The Arts Review​

Sharon Carty in Testament. Image, Pat Redmond *** Talk about life imitating art. Gathered outside the Gaiety Theatre for the Dublin premiere of Irish National Opera's Testament, composed by Tarik O'Regan with libretto by Colm Tóibín, a small pond of placards protested against its alleged blasphemy. Adapted from Tóibín's novella The Testament of Mary, Testament asks who created the Marian narrative and why? Could a very human Mary have been silenced if her story didn't toe the

Liz FitzGibbon and Manus Halligan in Animals. Image, Ros Kavanagh **** Talk about contentious. For acolytes, Animals is the best thing since sliced bread. For heathens, it'll just about pass as stale toast. Neutrals likely to fall into either camp. Based on seven stories from the critically acclaimed short fiction of Blindboy Boatclub, adapted and directed by Dan Colley, Animals has a relationship with truth, facts and reality that is never entirely stable, whatever truth, fa

Marty Rea in 4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane. Image, Ste Murray ***** As it enters its final furlong, Dublin Theatre Festival 2026 can consider itself a job well done. Where 2025 saw Artistic Director Róise Goan taking the transitional reins, 2026 sees her stamping her own impressive authority. Productions like the universally adored Zinc and the subversively brilliant Lourdes! The Musical both critically and publicly acclaimed. To which must be added Sarah Kane's awe-inducing 4