Oona Doherty Hard to be Soft – A Belfast Prayer

Delving deep into the psyche of her native Belfast, Oona Doherty’s searing evocation of the city’s streets and inhabitants is rich in simple yet revealing imagery, shot through with a visceral physicality.

Incense rises through the darkness. A lone character emerges, posturing defiantly, barely unable to conceal the turmoil beneath such exaggerated masculinity. An army of young women pound the stage in tribal formation, their synchronised display intimidating yet not free from vulnerability. Father and son tussle over a tortured family history.

Unfolding over four distinct verses, this tender tribute weaves everyday stories into a tapestry of mesmerising movement, religious iconography and haunting sound by DJ David Holmes (Killing Eve, Ocean’s Eleven, Hunger). Dance becomes a medium for understanding and perhaps a catalyst for social change.