Review: AFLOAT, Sunday’s Child - Edinburgh Fringe (Online)

The climate apocalypse has happened in Afloat. Dublin is completely underwater and best friends Bláthnaid and Debs are the sole survivors, living on the top floor of Liberty Hall. 

Afloat by Eva O’Connor and Hildegard Ryan, presented by Sunday’s Child and supported by Culture Ireland, explores friendship at a time when Bláthnaid (O’Connor) & Debs (Annette O’Shea) only have each other to rely on. Their hometown of Dublin is underwater, they’re both trapped on the top floor of a building and may be the only two people left alive, so what might they do with themselves? Share stories, argue and eat biscuits, it would seem. 

Directed by Anna Simpson, this one-hour piece grabs your attention by bringing up important subjects including the climate crisis. O’Connor and O’Shea have a strong on-stage presence & interact brilliantly together. There are also short convincing interludes from Michael-David McKernan offering information in a lecture type setting, on how global warming is damaging our world. 

Naomi Faughnan’s set design works well with the story the production is trying to tell, with a backdrop of the sea which gives you a feel for the situation that these two female characters are in. With the sea level continuing to rise, Bláthnaid and Debs continue to question whether they are the only survivors. Is there anyone else? If so, where?

The lighting design by Suzie Cummins is used in a way which works great throughout the piece; particularly during scene changes, as the strobe lighting creates the effect that the power might be starting to fail as the catastrophe unfolds. The sound design also adds to this, including an effect of the sea as though waves are crashing against the building. 

This production has you absorbed from start to finish and with an interesting conclusion, it is a must see! 

***** 5 stars 

Reviewed by: Emily East

Afloat is available to view at Fringe Online.