THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2026

BCF 26: Drop
Photo provided by Young at Art

Txema Muñoz's Drop, also known as Gota, is a complex performance as a simple pleasure – charming and dazzling street theatricality laden with intuitively imaginative ideas for its audience of all ages to enjoy. With a concept which seems to emerge from the premise of a literal drop of water repeatedly and relentlessly falling from above, whatever its source, Muñoz sees and fulfils the potential for memorable and mirthful mime and magic, his intelligent and sensitive interactivity with the make-believe "drop" of the production's title kick-starting a series of striking mini-set pieces which occur in the space of half an hour.

In starting his show with a large bucket, the kind of thing one would likely want to have with them if they heard the sound of a dripping drop coming from seemingly nowhere and wanted to prevent it from becoming a giant puddle, Muñoz immediately establishes a sound form of dependable engagement by smartly highlighting the need for safety. Even if this drop is pretend - we only hear it, we don't see it - it isn't so in the fantasy world of Drop, and no one would want to see Drop's star, or anyone, in a puddle, literally or metaphorically. So one is certainly thankful for the protective feeling which plays its part in translating the fear of a drooping demeanour to the joy of a wide smile, an effective translation soon illustrated by the increasingly impressive routines dreamed up by Muñoz with the assistance of direct audience involvement and a number of props.

Before one knows it, the thought of using several drops simply as drinking water or a means of making a cup of tea has led to the sight of spoons popping out from a coat's sleeves, coins emerging from the same coat's pockets, said spoons somehow linking together and playing the drums with not one, but several buckets. With his buckets, spoons, coins, coat, cleverness and the people he invites to enjoy the experience either as participants or onlookers, Muñoz has created a rather amazing piece of work - a variety show that entirely earns its loud and long spell of applause and cheers.

Simon Fallaha

Drop was performed from Saturday March 7 to Sunday March 8 as part of the Young at Art Belfast Children's Festival 2026 (#BCF26). You can find more about the show itself here, and more about what's on at the festival here.