And... we're back, and just in time for festival season. I've a good excuse for being busy recently: I've put my money where my mouth is and moved to Temple Bar. Despite the bad old image of the place some people still have, honestly, it's a wonderful area.
On the subject of Temple Bar, Wellington Quay's White Lady Art has an upcoming exhibition, 'Holy Smokes and Cereal Killers'. It opens on Friday 6th September and runs until 29th September (although the venue is closed on Mondays). White Lady Art does a great launch party, but even better is the vibrancy of the art - and the prices. It's nice to go to a launch and expect that not only might I want to buy something but that I won't feel ripped-off if I do.
The artist for this exhibition is known as MyTarPit - his blog is mytarpit.com. His style won't be to everyone's taste but I quite liked his cereal box works when I saw them previously.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Friday, July 26, 2013
Malahide Has it
The Malahide Has It festival returns this weekend, 27th-28th July with a good range of entertainment and family friendly events. Start the weekend off with a free tai chi class on the green at 10am on Saturday. There is a fun fair starting today and running all weekend on the beach. I quite fancy a go of the giant Connect Four and Giant Jenga on Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday, the local artists take over the railings of the tennis club to exhibit their works. Gibney's will have live music from 1400 - 2200.
Hope our summer weather returns!
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Be part of the Dublin Fringe Festival - 'Songs in the Key of D'
There are auditions starting on 29th July for singers for a new Dublin Fringe Festival show, Songs in the Key of D. The producers are particularly keen to get male singers.
More details are here. In summary: "The performance will explore musicians from Handel to Hansard and Lynott to Drew and will be a wonderful opportunity to be part of an exciting new choir. It’s open to anyone living in or around Dublin, whether you’re born in the city or not."
Although the show itself will be held in Smock Alley Theatre the venues for the auditions are:
1. Monday July 29th in UCD Student Centre, UCD Belfield from 6 - 8pm
2. Tuesday July 30th in axis: Ballymun, Dublin 9 from 6pm to 8pm
3. Saturday August 3rd in Fringe Lab, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 from 2 - 6pm
More details are here. In summary: "The performance will explore musicians from Handel to Hansard and Lynott to Drew and will be a wonderful opportunity to be part of an exciting new choir. It’s open to anyone living in or around Dublin, whether you’re born in the city or not."
Although the show itself will be held in Smock Alley Theatre the venues for the auditions are:
1. Monday July 29th in UCD Student Centre, UCD Belfield from 6 - 8pm
2. Tuesday July 30th in axis: Ballymun, Dublin 9 from 6pm to 8pm
3. Saturday August 3rd in Fringe Lab, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 from 2 - 6pm
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Free outdoor concert on 21st July
No doubt the Phoenix Park will be full of people this Sunday, but why not take the time to visit the bandstand at 1pm for a free concert? Details below.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
10 Days In Dublin
The 10 Days In Dublin festival starts today. Details are here, www.10daysindublin.com.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
The 1913 Lockout
In our decade of centenary events, the 1913 Dublin Lockout is next. An interesting commemorative event is planned throughout July and August.
The Dublin Tenement Experience lets visitors into number 14 Henrietta St to experience the tenements up close. This particular building is unchanged since 1913. Henrietta St, to my mind, is one of the most interesting streets in Dublin. It was built by 18th century property developer, Luke Gardiner, who lived at number 10. The street was then inhabited by wealthy merchants, business people and landed gentry. However, within a century, it had become a street of poverty. The 1911 cencus records vver 1000 people living on Henrietta St, with families living in one room or even sharing.
The tour runs 6 days a week and costs a modest €5.50. Booking can be made through their website. I hope to get along to it during July and report back.
If you're interested in knowing more about the Lockout, get yourself a copy of Strumpet City by James Plunkett, which is also, fittingly, this year's One City, One Book pick.
The Dublin Tenement Experience lets visitors into number 14 Henrietta St to experience the tenements up close. This particular building is unchanged since 1913. Henrietta St, to my mind, is one of the most interesting streets in Dublin. It was built by 18th century property developer, Luke Gardiner, who lived at number 10. The street was then inhabited by wealthy merchants, business people and landed gentry. However, within a century, it had become a street of poverty. The 1911 cencus records vver 1000 people living on Henrietta St, with families living in one room or even sharing.
The tour runs 6 days a week and costs a modest €5.50. Booking can be made through their website. I hope to get along to it during July and report back.
If you're interested in knowing more about the Lockout, get yourself a copy of Strumpet City by James Plunkett, which is also, fittingly, this year's One City, One Book pick.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
The Mousetrap
The Mousetrap is currently running at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre for a week. I saw it play tonight to a full house.
Facts:
World's longest continually running play.
This tour celebrates 60 years of it.
The audience is asked at the end of the play to never reveal whodunnit. Unusually, people adhere to this.
Agatha Christie gifted her grandson with the royalties of this play. He ended up being her only descendant, so he got the lot. Which must be a lot.
So since tradition prevents me from divulging too much, I will only say: it's funny, it's good, if you like Christie, you will like this.
Tickets start from €18. It finishes on Saturday.
Facts:
World's longest continually running play.
This tour celebrates 60 years of it.
The audience is asked at the end of the play to never reveal whodunnit. Unusually, people adhere to this.
Agatha Christie gifted her grandson with the royalties of this play. He ended up being her only descendant, so he got the lot. Which must be a lot.
So since tradition prevents me from divulging too much, I will only say: it's funny, it's good, if you like Christie, you will like this.
Tickets start from €18. It finishes on Saturday.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Review - Shush in the Abbey Theatre
The latest play on the Abbey stage is Shush, a comedy by Elaine Murphy about a girls' night in. It plays its stereotypes well instead of falling victim to them, and most importantly it's just damn funny. Shush is set in modern Dublin but avoids the temptation to bemoan the state of affairs.
A thoroughly enjoyable comedy with some terrific one-liners.
Rating: ****
Shush runs in the Abbey Theatre until 20th July 2013. Tickets cost from €13 to €40.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Dublin Hip-Hop
Hip-hop is not my thing, but I guess it's good to see Dubliners trying out musical styles that aren't just more of the same. Axis Ballymun have an event on Friday 21st featuring an artist called Lethal Dialect. No, I hadn't heard of him before either, but if you type "Lethal" into Youtube his name comes up ahead of "Lethal Weapon", so someone must like his material.
Details from Axis:
Axis presents “The Home Sessions: Lethal Dialect.” This one off gig will see Lethal Dialect performing vintage tracks coupled with unheard material from his brand new album 1988, currently being recorded at axis. This is a unique opportunity to catch never before heard Lethal Dialect tracks mixed with old favourites in an unplugged setting.
Event Details:
Date: Friday 21st June
Time: 9pm
Tickets €5
Address: axis, Main Street, Ballymun, Dublin 9
Telephone: 01 883 2100
Website: http://axis-ballymun.ie/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/axisballymun
Twitter: @axisBallymun
Details from Axis:
Axis presents “The Home Sessions: Lethal Dialect.” This one off gig will see Lethal Dialect performing vintage tracks coupled with unheard material from his brand new album 1988, currently being recorded at axis. This is a unique opportunity to catch never before heard Lethal Dialect tracks mixed with old favourites in an unplugged setting.
Event Details:
Date: Friday 21st June
Time: 9pm
Tickets €5
Address: axis, Main Street, Ballymun, Dublin 9
Telephone: 01 883 2100
Website: http://axis-ballymun.ie/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/axisballymun
Twitter: @axisBallymun
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Abigail's Party
I was at the opening night of Abigail's Party in the Gaiety last night.
The play was written by Mike Leigh and the original 1977 production starred his then wife, Alison Steadman (of later fame as Mrs Bennet in the superlative 1995 BBC Pride & Prejudice) in the main role of Beverly. This current production retains the original setting and comes to us after a successful run in the West End.
The drama takes places over the course of an evening's gathering at Beverly and Laurence's home, with new neighbours, Tony and Angela, and old neighbour, Sue. A lot of the comedy comes from their accents, mannerisms and physicality, while the conversation revolves around intensely mundane topics, while the characters get drunker and drunker. Hannah Waterman, on stage for almost the entire play, deserves praise for her performance as Beverly, as does Samuel James for his ability to say so much with very short dialogue as Tony.
I particularly liked the set - a symphony of browns and oranges as befits the late 1970s setting. It was very reminiscent of my childhood but I did wonder if this setting, and the things I found amusing in it, were originally meant to be funny. When the play was first performed, it would have been a perfectly normal suburban setting. Things like Beverly sticking a bottle of beaujolais in the fridge is funny now but would it have been then? For me the best part was a dance sequence, about which not much can be said without giving the game away.
As the play progresses, the tone of it makes the final act drama seem very sudden and melodramatic, while still providing the laughs.
It runs for just one week and, though I'm still hearing ads, I've also heard of problems getting tickets. These short runs (another coming next week to the Gaiety) don't leave much time for word of mouth and organising tickets. Would a two-week run work better?
The play was written by Mike Leigh and the original 1977 production starred his then wife, Alison Steadman (of later fame as Mrs Bennet in the superlative 1995 BBC Pride & Prejudice) in the main role of Beverly. This current production retains the original setting and comes to us after a successful run in the West End.
The drama takes places over the course of an evening's gathering at Beverly and Laurence's home, with new neighbours, Tony and Angela, and old neighbour, Sue. A lot of the comedy comes from their accents, mannerisms and physicality, while the conversation revolves around intensely mundane topics, while the characters get drunker and drunker. Hannah Waterman, on stage for almost the entire play, deserves praise for her performance as Beverly, as does Samuel James for his ability to say so much with very short dialogue as Tony.
I particularly liked the set - a symphony of browns and oranges as befits the late 1970s setting. It was very reminiscent of my childhood but I did wonder if this setting, and the things I found amusing in it, were originally meant to be funny. When the play was first performed, it would have been a perfectly normal suburban setting. Things like Beverly sticking a bottle of beaujolais in the fridge is funny now but would it have been then? For me the best part was a dance sequence, about which not much can be said without giving the game away.
As the play progresses, the tone of it makes the final act drama seem very sudden and melodramatic, while still providing the laughs.
It runs for just one week and, though I'm still hearing ads, I've also heard of problems getting tickets. These short runs (another coming next week to the Gaiety) don't leave much time for word of mouth and organising tickets. Would a two-week run work better?
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