Bitta ballet? Comedy in the form of Dead Cat Bounce and the Pajama Men? A real live game show with cash prizes? Club nights? And after all that, some good old regular and not-so-regular theatre. It’s got to be the Absolut Fringe Festival, happening from September 11th - 26th, the launch for which was held in The Ringside Club on South Circular Road on Monday night amid balloons, boxers (the gloves and fists kind) and pear vodka.
The full programme of events is available on the festival website and here are some highlights from our perusing of the programme amid all the dancing and chatting. Check out…
The Pajama Men, from Saturday September 11th - Saturday September 25th (excluding Tuesdays) at 7pm in The Grand Social (formerly Pravda), tickets €16-18. Heartily recommended if their turn at the G’nite Cats show at the Kilkenny Cat Laughs in June is anything to go by.
Dead Cat Bounce: Bootlegs on Saturday September 18th and Saturday September 25th at Midnight in the Absolut Fringe Factory, tickets €5 only available on the door. The comedy rockers will be doing mashups and cover versions. Be there or be …really stupid, basically.
Stitch With Mitch on Monday September 20th at 10pm in the Absolut Fringe Factory, €5
As the blurb says: “Crochet hook star Mitch Nidlewink discusses the ins and outs of Stitch and Bitch. Plain, pearl, cable and button tops all taken to the edge. Come stitch your life back together with this longstanding community affair. BYO needles!”
Pop Céilí Friday September 24th at Midnight in the Absolut Fringe Factory, €5
“Forget the céilís you’ve been to (or haven’t). Tonight’s Pop Céilí reinterprets the genre with live trad covers and mash-ups of contemporary and extraordinary oop phenomena. They’ll teach you their new set dances, jigs and reels - ridiculously easy to learn and with fun pop flair thrown in. Come prepared to hAon Dó Trí and shake it like a Polaroid picture.”
My Life in Dresses from Saturday 11th - Saturday 18th September at 7pm in the Project Arts Centre Cube, €14/12
Sorcha Kenny’s fascination with vintage clothes has led to this production - a dress quest filled with threads and tales from women and men around the country, their stories centred around the nostalgic garb found at the back of the wardrobe.
I <3 Alice <3 I from Wednesday 22nd - Saturday 25th September at 6pm in The New Theatre, €13/10
“Alice and Alice are coming out…finally. This documentary piece is an unflinching and astonishingly personal love story that spans six decades. …Two exceptional, opinionated women were spotted winking at each other in Crumlin Shopping Centre. Now they’re in a show…reluctantly. Defying stereotype, they’re here to share with you something they’ve never dared before. A fresh, human and hilarious piece from new company HotForTheatre explores the monumental journey of a most unlikely couple. It will seduce you, it will move you, it will touch you… in all the right places.”
There’s plenty more to be found on the festival website. While you’re there check out The Hidden Garden, Fat, The Community Games, True Enough and City West Side Story. We’re only loving the ‘Sort by Category’ which allows you to choose from such options as ‘Bring Yer Ma’ and ‘Girls Night Out’.
