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Those familiar with Just The Lad’s work (The Last Post, Handle With Care) will immediately feel at home with At Sea, their second stint at the Dublin Fringe Festival. Inspiration taken from Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea is clear throughout the devised production, hinted through small design elements as well as in obvious sections of dialogue. Directed by Darren Sinnott and Liadain Kaminska, At Sea delves into the mind of Roger, an old fisherman who tries to hold back the tide of dementia; clinging on to his slippery memories to reveal the youthful man he feels inside.

Molly O’Cathain’s set, while confined by the small space, serves as a functional yet whimsical place to tell Roger’s story. Her clever use of sails enable the team to project photographs examined on stage, adding to the sense of intimacy. Jonathan Shanahan’s lighting further hints at the nautical while emphasising the shifts in Roger’s clarity.

Peter Corboy tackles the difficult role of Roger with brilliance, immediately drawing the audience into his fragile world — despite wearing an oversized papier-mache head throughout the beginning of the production. His mesmerising physicality perfectly captures every quirk of his character’s age, moving between the shaking and fragile to the able and energetic, leaving the audience exhausted along with him. Corboy creates genuinely heartbreaking moments which punctuate the performance, particularly with his increasing frustration when faced with questions about his name and where he is. Cameron McCauley and Anna Clifford also provide entertaining cameos in addition to live music to add to the often unsettling performances on electric guitar and cello, often hinting at the confusion in Roger’s mind.

The company have openly discussed the inspiration of their own encounters with dementia and it is this familiarity which makes the production feel so personal. There is great poignancy in this production, but great humour too; ensuring that the mood is kept buoyant and does not drag. The final musical number, too, ensures that the show ends on a high note, showcasing the youth that Roger really feels inside.

A bittersweet production that leaves you moved, but smiling.