Review: WAKE at Factory International “If you want to have one of the most thrilling nights of your life, go see this”

What can I say except that was one of the wildest things I’ve ever seen? In the best way possible.

The Korean government has for decades had a deliberate policy of culture exportation, called Hallyu or ‘the Korean wave’ and it’s hard to believe the Irish government doesn’t have the same at the moment with top actresses, authors, films and music spreading from the country.

To this WAKE appears as the rogue sibling that’s tripping on acid at the family funeral.

WAKE at Factory International

From Irish cultural sensation THISPOPBABY in its own words WAKE, at Factory International is ‘based on the Irish funeral rite, explores liturgy, grief, togetherness and collectively imagining the future, all within the framework of a wild party.

It embraces the ecstasy of letting go, the wild abandon of an all-nighter and the beauty of transformation – a timeless reminder to live fully’ and I’d struggle to say it better myself.

In fact, I’d struggle to put what I just watched into words at all. I don’t even want to tell anyone what happened because the surprise element is so integral to the enjoyment of the show, but safe to say rarely is my jaw on the actual floor once, let alone multiple times, within
90 minutes.

“Astounding performances at WAKE”

The skill of the performers is truly astounding and elevates art forms like tap dancing, aerial and pole dancing (already impressive alone) to a new level (excuse the pun), while the live Irish music soundtrack provides a soulful core throughout, reminding the audience of the core
message and preventing the physicality of the show from becoming mere spectacle.

Meanwhile, Irish poet and performer FELISPEAKS offers a spoken word narration that plays just the right side of serious and playful, offering genuine laughs and sewing the disparate elements together.

The entire cast is so talented and charismatic that the ensemble is pitch perfect, bringing together such disparate elements that at times it feels like you’re watching imagination and synaesthesia come to life.

At one point a performer was pole dancing to a fiddle soloist and I heard an audience member seated near me say ‘Jesus Christ’ which pretty much sums it up.

So rarely do I enjoy audience participation but this time? Yes.

There were parts where I enthusiastically clapped along in spite of myself, and would have screamed myself hoarse had I not wanted to not ruin it for the person next to me.

Even moments which would seem schmaltzy in the wrong hands come off as effortlessly moving. I could have watched it for another two hours.

Feel happy, sad, feel everything!

If you want to feel happy go see this. If you want to feel sad go see this. If you want to feel everything go see this. If you want to have one of the most thrilling nights of your life go see this.

If you want to see two dancers in polka dot bodysuits with balloons over their heads burst out to reveal matching gimp masks to Pon de Floor by Major Lazer (yes, that happened), go see this.

You’ll enjoy this as surely as every Irish boy wearing a chain at an English uni got laid in freshers week the September after Normal People aired on the BBC.

What’s on at Factory International

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