Tag Archives: Theatre

Into The West End

  By Lottie | July 28, 2009 - 9:07 pm | The Culch, Theatre
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Some great news from the wings of Irish theatre. Peter Sheridan’s The Shawshank Redemption is preparing to open in the West End on September 13th 2009 with previews available on September 4th. Richard Bachman’s (Stephen King) original short story turn classic movie had it’s stage premier here in Dublin a few months back. It was rumoured that the writers and producers of the stage play were given permission by King to stage the play in here in Ireland and if well received and properly produced would then be given rights to bring the production to the world stage. It looks like Mr. King was pleased. If you are in or around London at the time you can pick up tickets here. See what our very own Mr. Byrne thought of the play when it had it’s World Premier here in the Olympia.

RIP Augusto Boal

  By Allan | July 24, 2009 - 11:54 am | Performance Art, The Arts, Theatre
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I just heard that Augusto Boal died in May. Boal founded the Theatre of the Oppressed, a form of radical participitory theatre that sought to empower by questioning existing power structures. Boal was hugely influential and I recommend picking up his books if you are in any way interested in culture, politics, activism or theatre: Theatre of the Oppressed, Games For Actors and Non-Actors and The Rainbow of Desire: The Boal Method of Theatre and Therapy.

Competition: Stags and Hens

  By Niamh | July 21, 2009 - 1:34 pm | Comedy, Competitions, Featured Post, Site News, The Culch, Theatre, wantsies
9 Comments

The upcoming Kilkenny Devious Theatre Company production of Stags and Hens has been long awaited with much excitement. Set between the male and female toilets of a dingy Liverpool nightclub, Stags and Hens tells the story of Linda and Dave’s last night of freedom before they marry the next day. Dave has just crashed into the pub, absolutely legless with his sick splattered mates yanking him straight to the gents. Linda, meanwhile, just wants to dance away her doubts about the impending nuptials. So this would be a very bad time for an old flame to show up. Now, thanks to the very good folks at The Devious Theatre Company, Kilkenny, Culch.ie are giving away a night at the theatre in Kilkenny. We’ve got two tickets to this Friday night’s performance of the show, that’s this Friday July 24th, plus two signed copies of the show’s colour-tastic glossy promo poster … There’s more →

Stags & Hens by the Devious Theatre Company - new trailer

  By darraghdoyle | July 8, 2009 - 2:11 pm | Events, The Arts, Theatre
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Darren’s already mentioned Stags & Hens performed by Kilkenny’s Devious Theatre Company (written by Willy Russell) , coming up at the end of this month - 21 to the 25 July - in the Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny so there’s not much point in me repeating it, is there? I probably shouldn’t point you towards the blog where you can read more about the characters, towards the YouTube channel where you can watch a video diary on the production or even talking about their upcoming 70′s fundraising night in Cleere’s, Parliament Street, Kilkenny on the 11 July where there’ll be “fancy dress, musical treats and enough food to feed an army. “ You should just watch the trailer and be done with it. Here’s the poster too:

Galway Arts Festival 2009

  By Steph | June 23, 2009 - 2:07 pm | Comedy, Music, The Arts
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The annual 31st Galway Arts Festival is just under 3 weeks away and once again they’ve got a huge programme of music, dance, theatre, comedy, street performance, literature and visual arts events to satisfy all appetities. It takes place in Galway from July 13th to 26th in various venues around the city featuring both Irish & international artists. Here’s a small taster selection of the acts you can see there over the 2 weeks: Music Bon Iver @ Festival Big Top David Gray @ Festival Big Top Hot 8 Brass Band @ Roisin Dubh Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ The Radisson Spiritualized, Primal Scream & David Holmes @ Festival Big Top Theatre & Dance A Midsummer Night’s Dream @ Town Hall Theatre DNA @ Nun’s Island Theatre Druid - Synge Centenary @ St.Nicholas Church Furioso @ Black Box Theatre The Gigli Concert @ Druid Lane Theatre Comedy Dead cat Bounce Wired … There’s more →

Midsummer Festival 2009, Cork

  By Will | June 17, 2009 - 12:24 am | Events, Featured Post, Gigs, Music, Performance Art, The Arts, Theatre
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The longest day of the year is almost upon us – shocking really! To celebrate the summer solstice Cork City has a two week long festival of culture ending on the 29th (that’s gigs, shows and other stuff). In fact it started on the 13th to there is a lot of catching up to do. And I’m only going to cover the items that I find interesting here. For the full line up, check out the Cork Midsummer Festival 2009 website. In these times of financial stress they are running a 5 for €55 deal (you end up saving €25) , and a lot of free shows too. In the theme of financial straights, how about recreating depression era American style Dance Marathon in the Irish Examiner Spiegeltent (set up in front of the Opera House again). Part of the 5 for €55, it runs from Monday June 22nd until … There’s more →

The Playboy Of The Western World

  By Lottie | April 28, 2009 - 12:57 pm | The Culch, Theatre
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For the second week running, one of Kilkenny’s youth theatres is launching a major production. This time it’s our old alma mater of Dreamstuff Youth Theatre who are producing that ironclad classic of Irish theatre, JM Synge’s The Playboy Of The Western World. The production is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of Synge, one of Ireland’s most revered writers. Directed by Mike Kelly, the show stars Peter O’Connor as Christy Mahon (a character often described as the ‘Irish Hamlet’) and Aoibhin Murphy as the iconic Pegeen Mike. Supported by a strong (and unusually small numbered) cast of supporting characters, this is the cream of Kilkenny’s young acting talent working with truly classic material. It should be a fantastic show. The Playboy Of The Western World starts tonight April 28th and runs until Saturday May 2nd in The Watergate Theatre, Parliament Street, Kilkenny. Tickets are 10Euro, with a concession … There’s more →

Not Also But Only

  By Darren Byrne | April 23, 2009 - 8:00 am | Comedy, Events, Music, The Culch
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Comedy troupe Diet of Worms are a talented bunch. Their off the wall group comedy is fast, varied and very funny. One of their members, Shane Langan, is a tour de force in his own right. Writer, poet and nervous wreck, he has a style that inspires laughter before he even opens his mouth. A few weeks ago we went along to the Bewley’s Theatre to his experimental project, Not Also But Only. I wasn’t sure what to expect, as we were warned that it was a new departure for many of the participants. Apprehensive, but excited, a group of us trundled along. Shane himself opened the night, preparing us or a night of high brow literature. We shifted nervously in our seats. He began by telling us the story of his friend who he suspected had been murdered by his cat. The evening only got stranger from here.

Submarine Man

  By Niamh | April 14, 2009 - 3:55 pm | The Culch, Theatre, TV
5 Comments

On Saturday evening I took a trip to the local theatre in Blanchardstown, Draíocht, for the first time. The Upstate Theatre Project were putting on a performance of a play called ‘Submarine Man’. Knowing nothing about it but having been given free tickets by the lovely Nicola Murphy, the Marketing Press & PR Manager for Draíocht, as compensation for a slight mix up with the monthly e-zines, I decided to go along to check out the theatre for myself as much as the performance. From the Draíocht website: Captivated by the allure of the sea, man has always been intrigued by underwater exploration and the mysteries of the deep. The year is 1873. Dundalk-based, noviciate Christian Brother, John Philip Holland is obsessed with his design for a bizarre, submergible craft. His other obsession happens to be his house-keeper, Maggie B. Farrell. When Holland casts aside his cassock and follows his sweetheart … There’s more →

And She Dreamed Of The Circus

  By Lottie | April 1, 2009 - 2:41 pm | The Arts, The Culch
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The show was perfect, from start to finish. From the moment Zoe’s parents started levitating in their chairs, it was obvious that this was a show like no other. The level of skill and obvious dedication those performers have is extraordinary. The balance of humour (with John the clown) and breathtaking stunts (my favourite being the Banquine) was impeccable, the music creating the perfect atmosphere, and background performers ensuring that there was always something to look at. Check out Daily Daydreamer’s full review of Cirque Du Soleil over here.

Win tickets to see The Comedy of Errors at the Abbey Theatre

  By darraghdoyle | March 27, 2009 - 3:11 pm | The Arts, The Culch, Theatre
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When was the last time you were at the theatre? What about Dublin’s Abbey Theatre? What do you mean you’ve never been? Well, here’s your chance - win two tickets to see William Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors in the Abbey Theatre on Thursday, April 2. **EDIT** this competition is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered! What meanest thou when thou sayest thou has never seen Shakespeare performed since thine Certificate of Leaving? What the play is about: Two sets of identical twins are separated in childhood. Years later, they all show up in the same place at the same time. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS tells the story of a father, mother, brothers, sisters, masters and servants, all of whom find themselves confused, baffled and bewildered by the events of a single day. One man is sentenced to death, another finds love. One wife finds her long lost husband, … There’s more →

Ages of The Moon

  By Rick | March 15, 2009 - 9:16 pm | The Culch, Theatre
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I’m not a theatre reviewer at all up until this point. Movies, books, TV, music, I can do pretty much anything but I just don’t have any real experience of consistent theatregoing to base anything on. I’m only saying all that so you know this is the unimportant opinion of a philistine. Went to the new Sam Shepherd play Ages Of The Moon at The Peacock a couple of weeks ago and thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a two hander with Sean McGinley and Stephen Rea on a Southern U.S. porch, talking, drinking, pausing, staring at the moon and working their way through moments in their lives, waiting for a lunar eclipse just as Vladimir and Estragon wait for Godot. It’s slow, still, not in any hurry to get to whatever destination there may be, if there even is one, but that’s what i really liked about it. I’ve always found … There’s more →