Assisted Solo Company Philip Connaughton
Ireland
A funny and honest take on ageing, memory and relationships
Combining choreography, storytelling and film, this work for three performers challenges how we deal with the ageing body and celebrates the roles we play in assisting each other through life.
↓ Read morePrice
€22 full price / €18 conc
How long?
75 mins (no interval)
Contains adult themes
From the show
Watch
★★★★★ "One of the most moving and unforgettable experiences of the year"
The Arts Review
★★★★ "Dance theatre that goes beyond the personal to pose bigger questions for our hearts and brains"
The Irish Times
★★★★★ “Through humour, heart, and honesty, “Assisted Solo” restores dignity where indignity often reigns.”
The Arts Review
Exploring the relationship between Philip and his mother, Madeleine, who is living with advanced dementia, Assisted Solo recasts the experience of caregiving with a refreshing sense of humour and touching honesty.
Posing questions about memory, forgetting, identity and relationships, this brave and intelligent work for three performers combines exacting choreography with disarming storytelling and video footage.
In the intimate present-day film shot by Luca Truffarelli which plays throughout the piece, we are invited into Madeleine’s world as she is assisted by the people around her. Her loving presence within the dance piece challenges how we deal with the ageing body, while also celebrating the roles we play in assisting each other through life.
Without shying away from the intimacies and realities of caring for someone with advanced dementia, Assisted Solo is unapologetically vulnerable, unexpectedly funny and underscored by deep warmth and humanity.
Credits
- Choreography Philip Connaughton in collaboration with the company
- Videography & Sound Design Luca Truffarelli
- Performers Magali Caillet, Philip Connaughton, Lucia Kickham
- Costume Design & Creation Emily Ni Bhroin
- Set Design Sarah Bacon
- Lighting Design Begona Garcia Navas
- On Film Madeleine Connaughton, Zdenek Houra, Philip Connaughton
- Stage Manager Marella Boschi
- Production Manager Sean Dennehy
- Producer Maura O'Keefe
The first presentation of this work was funded by The Arts Council of Ireland | An Chomhairle Ealaíon, in partnership with Project Arts Centre and in association with The Everyman. Supported by Dance Ireland and FRINGE LAB at Dublin Fringe Festival 2018.