RISING: Hard to be Soft: A Belfast Prayer tickets
About RISING: Hard to be Soft: A Belfast Prayer
A cinematic prayer from a major new voice in contemporary dance. Oona Doherty’s Hard to be Soft is a white-hot blast of Belfast defiance and rage, unfolding over four episodes, exploring the inner lives of the city’s inhabitants.
Influenced by club culture and the European avant-garde, Doherty's dancers explode institutional discipline with swagger. In a gleaming cage, with music by DJ David Holmes (Killing Eve, Ocean’s Eleven), street life collides with religion, machismo cracks open, and Belfast’s hard men and strong women are revealed in all their vulnerability.
Hard to be Soft is part of the inaugural Australian Dance Biennale, curated and hosted by RISING.
Run time
50min. No interval.
Categories
Age
Ages 14+.
Start date
27th May, 2026
End date
30th May, 2026
Venue
Merlyn Theatre | Malthouse Theatre
Accessibility
Ground floor of The Malthouse is accessible by wheelchair (enter via the ramp near the Box Office). The Merlyn and Beckett Theatre, MALT Kitchen & Pantry, Box Office, Bar and bathrooms are all located on the ground floor.
Directions
GETTING TO THE VENUE
BY TRAM: The No. 1 South Melbourne tram goes right past our door. Get off at Stop 18. Any tram down St Kilda Road—jump off at Grant Street, Stop 17 and take a 3-minute walk.
BY TRAIN: Any train to Flinders Street, then a 12-minute stroll through Melbourne’s sparkling Arts Precinct.
BY BIKE: Secure your bike to one of the many racks outside the foyer.
BY CAR: Limited on-street parking is available on Grant Street, Sturt Street and Dodds Streets. Two disabled parking spaces are just outside The Malthouse entrance on Sturt Street.
More information about RISING: Hard to be Soft: A Belfast Prayer
★★★★★ "Sensitive yet unflinching, raw and richly choreographed, Doherty’s dance is a major achievement." - The Guardian
Concept & Choreography: Oona Doherty
Set & Lighting Design: Ciaran Bagnall
Photography & Film: Luca Truffarelli
Projections: Jack Phelan
Technical Manager: Lisa Marie Barry
Technical Assistant: Maxime Jerry Fraisse
Set Build: Atelier Contrevent
Development Director: Dorothée Alemany
Logistics: Lucie Gissinger Maurandy
Administration: Christine Maupetit
Coproduction: Prime Cut Productions, Belfast International Arts Festival, Dublin Dance Festival, Biennale de la Danse Lyon
Performers: Louis Lovett, Ryan O'Neill, John Scott
Frequently asked questions
What is the running time of RISING: Hard to be Soft: A Belfast Prayer ?
RISING: Hard to be Soft: A Belfast Prayer runs for 50min. No interval.
Which theatre is RISING: Hard to be Soft: A Belfast Prayer at?
RISING: Hard to be Soft: A Belfast Prayer is at Melbourne's Merlyn Theatre | Malthouse Theatre, which is located at 113 Sturt Street, Southbank, Melbourne, 3006.
How much are tickets for RISING: Hard to be Soft: A Belfast Prayer ?
RISING: Hard to be Soft: A Belfast Prayer tickets start at $74.
What is the age recommendation for RISING: Hard to be Soft: A Belfast Prayer ?
Ages 14+.
How do you get tickets for RISING: Hard to be Soft: A Belfast Prayer ?
Check the top of this page for current availability on RISING: Hard to be Soft: A Belfast Prayer tickets on TodayTix.
