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Contents 04 Arts events across Munster Happy Days at the Galway 06 Kieran Quinn at Hawkswell Theatre International Arts Festival Upcoming events across Ulster and Connacht 07 Dublin’s must-visit events Resilience in the arts 08 Director of the Arts Council, Maureen Kennelly talks about the excitement The best live events that arts events are being staged live and online and how the Arts Council around Leinster is supporting them

“It’s thrilling to hear of events being they are putting all those extra resources to staged for real, live audiences,” says good use. On pages 4-9, we have the events 10 ↘Maureen Kennelly. “Arts organisations’ guide with a variety of exciting arts events, standard of care for the public is really quite all supported by the Arts Council, coming Live and online! striking and instils me with confidence about up through August, September and October. We speak to performers and event a safe return to in-person performances.” From music performances to art exhibitions, After what seems like a lifetime for artists and from theatre productions to festivals, organisers on their excitement for and art lovers, arts shows, festivals, and there is something for everyone in all regions their live shows all kinds of events from dance to street of Ireland. theatre are cautiously opening up for limited “We have initiated a great programme audiences for live performances, in line with called Faoin Speir which will see outdoor Government guidelines. While online events performances staged in several counties, have become the norm, there is nothing quite including the wonderful aerial dance company 12 like sitting in a theatre for a live show. Fidget Feet in Ennis, Co Clare. We are also Keeping safe Arts centres across the country have taken supporting a great initiative called Festival in great care to create safe spaces in line with a Van, which involves the performance of live Post-Covid safety measures Government health advice. All of which music and poetry nationwide over the coming per venue and frequently have had the support from the Arts Council, weeks. the Government agency which encourages “There are so many gems across all art asked questions interest in Irish art and provides funding to forms,” says Maureen. “Art that is true and Irish artists and arts organisations. Maureen Kennelly convincing speaks best to me. I recall times “Technical and front of house personnel that I listened to music, read poems or prose, in the arts are uniquely placed to present year and a half. or saw visual pieces and knew that I would see events safely for the public, as they tend to “Artists and workers in the arts have shown the world differently forever more because of have particularly high standards in this area,” extraordinary resilience and resourcefulness,” those experiences. That’s an extraordinary says Maureen. “Many have qualifications in says Maureen. “They have adapted gift and I am always amazed that artists can health and safety, and they have amassed vast imaginatively and have been generous and keep doing it. There is so much in the world experience over the years, working across open in their approach to each other and to that is yet to be discovered, so it is a resource festivals and venues of every description. Arts the public. that we can return to time and again.” organisations are taking tentative and careful “Staging events during the pandemic is far steps back.” more expensive and their box office potential For more information, visit artscouncil.ie Maureen says there is a great hunger is often very limited, which makes Arts from the public for the arts. A recent survey Council support even more essential.” showed 61pc of people saying that the arts are In this magazine, we are celebrating arts essential for their wellbeing. events live and online! Not only do live The Arts Council recently supported pilot events create a cultural offering to live performances by the Irish Chamber entice people to an area where they Did you Orchestra in University Concert Hall, Co spend money, but they also provide Limerick and the Irish National Opera in Cork employment for artists and the know? Opera House, and these were enthusiastically many others involved in making received by the public. them happen. But even more • For the moment, the maximum number of “In fact, they were very highly charged fundamental is the cultural, people allowed in a theatre’s auditorium is 50. emotional events, with rapturous standing artistic and social impact. This means ticketsGrab them for shows before are they in limitedgo! supply. A BeCreative Editorial ovations for the performers when they first “It makes us what we are – it Production came on stage,” adds Maureen. “There was a tells the story of Ireland like • The Arts Council supports organisations and individual great passion and emotional urgency to these no other medium can. You artists through grant schemes and bursaries. In 2021, www.becreative.ie events, and I think we will never take such always can tell a thriving town the Arts Council’s grant from the Irish Exchequer is €130 Editor: Shauna McCrudden happenings for granted again.” or village by the health of its million and there are more than 30 awards and funding art scene. A community that Deputy Editor: Clodagh Dooley schemes this year, which enabled the Council to invest in Adapting and thriving invests in culture will inevitably Advertising: Eoin Healy (01) 705 5403 the arts and to ensure that they can be brought through Live arts returning comes as a relief for prosper in education, industry the pandemic intact. As well as direct funding, they also Maureen whose appointment to Director of and tourism, and in other areas.” support people through a range of developmental Design: INM Design Studio, Belfast the Arts Council was announced on March 6th The Arts Council received initiatives in the areasand fundraising. of digital, mental wellbeing Repro: Independent Newspapers (Ireland) 2020, just days before the Covid-19 shutdown. significant additional funding • Many upcoming festivals and arts Limited, 27-32 Talbot Street, Dublin 1 She worked remotely for many months, so she from the Government in 2020 to centres will combine live streaming understands the strange circumstances that help alleviate the impact of the crisis with performances to small The content of this magazine is sponsored artists have had to work through over the last on artists and arts organisations, and audiences. SPONSORED

Stephanie Appelhans at Ortús Festival A thriving arts sector We look at how the arts has been impacted by the last year and the great support from around the country

It has been a long and difficult 17 Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Róisín McGarr, Executive Director of How does it months for so many musicians, artists, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin Siamsa Tíre, The National Folk Theatre feel to stage live ↘actors, venue operators, crew and says, “We are doing what we love, what makes of Ireland, Tralee, Co Kerry audiences alike. Covid-19 has had a profound us Irish, connecting with people as we says about staging live professional and personal impact on artists move together towards recovery.” events at the theatre, “This has been anevents? incredibly challenging period, and arts workers, with major structural From Carrickmacross, Co “The people but our audiences have shown us tremendous impacts for organisations. Monaghan, Minister Martin we’ve spoken support throughout. We are absolutely delighted According to Arts Insight: The National Arts trained as a classical singer and to have really to finally be able to welcome them, in person, Engagement Survey 2020 by the Arts Council, performed nationally when she missed live again. The setting may be a little different, but while the arts have adapted through switching was younger. So, she knows events. Some our commitment to supporting great artists and to online and blended forms of the importance of live are cautious presenting quality shows to our audiences, participation, these activities arts events. about indoor have not adequately filled “We must value gatherings, - Seán Kelly, CEOremains.” of The Everyman, the vacuum left by live arts the arts in terms but others are events. The survey shows of what they impatient to get back Co Cork that while participation contribute to our to their normal social Róisín McGarr levels in the arts increased economy and to lives. We are hopeful that in 2020, through switching our well-being. It’s not our audiences will feel safe and to online and blended just the artists, but those comfortable coming into the building when forms, people missed live who make the events work the time comes. The arts are about enriching arts events. This survey backstage. lives, and we’re prioritising safety above all found that almost half the “We’ll do more and more else.” of €130 million for the Arts Council. This population of Ireland are happy pilot gigs until we get to the Total funding for the arts and culture sector additional investment empowers the Arts to go to live events before all Minister stage where we can reopen – and in 2021 is estimated to be €331 million. The Council to help artists, arts workers and arts restrictions are lifted. Catherine Martin reopen for good.” additional funding includes a 2021 allocation organisations come through this crisis. Surviving and thriving How the arts flourish in spite of adversity

Hope has started to appear for the arts As the world went to war during 1914-1918, sector, with nearly half the population James Joyce was writing his magnum opus, ↘vaccinated, and many live indoor and Ulysses. He started plotting in one world, and outdoor events taking place. This means that the novel was completed in another. theatre, music, dance, visual art, literature, The famed Mexican painter Frida Kahlo film and so many other sectors are seeing a suffered grave injuries during a bus crash in brighter future. 1925 and decided to take up painting during That is why the Arts Council of Ireland are her long recovery. And the rest is history. reminding arts lovers around the country of These artists and so many more flourished what we have been missing. With their new despite the challenges of their times. Art in campaign, they are celebrating the fact that villages, towns and cities all over Ireland, live whatever we have all been through, the arts and online, is flourishing now for everyone to will flourish – because it always has. enjoy with family and friends. The campaign highlights artists’ roles during The Arts Council plays such a big role in difficult times. For example, during the Plague, keeping the arts in Ireland alive and thriving. Shakespeare made use of his quarantine time Supporting artists of all ages: the up-and- to write Romeo and Juliet “a plague on both comers, and the tried and tested, as well as art your houses!”. And even wrote King Lear – in venues everywhere – these are keeping art one of his rants, the King calls his daughter alive in these difficult times. Goneril “a plague sore, an embossed carbuncle Expect to see this Arts Council campaign in my / Corrupted blood”. He also appears to online, in print and on the radio showing how have come up with Macbeth and Antony and great artists endured and ultimately overcame Cleopatra during the Plague too! adversity. And that’s exactly what artists are In fact, the history of the arts is littered with doing right now. examples of great artists that have faced and overcome adversity. These include James Joyce, Visit artscouncil.ie for more information SPONSORED

EVENT GUIDE: MUNSTER The Birds of Burden

Happy Days at Galway International Arts Festival

Sara Baum, Alphabet of Birds

Spraoi’s Fidget Feet: A Handful of Dreams Arts events across Ireland Arts journalist Shauna McCrudden profiles the Olivia Hope upcoming live events not to be missed! Curtis Hylton for Waterford Walls Top 6 visual art exhibitions Best live music shows A Way Home / Slí Abhaile by Olivia Hope La Place des Grands Abysses by Stephen Here is where I am by Claire Murphy Bell X1 Mid-September through October, Siamsa Tíre, Brandes Until 21st August, South Tipperary Arts Centre 1st October, glór, Co Clare The National Folk Theatre of Ireland, Co Kerry Until 4th September, Uillinn: West Cork Arts This photographic installation is from Fans of Irish rock band Bell X1 will be Children’s book author, Olivia Hope Centre ↘Claire Murphy’s ongoing body of work ↘happy to see their live tour kicking off in ↘has created a fantastic tale following This exhibition needs to be seen in that started during the pandemic, which also 2021 across theatres in Ireland. They will be the adventures of two siblings who meet a ↘person to truly appreciate it. It explores coincided with the period after the birth of her debuting new material along with a lot of the mysterious traveller, a cheeky púca, some lost the interplay of word and visual language son. favourites spanning over the last 20 years. souls, and a choir of banshees on Halloween as a vehicle for storytelling. It includes a She observes and documents the ordinary For this show, the band is collaborating with night. She is now collaborating with award- monumental drawing on flooring vinyl, large- moments of her daily life, moments of Dowry Strings, who specialise in cross-timbral winning illustrators to bring to life each scene scale digital collages printed on PVC, a series contemplation, of in-between-ness, all and cross-genre collaborations, which has or chapter of the story in their own unique of short, animated slideshows, and a collection through the analogue medium of 35mm resulted in an incredible and quite moving live artistic style. There will be 36 artworks from 16 of smaller works on paper and painting. film. The photos taken around her family experience. illustrators in the final exhibition. The pieces Ann Davoren, Director of Uillinn: West Cork home, where she spent her childhood, have will be displayed in the gallery at the eye level Arts Centre says, “It is so good to have people a cinematic quality that present an intimate Visit glor.ie of the target audience, gradually moving up in the galleries which are spacious and airy. exploration of family, and of the pull home has from floor work for babies to adult height by People are really enjoying the experience of on us and on our identity. Music on the Mall the end of the story. visiting and looking at art again. We also have August-September, Theatre Royal, Co Waterford a number of visual and dance artists working Visit southtippartscentre.ie A series of live music gigs featuring Visit siamsatire.com here in the studio and people can catch up ↘Waterford musicians and bands in with what they are doing online and in person Spraoi International Street Arts Festival August and September, has been organised to Waterford Walls International Street Art when they visit.” August-September, The Apple Market, Co promote some of the amazing work developed Festival Waterford by local musicians during lockdown. 13th-22nd August, Co Waterford Visit westcorkartscentre.com Spraoi has been selected to receive In The Artists include Yung Shakur who is playing Central to this festival is the ↘Open – Faoin Spéir funding from The Arts on August 14th. He became widely known for ↘transformative power of urban art. The The Alphabet of Birds by Sara Baume Council. The popular street arts spectacular his viral hit All-Ireland Hurling song Swing festival’s mission is to connect communities 9th September, St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre, is transformed from a three-day festival into which took social media by storm in 2020. through the festival street art and improve Co Kerry a Spraoi Season presented at multiple sites His influences include Eminem, Dr Dre, and the social and economic fabric of the greater In writer and artist Sara Baume’s new across Waterford City and county throughout 2Pac – he’s a rising star! Or check out Birds of community by bringing vibrancy and life to ↘audio-visual essay, The Alphabet of August. Spraoi features daily performances in Burden on 27th August. Their blend of hard, the city’s walls. Birds, she covers obsessions and passions Waterford City centre and along Waterford’s driving rock and hypnotic meandering airs This year will see a blended approach, – the multitude of rituals that fill our daily acclaimed Greenway. This includes Fidget frame an almost diary-like lyrical intimacy, showcasing 20 mural artists painting 20 large lives with meaning. From Sunday Mass and Feet: A Handful of Dreams, a heart-warming firmly rooted in the folk ballad tradition. We scale mural artworks, guided art trails, artist sea swimming; bird alphabets and stone performance combining aerial and circus arts have all missed live music performances and talks, and an exhibition. The 2021 festival will collecting; Goya and Monet; to the Stations with live Irish traditional music and dance. these are the best of the best. focus on gender balance, and also helping of the Cross and the Sacred Heart of Jesus; Closing Spraoi Season is Prism Spraoi, a emerging artists pair up with established bedrooms and bedsits; insomnia and parental spectacular outdoor performance structure Visit theatreroyal.ie artists in their mentorship programme. love. presenting an ensemble of artists nightly The essay is inspired by short documentaries in the grounds of Waterford Courthouse. Visit thewallsproject.ie depicting artists at work on land and sea. To Seven commissioned pieces of original music add to the live show feeling, a live soundtrack accompanied by live performers will feature is performed throughout by musicians Irene nightly, echoing seven colours which merge Buckley and Elaine Howley. It is definitely and form white light. This will re-invigorate something to see in person. familiar streets.

Visit stjohnstheatre.ie Visit spraoi.com SPONSORED

The Everyman Outdoors

Iarla Ó Lionáird, Úna Monaghan and Kevin Murphy

La Place des Grands Abysses by Stephen Brandes The best of online Live is back but online events are still ongoing. Enjoy your art wherever you are

Town of Strangers by Treasa O’Brien Until 20th September glór presents a summer season of ↘online film – Summer Out West showcases three critically acclaimed films unique to the west of Ireland. Town of Strangers by award-winning Irish filmmaker Treasa O’Brien is a Yung Shakur ‘hybrid’ feature film using auditions, observational documentary and magical realist dream scenes. It is a documentary of the imagination, with many scenes transcending the genres of documentary and fiction, going deep into the experience of migration and home through cinematic methods. Once Claire Murphy, Installation purchased, films will be available for viewing for 48 hours.

Cold O’Regan Visit glor.ie

Taiscéal: An Animated Story Summertime Concerts A World of Music Bosco’s Garden 17th September Until 28th August, Triskel Arts Centre, Cork City 13th August, The Everyman, Co Cork 15th August, Paula Lambert Puppet Theatre, Artist Ana Colomer and scéalaí On 14th August, two inimitable and With a group of musicians from the The Everyman, Co Cork ↘Niall de Búrca explore each other’s ↘formidable jazz musicians, Paul Dunlea ↘much-loved Cork Pops Orchestra, Evelyn People of a certain age growing up in styles and body of work, coming and Cormac McCarthy, will join forces in a Grant (RTÉ lyric FM), will be joined by a ↘Ireland will fondly remember our puppet together to produce this animated tale set to include both standards and original special guest, Voice of Ireland winner Keith pal, Bosco. And now Bosco’s Garden is part online for Culture Night. An original compositions. And on 28th August, the Hanley. Keith has starred in many of The of The Everyman Outdoors at Elizabeth Fort story, written and narrated by Niall, Hifilutin Flute Quartet will play everything Everyman pantomimes and is looking forward programme. comes to life through Ana’s watercolour from medieval to modern music, from to singing to a live audience once again. Bosco is Bosco, not a boy, not a girl, just a and digital animation. classical works to the unexpected. This outdoor, seated, and socially distanced Bosco: a cheeky, lovely, funny, slightly-cracked, From 4pm-11:30pm From September, the Centre will host performance includes the Cork Pops irrepressible, eternal five-year-old who lives in concerts from long standing partners the Orchestra who create programmes that a box and who loves nothing more than to just Visit culturenight.ie National String Quartet Foundation and span a wide range of wonderful music, from be Bosco and meet all the boys and girls. a Music Network collaboration featuring all genres and cultures. The rhythms and Paula Lambert has been travelling the Kerry International Film Festival vocalist Iarla Ó Lionáird, harpist and sound melodies from times past and present will fill country for the past 42 years bringing puppet (KIFF) artist Úna Monaghan, and cellist Kevin the air at Elizabeth Fort for this very special theatre to the children of Ireland for the first 14th-17th October Murphy. A wide variety for every type of music concert. time. With this production, you will see why After the success of the 2020 online lover. Bosco remains a firm favourite for each new ↘festival, KIFF is eager to explore Visit everymancork.com generation. this avenue further. Through their Visit triskelartscentre.ie streaming service, YouTube, Zoom Visit everymancork.com and more, there will be a full online Dark Island by Brian Bolger Top 4 stage shows programme of shorts, select features, September, Siamsa Tíre, The National Folk ‘Where is my Mind’ with Niall Breslin documentaries, music films and Theatre of Ireland, Co Kerry A Wilde Fan by Myles Breen 1st October, Lime Tree Theatre, Co Limerick animations. Siamsa Tíre is planning the live album 11th September, St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre, Niall ‘Bressie’ Breslin is one of Ireland’s ↘launch of Dark Island, a sensitive Co Kerry ↘most formidable and inspiring mental Visit kerryfilmfestival.com reimagining of musical and written folk Through his plays, poetry, prose and health advocates. Now, he is taking his hit sources, which has been developed by Dublin ↘extraordinary life, Oscar Wilde has been a podcast Where Is My Mind on the road for Guitar Quartet founder and Crash Ensemble constant source of inspiration and obsession live performances. The show will take an Colm O’Regan Stand Up Comedy member, Brian Bolger, along with another of for acclaimed actor Myles Breen. Directed by irreverent, entertaining, and in-depth look 23rd October, Imagine Arts Festival, Theatre the Centre’s Associate Artists, musician and Liam O’Brien and featuring excerpts from inside our heads. No stranger to the stage, Royal, Co Waterford filmmaker, Laura Sheeran. Wilde’s writings alongside Breen’s trademark the chart-topping singer turned best-selling Best-selling and critically acclaimed Over the past few months, Brian has wit and flair, A Wilde Fan is a personal and author, and former professional athlete has ↘broadcaster, author and comedian Colm composed an eclectic 50-minute work for theatrical take on one of history’s greatest been continuing his popular podcast for O’Regan is back on stage with a much-needed voice and ensemble accompaniment with artists, by his biggest fan. years and the live shows will only increase its dose of comedy at Waterford’s Imagine Arts pure instrumental passages, poetry, and “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken!” impact. Festival. He is the author of six best-selling spoken-word, including an Aisling poem books including the Irish Mammy trilogy, written by Aodhagán Ó Rathaille, an Irish- Visit stjohnstheatre.ie Visit limetreetheatre.ie Bolloxology and the two Ann Devine novels. language poet from Kerry. Brian is bringing The theatre is also running a ‘So you think together a group of performers to record the you’re funny!’ competition for an up-and- piece over August and a live performance to coming comic to win a paid support spot on launch the album. the night. So, there will be double the laughs on the night. Visit siamsatire.com Visit imagineartsfestival.com SPONSORED

06 EVENT GUIDE: ULSTER AND CONNACHT

Ar Ais Aris at Galway International Arts Festival Ortús Festival Back at the Dock

Five best festivals A roundup of the very best festivals this summer and autumn

Galway International Arts Festival 28th August-18th September, Co Galway This festival features exciting live ↘in-person arts experiences across theatre, music and visual arts. This year, like 2020, includes an enhanced digital element, which will see a number of live streams and view on-demand events. The line-up includes 10 premieres and commissions, Maeve McGowan In a Drifting Hollow by including a funny and moving new play and Jane Parsons Alison Pilkington Niamh Farrell from Enda Walsh, Medicine, and a new production of Happy Days performed in the Irish language in the stunning landscape of Inis Oírr. (Read more about the festival on page 10) Arts events across Ireland Visit giaf.ie Clones Film Festival Arts journalist Shauna McCrudden profiles the 21st-24th October, Clones, Co Monaghan upcoming live events not to be missed! Watch the best films, with the ↘best atmosphere, in a town that is small enough to appreciate the guests! Top 3 literary favourites With films and music to keep attendees entertained, this will be a fun Bank In Middletown by Mikel Murfi ‘I Build My Own Island’ by Alison Pilkington Back at the Dock Holiday weekend. 12th August, An Grianán Theatre Co Donegal Closing 26th September, The Model, Co Sligo 23rd July-5th September, The Dock, Carrick on Celebrating the 20th annual event, This new solo show, Sligo-born artist Alison Pilkington’s new Shannon, Co Leitrim a highlight of the weekend is the ↘written and ↘show, I Build My Own Island, is at once Live shows can bring people together competition of short fiction, short performed by Mikel playful and disconcerting. It teases out themes ↘and help people socialise again in pods documentary, and short animation Murfi is performed that are both universal and deeply personal. with friends and family and soak up the joy of films. outdoors on the A series of recurring characters inhabit live sounds. Live performances are coming to back of a specially surreal landscapes that evoke lakeshores, The Dock with the aptly named Back at the Visit clonesfilmfestival.com adapted truck. Murfi seashores and distant mountain ranges. Dock, a series of intimate performances that plays a furniture Pilkington draws on the poetry of WB Yeats to will showcase local talent alongside well- Westport Festival of Chamber removals man who Mikel Murfi the paintings of El Greco and the cinematic established names. Music 2021 packs up his ‘life’ onto imagery of Ridley Scott and Andrei Tarkovsky. The series will run this year outdoors in a 10th-12th September, Co Mayo the back of his vehicle, All of these collide in a body of work that covered walled area at The Dock. From Shane This year’s festival features the pulls the door behind him explores Alison’s connections to Sligo. Meehan and Mick Mulvey to young musicians ↘finest of performers from across and never returns to life as he knew it. This is Admission is free and there is no need to Gan Ainm and their spectacular traditional Ireland, the UK and Europe. With a a gentle reflection on the search for solitude, book. Irish music, this is a live show not to be diverse range of pieces with everything simplicity, and the things that make us truly missed! from the famous masters to some happy. The show will also be performed at Visit themodel.ie wonderful works by less well-known Hawk’s Well Theatre in Co Sligo. Visit thedock.ie composers including Hugh Tinney on An Grianán, an integral part of Donegal’s piano, the Carducci Quartet and many cultural landscape, will also be hosting John 3 best musical performances Culture Night more all playing with some surprises Grant on 15th October. This stripped-back 17th September, Hawk’s Well Theatre, Co Sligo along the way, this can’t be missed. live show will see John perform solo, playing Music performances Dervish front lady Cathy Jordan will songs from across his celebrated career. August–September, Hawk’s Well Theatre, ↘present a very special concert showcasing Visit westportchambermusic.ie Co Sligo Songs from Sligo on Culture Night. She Visit angrianan.com If you’re looking for live music shows this has been working on this concert as part of Ortús Chamber Music Festival ↘year, the Safe & Sound Summer Sessions her short residency at the theatre this year. 3rd-5th September, Co Cork Wild Atlantic Words continue with an intimate performance from There’s also the much anticipated new Music This weekend will be filled with 5th–10th October, Co Mayo the Farrell siblings: Sean, Sinead, Niamh Network collaboration featuring vocalist Iarla ↘chamber music from both Irish and This literary festival aims to celebrate the and Deirdre on 20th August. Trad music, O’ Lionáird, harpist and sound artist Una international musicians. The festival ↘literary heritage of the iconic coastline along with a shared appreciation for folk and Monaghan, and cellist Kevin Murphy. highlights the musical ability and over several days of readings, recitals, debates country music, shapes much of their musical innovation of young Irish musicians and and reflection, while also acknowledging influence. Visit hawkswell.com composers, while bridging connections new and emerging writers. This year’s Maeve McGowan, Acting Director, Hawk’s with musicians around the world. line-up includes Tommie Gorman, Daithí Well Theatre, Sligo says, “People have really Ó Corráin, Eunan O’Halpin, Senator Marie been engaging with us online throughout Visit ortusfestival.ie Louise O’Donnell, and many more special lockdown. The arts are hugely important guests yet to be announced. A highlight of the in the North West. Our first live event this Baboró International Arts Festival festival will be the launch of recently retired summer: Open Up: The Show Goes On was a for Children Mayo footballer Andy Moran’s forthcoming great success with customers reporting that 4th-17th October, Co Galway book. This year’s event will include the 2021 they felt very comfortable and safe being in Celebrating 25 years, this festival is Wild Atlantic Words short story competition, the venue. Artists are delighted to get the ↘devoted exclusively to children and judged by JP McHugh. opportunity to perform live in front of an families and includes theatre, dance, audience again.” puppetry, music, art and literature. Visit wildatlanticwords.ie Visit hawkswell.com Cathy Jordan Visit baboro.ie SPONSORED

07 EVENT GUIDE: DUBLIN

Dublin’s must-visit events Journalist Clodagh Dooley profiles the upcoming events not to be missed across Dublin 4 of the best stage shows The best of the visual arts

The Chronicles of Oggle Othello Dublin Fringe Festival Until 14th August, Smock Alley Theatre 7th-22nd October, Mill Theatre 11th-26th September The Chronicles of Oggle, a hilarious William Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy One of Ireland’s most popular ↘and heart-breaking story about small ↘Othello will be brought to life at the Mill ↘contemporary performing arts festivals, town life, was written and performed by Theatre in Dundrum this October. Directed by the Dublin Fringe Festival will make a one of Ireland’s most prolific actors, Peter Geoff O’Keeffe, who previously directed other return this September. Last year’s festival Gowen, who had roles in Love/Hate, Fair Shakespeare productions including Romeo had 23 shows against 77 the year before, but City, Charlie, and The Butcher Boy. Although and Juliet and King Lear, Othello is a story with a mix of theatre, outdoor and digital not autobiographical, the play is inspired by about jealousy and revenge. When Othello, performances, it was a success. And this year, Peter’s experiences of growing up in Youghal, the highly regarded General, secretly marries the festival is planning both live in-person Cork and follows the story of orphan Pakie and Desdemona, soldier Iago manipulates Othello events and remote art projects that play with his revenge on the authorities who subjected into believing his wife is unfaithful. This form and encourage active spectatorship him to a beating during his education years. leads to Othello’s jealousy to consume him, across artistic disciplines. Expect both tears of laughter and sadness. resulting in murder. Cian O’Brien, Artistic Director, and Sara Smock Alley Theatre has opened the play to Not only will the fast-paced and visually Greavu, Curator of Visual Arts at Dublin’s limited audiences for €20 a ticket, and Lucy engaging production resonate with Leaving Project Arts Centre (projectartscentre.ie), say, Ryan, Director of Programming of Dublin’s Cert students, but it’s a gripping watch for “We’re really looking forward to this year’s Smock Alley Theatre tells me, “Dublin has students and non-students alike. Public Fringe Festival and the exciting line-up that been significantly impacted by the closure evening performances are on Saturday 9th is coming to Project Arts Centre! Join us for of the arts and cultural sector over the past and 16th October, with admission €20/€18. an intimate evening of agile grooves and 17 months. As wonderful as some of the School weekday shows are available at 10am otherworldly sound with Fehdah, comedic streaming options have been, it’s become and 1:30pm for €15 per ticket. confession with Joanne McNally, a fearless more apparent that being in a room with and savagely comedic MASTERCLASS with people is such an intrinsic part of the theatre Visit milltheatre.ie Adrienne Truscott and Brokentalkers and experience and is good for the soul, even when Where Sat the Lovers, a new live work from well-distanced and masked! We can’t wait to Neptune Calling theatre-making collective Malaprop.” welcome people back to Smock.” 21st August-10th September, Draíocht, Blanchardstown Visit fringefest.com Visit smockalley.com 6th-11th September, Civic Theatre Tallaght This immersive piece written by Eoghan Parr’s Ireland: 40 Years of Photography Walls and Windows ↘Quinn and directed by Tracy Martin Until 4th September, Gallery of Photography 27th August-11th September, at the Abbey is perfect for the times we live in, being Ireland Theatre performed in various outdoor settings. Since 1979, for 40 years, esteemed British Directed by Jason Byrne and written by Neptune Calling is based on an aspiring ↘photographer Martin Parr, who lived ↘Rosaleen McDonagh, Walls and Windows journalist, Sara, who develops a love for sea in Boyle in Roscommon for a period, has is a beautiful, but complex, love story which swimming during the pandemic. But she been photographing Ireland. The Gallery examines how external circumstances pull starts hearing a voice from the sea, calling of Photography Ireland presents this first Once Before I Go opens at the Gate Theatre people apart, when they want to be together. her name. Can she refuse its pull? Through survey exhibition of Parr’s photography, which on 1st October as part of the Dublin Theatre Couple Julia and John want to live their lives Neptune Calling, a mixture of sensory showcases the rapidly transforming landscape Festival. Image by: Seán Gilmartin/Tonie with their two sons, but the outside world experiences awaits, with the beautiful script of Irish life, charting the abrupt shift from Walsh Personal Collection, Irish Queer Archive and racism puts paid to their plans. The play voiced by Aoibheann McCann and Geraldine Catholic novenas and country fairs to tech features a stellar cast, with Hazel Clifford, Plunkett and a choreographed movement start-ups and café lattes. The exhibition also Dublin Theatre Festival John Connors, Hilda Fay, Sorcha Fox, Ruairí piece performed by dancer Robyn Byrne. Plus, charts Parr’s own approach to photography, 30th September-17th October Heading, Myles Maher, Ericka Roe and Nyree tickets are free! from his beginnings with traditional black- The annual Dublin Theatre Festival Yergainharsian. Keep an eye on the websites of both Draíocht and-white early images, to colour photography ↘showcases the best of Irish theatre, Tickets for live performances are €30 and in Blanchardstown and The Civic in Tallaght in the 1980s. A fascinating representation of with a programme of exceptional theatrical selling fast, however, luckily everyone can for more exciting upcoming performances. the then and now. Admission is free. Opening experiences that will appeal to the diverse enjoy the action from their own living rooms, Michael Barker-Caven, Artistic Director, hours are Wednesday-Saturday 11am-5.45pm. communities and visitors that make up the with live performances live-streamed for €25 The Civic, says, “We hear all the time, via city of Dublin. This year’s full programme is from the Abbey stage on 27th and 28th August. social media and phone calls, how hungry Visit galleryofphotography.ie yet to be announced, but throughout the past The play will also be available on-demand for our audience is to get back to what they love six decades, Dublin Theatre has welcomed €20 from 29th August until 11th September. best – being in The Civic among an audience, artists and audiences from all over the world enjoying and living out those shared moments and this year will be no different, whether Visit abbeytheatre.ie that only live performance brings.” that’s online or in person.

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08 EVENT GUIDE: LEINSTER

Karan Casey. Image by Ruth Medjber, @ruthlessimagery.

Events in Leinster Journalist Clodagh Dooley shares some great events not to be missed in Leinster 3 on-stage shows to check out Everything is Grand, and I am Alice and the Wolf during the fifth annual Birr Festival of Music Sherlock Holmes and the Anaverna Completely Okay 23rd November, Mullingar Arts Centre, Co Louth (20th–22th August). We look forward to the Adventure 12th August, Moat Theatre, Co Kildare Take the family to Alice and the Wolf, festival atmosphere that we all know and 4th-8th August, An Táin Arts Centre Written and performed by Conor Burke ↘a play by Tom Swift, presented by love. This kickstarts the arts programming Productions, Dundalk, Co Louth ↘and directed by IFTA nominee Lesley Barnstorm Theatre Company. In this for the rest of the year, along with two more Everyone’s favourite detective Sherlock Conroy, Everything Is Grand and I am remarkable telling, Alice spends virtually all Birr festivals, OFFline Film Festival and ↘Holmes and his faithful sidekick Dr Completely Okay, is a one-person play about her time in Wolf Wood, the world’s deepest, Hullabaloo! Offaly’s Children’s Arts Festival, Watson visit Anaverna House in Dundalk, growing up and the lessons we learn along darkest online game. Her dad isn’t around, will take place in October. Co Louth to solve the ‘mystery of Anaverna’ the way. Malachy, who has just turned 25, her mother’s gone to Canada to meet a “Our audiences miss the live performance before a family curse dooms its newest heir. is dealing with the death of his brother and lumberjack, and her best friend dumped her and I feel people are looking forward to The ensemble cast of this interactive outdoor struggling to come to terms with all that he is for a YouTube star. But what happens when the getting back to in-person events knowing that show, brought to you by An Táin Arts Centre - and everything he is not. Everything Is Grand people you meet online come looking for you we, the festivals and venues, are taking the Productions, leads the audience in completing and I am Completely Okay is Conor’s fifth in real life? Who can you trust, and who is the appropriate protocols to facilitate this.” tasks and puzzles to move the story around the play and it was selected for development by Big Bad Wolf? This re-telling of the Little Red beautiful grounds of Anaverna House. Suitable Dublin Fringe, as part of Fringe Lab 50, which Riding Hood story is a digital fairy tale that’s Visit birrvintageweek.com and for ages five years and over. Tickets are €13.50 supports artists as they continue crafting both funny and full of dark twists. Suitable for birrtheatre.com for adults and €7 for children. A family ticket ideas during the pandemic. Tickets cost €12 or nine years of age and over. is €30 (two adults and two children or one there’s an offer for four tickets for €40. OF A MIND adult and three children), plus €1.50 booking Book tickets by emailing boxoffice@ Nightly from 4th August-15th August, Mermaid fee per ticket. As this show is outdoors, dress Visit moattheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows mullingarartscentre.ie Arts Centre, Bray, Co Wicklow appropriately for the unpredictable Irish OF A MIND, by award-winning artists weather! I Walked into My Head by Karan Casey ↘Listen and Breathe, is a live audio 5th-8th August, Watergate Theatre, Co Kilkenny 3 immersive arts experiences experience for audiences of 50 people on Visit antain.ie The Kilkenny Arts Festival always has Bray’s iconic seafront: part flash mob, part ↘a fantastic programme and this year’s Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival silent disco, part meditation. Commissioned 4 top visual arts exhibitions festival takes place from 5th-15th August, 14th-20th August, Birr, Co Offaly by Mermaid Arts Centre, OF A MIND captures with a mixture of indoor, outdoor and online I live approximately 25 minutes from the changing spirit of our lives and was born by female Irish artists events. Taking place during the Kilkenny Arts ↘Birr in Co Offaly, so every year I attend out of a nostalgia for seeing and being seen at Festival is I Walked into My Head, a brand- the annual Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival, Mass on Sunday, yoga class on Wednesday, or Woman in the Machine new show that’s part song-poem, part music which is always bustling with exhibitions, the GAA on Saturday! Until 12th September, VISUAL Carlow performance. Folk and traditional music events and street performers. Last year saw The immersive experience invites you to Woman in the Machine was inspired by legend Karan Casey is walking the corridors the launch of virtual Vintage Week, but this reconnect with nature and find your place ↘the creativity of female pioneers working of her mind, looking for her voice, constantly year, the organisers are doing everything in the crowd again. Guided by a live narrator in sound, electronics and engineering in the challenging herself to find answers to broader they can to bring the ‘Spirit of Vintage’ to Birr and set to a score of local voices, sounds former Braun factory in Carlow back in the societal questions. despite the current pandemic times. and music, the audience will gather at the 70s. The exhibition explores aspects of our In this performance, she explores the darkly Emma Nee Haslam, Manager at Birr Victorian bandstand for this outdoor walking relationship to technology and the virtual humorous, and sometimes joyful, exploration Theatre & Arts Centre and a member of experience, using their own smartphone and world. Woman in the Machine features works of the trials and tribulations of life as a singer, Birr Festivals Collective, tells me “The 53rd headphones. Detailed instructions and a link by a variety of artists working in sound, film, from airports, van journeys and sessions annual Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival to join the performance will be sent to your electronics, photography, light, sculpture, to grief, motherhood and the unrealistic (14th–20th August) will include two open-air email 24 hours before your start time. Tickets painting, performance and on digital expectations of a female muse. Tickets are €25 professionally curated galleries, a pop-up are €15 and the event starts at 7:30pm daily platforms. (preview on 5th August at 7:30pm is €15). The Street Theatre, a community window trail (matinees at 3pm on weekends). The works presented were selected show takes place at 7:30pm on 6th August, and illuminations on buildings and geodesic Julie Kelleher, Artistic Director & CEO through Carlow Arts Festival and VISUAL’s 3pm and 6pm on 7th August and 3pm on 8th domes for outdoor events.” at Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray is delighted annual open submission ARTWORKS 2021; August. Birr will host two other unique events, to welcome such live events back, “There’s from the Arts Council Collection; and by including the 8th annual Scripts Ireland’s no doubt in my mind that people all over invitation to create new work in response to Visit kilkennyarts.ie/programme/ Playwriting Festival (12th–15th August). Wicklow, like many people nationwide, have the former Braun Factory site. Admission to i-walked-into-my-head This brings New Theatre to life on stage felt the gaping absence of the arts experiences the exhibition is free and the gallery is open and a welcome return of an audience to the in their lives. My hope is that the promise Tuesday-Saturday from 11am-5:30pm and beautiful Birr Theatre & Arts Centre for Pat of soul-feeding connection, gathering with Sunday from 2pm-5pm. Kinevane’s Before. friends, and experiences that inspire wonder, Emma adds, “The domes will also provide pleasure and debate, will draw people to Visit visualcarlow.ie to book tickets and see exciting outdoor staging for Bruno Caproni in-person events in numbers.” womaninthemachine.com & Julian Evans and The Far Flung Trio Visit mermaidartscentre.ie