The annual takeover of the Graduates Memorial Building (GMB) by Trinity Arts Festival kicked off later than expected with a fire show in Front Square. In spite of the wet weather, the performance by Trinity’s Juggling and Circus Society was in no way dampened and the fiery prelude dazzled the soggy crowd who had braved the rain to enjoy this spectacle. Upon entering the GMB, we were serenaded by the sweet sound of the Trinitones before being hustled by several fearsome characters into the chamber room. Here the crowds gathered, illuminated by a soft purple light, seated under a projection of our lustrous galaxy.
“Abandon all hope, ye who enter here” was the warning sign-posting the gates of hell, the path to paradise beginning at the heart of the GMB. In the chamber room, the melodious string players from Trinity Orchestra punctuated the anguished screams of sinners with beautiful harmonies. It is here that we first encountered Dante and his guide Virgil, who, despite seeming a tad directionless himself, assured Dante that he will be lead through the nine circles of hell and eventually reunited with his lost love Beatrice. The devil himself made an appearance alongside his cronies as we were welcomed into the inferno.
From the chamber room to the topmost floor of the GMB, we passed through the circles of limbo, wrath, gluttony, lust, pride and greed. The building had been transformed into a dark wood full of sinister beings, tempting us with our own downfall. Branches lined the staircase and images of hell adorned the walls. The witches’ lair was full of cobwebs and candles and the three cackling occultists stirred a pot in the middle of the room and cast a spell over all who entered it.
The night started with a fire show in Front Square.
Upstairs was DU Food and Drink’s feasting room, a table laden with cheese, cold-cuts, olives and wine, which was surrounded by those wishing to gorge themselves on the goods. After ascending another flight of stairs, we reached the circles of lust and pride, where DU Biosoc outdid themselves with a corpse resurrection and Trinity Literary Society extracted confessions from even the most tight-lipped among us. Jazz Society and Dublin University Dance Society provoked all who entered the adjacent room with their sensuous performances and at the very top of the GMB, after climbing a staircase lined with profane mirrors, Dublin University DJ set a hedonistic tone to the final leg of the journey.
Thus, our journey through the inferno came to a close and we were dragged back down into the centre of hell by Lucifer and his demonic entourage. Dante and Virgil were posed with the challenge of either shedding their sins and continuing into heaven, or remaining in the condemned pit amongst all of their newfound “friends”.
The devil implored his audience to pursue their way along the path of darkness, following him and his fiendish friends to The Turks Head for an afterparty of fervent disco.
The evening was a massive hit with all involved and was the perfect way to cap off a week of society celebrations. The work that went into producing such a uniquely diverse event highlights the prolificacy of Trinity’s societies, from the University Philosophical Society and DU Players to Trinity’s Vis Arts. The co-operation between everyone involved in pulling this event together was perhaps the most impressive achievement of all. “Far From Heaven’s Light” was not only a realisation of all that is deplorable in humanity, it was most importantly a coming together of students from many different circles .
