"Three Stories" by Three's Theatre Company - The MAC, Belfast

Three’s Theatre Company has returned with yet another cracker of a show. They are quickly establishing themselves as producers of reliably innovative, experimental and entertaining theatre.

“Three Stories” has some similarities to their previous shows I have watched Date Show and Date Show: After Dark.

The silent headphones have returned – the different colour of headphones – red, blue or green, indicating which story the audience member will listen to. This has become the trademark distinction of Three’s Theatre Company. That with each production you attend, there will be three different stories going on at once, so no one audience member will have the same experience.

But as with the previous productions, where audience members were walking around on a site specific tour (The Bullitt/ The MAC), with “Three Stories” we were all in the same room in the MAC watching the same dance piece.

One large triangle in the middle of the floor indicated the dancers’ space. On one edge, was the blue-headphone wearing audience, the other – the red, and the other – the green. Meaning that each of the three colours was watching the performance from a different angle.

The dancers had choreographed this show in just 3 days. Their dancing was mesmerising. Strong, beautiful, energetic, fast, slow, beautiful, sad, happy. It was full of energy, emotion and vivacity.

3 writers were asked to watch this performance and put their own words to the dance. I was fortunate to listen to “Connections” by Colm Doran. There was something very intimate about sitting in this space, cross-legged on a cushion on the floor, in a totally black space save for one spotlight, watching these beautiful dancers and hearing the words of Colm Doran’s writing in my headphones.

I marvelled at how he interpreted the dance, how he was able to conjure up stories immediately. How he could see the young children playing, or the lovers parting, or the sadness and loneliness. He spoke of the young child learning to walk, then moved through the stages of growing older, trying to become successful in the world. He talked of trying too hard and having too much ambition. He talked of remembering times of being lost and never wanting to forget it. All these beautiful observations he made and more.

This performance felt like a soothing balm. It was peaceful, comforting, fascinating and mesmerising.

Yet again another wonderful performance from Three’s Theatre Company. I look forward to their next production!