A large stage space. A carpet floor and a curtain suspended behind it, both a shade of hot pink. Three plinths of various sizes. Two on stage left and one on stage right. On stage left, a large vertical cuboid stands upright with an L-shaped plinth in front of it. On stage right, a short vertical cuboid stands with a tank of ice-filled water atop it. A performer enters the stage…
So the audio commentary runs in the opening scene of Jo Bannon’s latest piece Dirty Work: a solo performance and part of Blind Magic, a triptych of artworks exploring the performativity of visual impairment. The whole audience is treated to the audio description throughout and it makes for an interesting peek behind the curtain for those of us who would not usually require or opt for this feature.
Tonight the audio commentary is a character in its own right, an accessibility feature made feature itself. Its chirpy, wry, tongue-in-cheek delivery provides a lovely counterpoint for Jo Bannon to spark off of, furthering the narrative and encouraging us to consider elements of the performance we may have glossed over in our haste to enjoy the spectacle. And there is certainly plenty of spectacle!
Across the hour-long performance there is dance, drama and, like any good magic show, there is plenty of deception. But, alongside the tricks and the grand set pieces, we are offered a glimpse into the life of a VIP – a Visually Impaired Person. The curtain is pulled back and, through magic and metaphor, we are presented lives unseen by a society unwilling to acknowledge (and, by extension, accommodate) or perhaps simply ignorant of them in the first place.
The clue is in the title. In magic, “dirty work” is the work the performer doesn’t want you to see. The well-placed mirror, the sleight of hand, the workings of the deception. Throughout the performance we are shown how these techniques spill from the stage and into everyday life to be employed by those all around us.
We are encouraged to think on how, for some VIPs, tackling the seemingly mundane – descending a staircase or grabbing a drink from a bar – is, in itself, a performance; a well-rehearsed act. Even simply deciphering who or what you are sharing a room with becomes an act of mediumship. Bannon, like a gracious showrunner, treats us to a backstage tour, dismantling the trick and showing us its composite parts. “I pass,” she says. “I am just like you.”
It is as entertaining as it is unsettling. We are made to question our own biases and shortcomings but in a way that educates rather than admonishes. The show unfurls at a slow and studied pace but is infused with a sense of fun and wonder throughout. There is no doubt that Bannon is an accomplished performer and she delivers the tricks and set-pieces with relish and aplomb (with a hilarious turn from a very obliging stage manager!) We gasp and we applaud, amazed at how easy it all looks. But, I guess, that is the point of the evening. For, unless we have learned to look, we will never see the dirty work.
Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts | Thursday 1st October 2026
For tickets and further information click here
