Kate Dolan - Trout

Holy moly, what a breath of fresh air Kate Dolan is to the industry. Having won the Gibbo last year for The Critic, Trout cements her status as an undisputed festival favourite. 

Beyond being naturally charming and insanely funny, what is most remarkable in Trout is Dolan’s innate ability to command a space with such gravitas. Not a single second goes by where Dolan isn’t exploring where she can go next. She moves like the intensity of a ping pong game right in front of your eyes, pacing from one spot to another, slithering about and blessing every corner of the room with joy. It is purposefully fitting and tonally satisfying to slurp up as Trout is an unpacking of the sheer dread of having a body -  from PMDD to boyfriend tees to giving up childhood dreams of being a dancer. The dance breaks in the show are breathtaking, accompanied by some of the tightest, snappiest and most well-executed punchlines of the fest. 

Don’t get me wrong - it’s downright goofy as well. Dolan refuses to allow any dead air in, and at one point riffs Camp Rock lyrics as a segue. Like, that’s just a little bit of fun, innit? Even her moments of heartfelt sincerity are exploding with jokes, resulting in a faultless and mesmerising performance. Dolan’s mind is as beautiful as it is surreal, and Trout is evidence of her place as a heavy-hitter in the MICF ranks.

Kate Dolan - Trout
The Malthouse Theatre, 8:45pm