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Ireland's answer to Cirque du Soleil takes to the air

Landfall, an exciting new circus theatre show, will debut in Dublin in August.

ROPES, HOOPS, DARING performers flying through the air – you might we’re describing one of Cirque du Soleil’s impressive shows but this circus theatre show originated closer to home.

Landfall is a new circus theatre show funded through the Arts Council, written, performed and produced by Irish talent.

“We’re all Irish,” Niamh Creely, writer and director, told TheJournal.ie. “The set designers, the musicians and composers and all four of the performers are Irish.”

Landfall is set in a post-apocalyptic landscape where the ground has fallen away so the characters live their lives high up in the air.

“They’re living in this impossible world for an unknown period of time and something happens that’s the final straw so if they’re going to survive they have to work together,” Creely explained. “If the most fundamental thing in your world is gone, something you thought was reliable, what do you do then?”

All of the characters in the show are aerial performers – an art that is becoming more and more recognised as people across the country get involved in lessons themselves.

“I remember when I first started and no one had a clue what aerial is, so you has to say circus,” Creely said. “Now that people are getting lesson themselves and know about Cirque du Soleil, it’s more familiar for them.”

While Creely said that Landfall is not on the same scale as Cirque du Soleil and focuses more on human characters than those in elaborate costumes, it promises a similarly exciting spectacle.

The whole thing happens on a suspended set, never touching the ground at all. We have these amazing platforms that move around with ropes rigged up and hoops. We don’t want people to be genuinely frightened but there are certain moves that might give people a bit of a scare. There’ll be people hanging by one hand on a hoop or jumping and grabbing a rope and that can be hard to watch without feeling a rush of adrenaline so there’s definitely be a feeling of suspense throughout the show.

Here’s a sneak peak at the crew rehearsing at a recent photo shoot…

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    Performer Aisling Ní Cheallaigh.
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    Performer Johnathan Walsh.
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    Timmy O'Sullivan in rehearsal.
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    Performer Niamh Creely.
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    Performer Timmy O'Sullivan
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    Niamh and Aisling in rehearsal.

The show will start on 6 August and run for five days at the Project Arts Centre in Dublin.

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    Mute Frank Buffalo
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    Jul 28th 2013, 9:28 PM

    I could look at her hoop all day.

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    Mute Martin Quinn
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    Jul 28th 2013, 9:06 PM

    These guys are well worth a watch. Their last show was amazing my heart was in my mouth for the entire performance.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 28th 2013, 10:40 PM

    Ireland’s answer to Cirque de Soleil has four performers? Seriously?

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    Mute Pauric Hackett
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    Jul 29th 2013, 8:12 PM

    Cirque started with two…..

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    Mute he'll yeah
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    Jul 28th 2013, 10:53 PM

    So ireland is producing a death defying high wire act !!!! Sure what could go wrong ted

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    Mute Debi Trudgeon
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    Jul 29th 2013, 1:44 AM

    Careful now! Down with that sort of thing!

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    Mute Lisa Hampel
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    Jul 29th 2013, 1:02 PM

    So excited – the pictures look amazing!

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    Mute Yvonne Jacob
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    Jul 29th 2013, 11:58 AM

    These guys are well talented and am definitely looking forward to seeing this performance :)

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    Mute Ashney
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    Jul 29th 2013, 4:22 PM

    Is it suitable for children does anyone know???

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    Mute Jonathan Walsh
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    Jul 29th 2013, 4:49 PM

    Yes, the show is suitable for Children and there is also a matinee at 3pm on Saturday the 10th.

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