy by Julie Sharkey runs at The Ark as part of  Dublin Theatre Festival 2024 until September 29.

For more information visit Dublin Theatre Festival 2024 or The Ark