Theatre

Sara Keating: Galway blazes a trail yet again with an arts festival for all

All citizens and visitors, regardless of tickets, can enjoy aspects of a diverse programme including dramatic digital artistry and giraffes parading down the street

Naima Swaleh, Fionn Ó Loingsigh, Anna Healy and Fiona Bell in Druid’s world premiere production of The Last Return by Sonya Kelly, opening at the Mick Lally Theatre in Galway. Picture: Ste Murray

As you drive into Galway along the city’s quays, a flag is burning in the bay. The flames shimmer against a grey sky, and are doubled in the undulant water. The fire is an illusion against the Atlantic backdrop, part of John Gerrard’s large-scale LED projections, which have been providing awe-inspiring digital interventions in the Galway landscape as part of Galway International Arts Festival since his work first appeared at the Festival in 2013.

This ...