The King of All Birds

Martha Knight urges us to look to the sky in “The King of All Birds”, a history of humanity's eternal quest to dominate the skies. An avant-garde blend of #folk music and synthetic sound, this intriguing piece begins with avian myths and progresses to aerial drones, leaving us to ponder why is our inherent desire to observe the world from above?☁️

Knight envelopes us in vivid sound design, shifting from an analogue vibe to an intensely #electronic voice distortion, demanding more than holding our attention🎚️🎵 There’s a hint of your favourite primary school teacher in Knight’s playful imparting of history. Her wry humour, interwoven with meandering footnotes, adds a touch of relatability— imagine #DavidFosterWallace cloud gazing…

Meticulous on-stage costume changes narrate different eras in flying history, beginning with a bird-like cloak and mask, evolving into pilots, and so on. These costume transitions feel like a thoughtful museum exhibit🏛️ with each piece prompting tales from different epochs🕰️📅…

Knight’s delivery is unpretentious and compelling, focused on key visual elements, underscoring the value of simplicity. A static projection of a house seen from the sky delivers a final revelation, and is a subtle yet powerful reminder of our changing perspectives thanks to #technology…

A triumph of #edutainment, “The King of All Birds” delightfully captures our childhood wonder, curiosity and ambition to take to the skies🪁🌟 4/5

#dublinfringe #dublintheatre #projectartscentre