DRUID, DINOSAUR JR, Après Match, Cúirt, Tom Murphy, Peter Green, and Mozart are among the many highlights in the Town Hall’s programme for the coming months, details of which have just been published.
A major highlight is the visit of B*spoke Theatre Co with Tom Murphy’s landmark 1975 play The Sanctuary Lamp in a superb new production directed by the author. Currently garnering rave reviews in London, the play comes to Galway from May 4 to 7 boasting a top-notch cast of Bosco Hogan, Kate Brennan, Declan Conlon, and Robert O’Mahony and equally top-notch design team of Monica Frawley (set ) and Ben Ormerod (lighting ).
While 2010 sees Cúirt celebrate its 25th birthday, it also witnesses Druid’s 35th birthday. Druid marks the occasion on May 21 and 22 with From Galway to Broadway and Back Again which features excerpts from many of the smash hit shows the company has enjoyed over the past four decades.
Barabbas team up with Carlow’s GB Theatre Co to bring Johnny Patterson the Singing Irish Clown on May 10 and 11. Featuring Galway’s own Littlejohn, this relates the remarkable life story of a 19th century Irish superstar.
Other highlights of the theatre programme include Michael Harding performing his self-penned The Tinker’s Curse (April 29 ), Robert Farquhar’s madcap soccer comedy God’s Official (April 26 and 27 ), and Garret Keogh’s Setanta Murphy (June 9 ), the touching and funny story of a relationship between an old man and his nephew.
Belfast’s Lyric Theatre also visit with their staging of Moliere’s classic comedy The Miser, on June 16 and 17. Perennial stalwart John B Keane is present in The Matchmaker (June 24 – 26 ) which teams up Glenroe duo Mick Lally and Mary McEvoy.
On the music front, the highlight may well be the visit of guitar-legend and Fleetwood Mac founder Peter Green on May 18. Then again it could be the appearance of indie rock darlings Dinosaur Jr on May 10 in the Black Box. There’s also Altan, celebrating their 25th anniversary, on June 4, the wonderful Cathy Davey promoting her new album on May 8, as are Lunasa on May 23. There’s sure to be plenty of demand for tickets for An Evening with Ronan Tynan on June 5.
Opera lovers can look forward to Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, in a new staging by Opera Theatre Company, which arrives on May 15, while swing/big band aficionados will relish Strictly The Rat Pack (May 27-29 ). With a full West End cast, and top class 14 piece band it includes much-loved hits like ‘Fly Me To The Moon’, ‘That Old Black Magic’, and ‘Strangers In the Night’.
Comedy buffs are well catered for also, with Après Match’s Possibly So tour arriving on April 30. With the World Cup around the corner Après Match are coming out of hibernation and play ball. All credit to Gary Cooke, Risteárd Cooper, and Barry Murphy for this new show featuring the sensational singing trio, renowned throughout Leitrim, The River Tenors.
Apart from the usual mix of weird and wonderful characters such as Bill, Eamon, Liam, John, Gary Lineker, Mark Lawrenson, George Hook, and Martin King, this show will also include new targets.
The above is just a sampling of the many acts/events featured in the new Town Hall programme. Further details can be gleaned at www.tht.ie Tickets for all the above are available from the Town Hall on 091 - 569777.
