Showing posts with label Fishamble. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fishamble. Show all posts

Friday, September 16, 2016

Kate Gilmore, 'The Wickedness of Oz': There's No Place Like Home

With Generation Emigration packing their bags, a young woman picks her battles at home. Photo: Clíona Ní Laoi.

Bewley's Cafe Theatre @ Powerscourt, Tiger Dublin Fringe
Sept 13-23

A quick review of The Wickedness of Oz by Kate Gilmore coming up just as soon as my mother reminds me to lay off the Malibu …

Margaret McAuliffe, ‘The Humours of Bandon’: Bonaparte’s Retreat

Margaret McAuliffe takes us behind the scenes of an Irish dancing championship in an excellent drama about adolescence.

Bewley's Cafe Theatre @ Powerscourt, Tiger Dublin Fringe
Sept 14-24

A quick review of The Humours of Bandon by Margaret McAuliffe coming up just as soon as I trust what you say about my costume …


Saturday, December 6, 2014

Fishamble, 'Underneath': On the Brink of Genius or Virtuosity?

Kinevane's poetic drama pursues ideas of beauty. It's a question of whether or not you'll appreciate its eclecticism. Photo: Patrick Redmond.


Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick City of Culture
December 5-6


My spoiler-free review of Underneath by Pat Kinevane coming up just as soon as I headbutt the Queen ...


Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Fishamble, 'Spinning': Modern Family

The truth of contemporary family life is on Deirdre Kinahan's mind. However, the line between rationality and irrationality feels problematised. 


Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin Theatre Festival
Oct 3-12


My review of Spinning by Deirdre Kinahan coming up after the jump ...


Friday, January 17, 2014

Bewley's Cafe Theatre, 'Happiness': Studies of Grief in Days of Milk and Honey

Irish writer Mary Lavin (1912-1996), compared to Virginia Woolf and Anton Chekov over her literary life, is adapted for the stage by Deirdre Kinahan.


Bewley's Cafe Theatre
Jan 15-Feb 8


My review of Happiness by Mary Lavin, adapted by Deirdre Kinahan, coming up just as soon as I find an in-between sugar ...

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Irish Theatre Top 10 of 2013

Lloyd Cooney tearing it up in No. 14 Henrietta Street during ANU Productions' marking of the 1913 Lockout centenary.


As per the year end ramble of making lists of the year's best in music, cinema and such, below I give what I think are the highlights of 2013 in Irish theatre.

Before I begin I'll disclaim that while my scope is very Dublin-centred I did travel and provide extensive coverage of both the Cork Midsummer Festival and Galway Arts Festival. My misgivings include failed trips to Limerick, to the Blue Raincoat productions in Sligo, the Beckett Happy Days Festival in Enniskillen, the City of Culture events in Derry, and to any of the theatres in Belfast. These aside, however, I'll argue that this still is a comprehensive list of the year's finest in Irish theatre.

This year I made the decision to drop out of college and begin writing to arts editors looking for a job (if any of you said editors are reading, expect more pesterings in your inbox).

This commitment has meant that I have reviewed 102 performances in 2013 whilst keeping up the day job. These were spread between the reviews here, for Irish Theatre Magazine, and some work that I do for the Arts Council. The most read reviews here on the blog were my reviews of King Lear and Living the Lockout, my counterpoint to Una Mullally's Irish Times article on the most creative people in Ireland, and my opinion piece reacting to the Limerick City of Culture programme

Choosing 10 out of 102 wasn't easy but here they are:


Friday, November 8, 2013

City of Culture to Increase Visitors to Limerick but is it Engaging with Theatre in its Locality?

Production image of Tom MacIntyre's What Happened Bridgie Cleary by Bottom Dog - one of several Limerick-based theatre companies who could benefit from inclusion in Limerick City of Culture


In July 2012 Jimmy Deenihan, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, introduced the National City of Culture initiative, wherein a designated city will host arts events all year round in hopes of increasing visitors to the locality as well having a long-term effect on the development of arts in the area.

Hosting duties were given to Limerick, a decision which couldn't have been more timely. It's been a difficult year for theatre companies in the city as the closing of the Belltable Arts Centre dealt a serious blow to the city's artistic infrastructure. When the government delivered the budget last month they announced €6m to go into Limerick for City of Culture. But from the reveal of the programme on Monday it was obvious that almost all of that money is going towards importing artists from outside the area. There's no doubt that the initiative will draw visitors to Limerick but it risks severely missing the opportunity to generate audiences and resources for the companies who will be working in the city after this ceremonial year is over.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Fishamble, 'Guaranteed!': A Boardroom of One's Own

Photo: Pat Redmond
Civic Theatre, Tallaght
Jul 1-2

My review of Guaranteed! by Colin Murphy coming up just as soon as I ask for another latte ...


Thursday, July 21, 2011

Fishamble, ‘Silent’: Valentino


Druid Lane Theatre, Galway Arts Festival
Jul 11-16


A few thoughts on Pat Kinevane’s Silent coming up just as soon as I paint my nails immaculate blue ...