DLR Announces Series of Free Public Performances

Aerial acrobatics, dance, music and theatre performances to take place in public spaces this June and July

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has today announced a series of free public performances spanning aerial acrobatics, dance, music and theatre, which will take place in public spaces across the County this June and July.

The performances are the result of five public arts commissions by dlr County Council under its Public Arts Programme, ‘The Story We Tell Tomorrow’. Five emerging artists connected to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and working across different performing arts disciplines were invited to develop original performances that explore how the County may evolve, and how we might live in the future. 

Taking place in locations including parks, libraries and the Dún Laoghaire Baths, the performances invite audiences to experience contemporary performance work in everyday public settings.

The resulting performances are:

• A contemporary dance performance titled ‘At the Edge of the Forest’ created and directed by dancer and choreographer Alex Vostokova. Combining humour, play and elements of daily life, the work explores different ways of seeing and being seen, and features performers Gracy Cuny, Jack Colley and Masha Vostokova. Performances will take place at the Grainstore Courtyard, Cabinteely Park, on Friday, 26 June at 8.30pm and 9.15pm. 
• A comedy theatre show for children titled ‘How Not to Grow a Turnip’ by theatre-maker and composer HK Ní Shioradáin, about an eager planter determined to grow turnips despite having absolutely no idea how to do so. Combining physical comedy and playful storytelling, the performance explores climate change and our relationship with the natural world. The work will be presented at Ballyogan Library on Saturday, 27 June at 12pm and 3pm. 
• An outdoor aerial and acrobatic performance titled ‘JANAS’ by circus theatre company JANAS, comprising Julie O’Connell Kent, Eric Munday and Chloe Commins. Built around the elemental pillars of island life – the sea, the sun and the land – the piece combines aerial choreography with physical storytelling. Performances will take place at Newtownsmith Green, Sandycove, on Sunday, 28 June at 1pm and 3pm.
• ‘Rainbow Rapids & The 100,000 BOLTS’ is a site-responsive performance spanning live electronic music, movement, lighting and masked performance by artists Cian Murphy and Jenny O’Malley. Inspired by 1980s synth-pop and the Rainbow Rapids, the saltwater slides once attached to Dún Laoghaire’s former Baths, the work reimagines the coastline as a space of memory, play and collective imagination. The performance will take place at the Dún Laoghaire Baths, on Wednesday, 29 July at 8pm. 
• An immersive outdoor music performance titled ‘LUNA’ by multidisciplinary artist Sal Stapleton unfolds across eight movements shaped by the lunar cycle. Blending electronic music with choral voices and a string quartet, the performance draws on ritual and folklore and invites audiences on a journey through darkness, illumination and renewal. The performance will take place at the Dún Laoghaire Baths, on Wednesday, 29 July at 9.15pm.

Cllr Jim Gildea, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said: 

“These performances show how public art can animate and transform shared spaces across the County, bringing creativity directly into people’s everyday lives. It’s particularly exciting to see emerging artists developing ambitious new work that invites audiences to reflect on the future of our communities, environment and public spaces in imaginative and accessible ways.”

Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council added: 

“dlr’s Public Arts Programme plays an important role in supporting artists to develop new work while also encouraging people to engage with culture in public settings. This series of live performance reflects the Council’s ongoing commitment to creativity, participation and the development of vibrant public spaces that foster connection, conversation and shared experiences.”

Commenting on the upcoming performances, Public Arts Coordinator at Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Louise Dredge said: 

“We’re delighted to bring these fantastic performances to public spaces around the County as part of dlr’s Public Arts Programme. Each in their own way, these emerging artists have developed works that explore how we live now, how we may live in the future, and how the County is evolving. At the heart of each project is a desire to bring people together, spark conversation and forge new connections. The performances are free and suitable for all ages, and we hope people will enjoy experiencing live art in public spaces across the County.”

The five commissions are funded through the Per Cent for Art Scheme, a government initiative under which 1% of the cost of publicly funded capital construction projects can be allocated to the commissioning of public art.

All performances are free to attend. Advance booking is required for the performances taking place at Dún Laoghaire Baths on 29 July, with free tickets available via Eventbrite from 15 July.