Conviction review: Battling inner demons in a graveyard

Conviction

St Kevin’s Park

★★★☆☆

Conviction is an artist’s best friend, Eva O’Connor confesses in this intimate audio drama, which takes its name from that quality of dogged self-belief and determination. Self-doubt, however, is an artist’s worst enemy. Unable to work during the pandemic, O’Connor has it in spades. What is the meaning of her life without her work, she wonders, as Dublin closes down around her. She meets her sister, Ais, every morning at the graveyard in St Kevin’s Park to unravel that puzzle.

With original music from Nathan Coen and a visual intervention from Ebun Oladeru, there is an artful simplicity to Conviction. O’Connor’s strength is her sardonic tone, which infuses much of this monologue, as she battles demons she thought she laid to rest years ago. O’Connor saves the real moments of emotional truth, however, for her reflections on her relationship with Ais, whom she discovers has suddenly been transformed from an annoying sibling to a young woman she can trust with her deepest fears. This element of sisterly love is the most interesting part of this quietly affecting show. It rings out just loudly enough to drown out the noise of the tiny violins.

Runs at St Kevin’s Park, Camden Row, Dublin 8, until Saturday, September 24th, as part of Dublin Theatre Festival