The seeking begins immediately. The man is lying on the floor. He watches onscreen  images of  himself with friends: memories perhaps of lazy clubbing days in leather armchairs, but the sense of urgency is palpable. He fast forwards, stops and rewinds ever impatiently as the distorted screen crackles, seeking clues in this video diary of his life.

A short flash of domestic life and then we’re off. Action has replaced the musings and the pattern for this physical/dance theatre work is firmly set. Five other dancers/performers join him on stage for a work which splices athletic and energised ensemble dancing with slices of video document. It’s a familiar concept; the meaningless cycle of working to live and living to work where individual passion and real engagement get lost in the acquisitive, exhausting pursuit of lifestyle or delusions of happiness.

The anxiety, disappointment, routine and tedium could have been more effectively conveyed in real moving images than in the reality video clips, which had less style and impact than the live performance.

Choreographed to a suitably pulsating score by Anna Gaciarz, the work is well executed. Performed by 50% Male Experimental Theatre, an ensemble from Ireland, Poland and Uzbekistan, now living in Dublin seeking new lives, which adds a contemporary and pertinent tone to the theme of the show. 

Seona Mac Réamoinn