Whale drama at the right pitch

Whale song, the rush of waves and the buzz of a 1960s pirate radio station define the live-music drama, Dumbstruck, which opens at Cork’s Half Moon Theatre on Tuesday. Produced by Bristol-based Fine Chisel, the show, which combines narrative and live music, won the Fringe First Award at last year’s Edinburgh Festival.

It’s about a scientist alone on an island off the coast of Alaska. He is losing his ability to speak. He reflects on his extraordinary life and chases ‘the loneliest whale in the world’, the real-life so-called 52 Hertz whale, whose pitch is unique.

Cork musician and performer Carolyn Goodwin is a guest member of Fine Chisel. “The company devises theatre,” Goodwin explains. “Each of the five of us has different specialities in music, writing, choreography and song-writing. It’s a kind of melting pot in which we also dabble in each other’s areas. I play bass clarinet and saxophone for this piece.