Brian Friel drama on stage
Splódar Theatre Company presents its new production of acclaimed Irish dramatist Brian Friel’s play, The Home Place, at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Wednesday April 22 at 8pm. Friel’s award-winning drama probes the dilemma of a benevolent landlord as social and political forces close in around him. The author sets his play in 1878, the year of the assassination of Lord Leitrim, an event which marked the beginning of the end of landlords. Central to the plot is a beautiful love story which rivals that in Friel’s other masterpiece, Translations. The play is directed by Prin Duignan, and stars Mary Morris, Donna McDermot, Hugo Rooney, Hubert McMorrow, Roddy Quinn, Bernard McCartin, Michael Roper, Peter Davey, Tom Walsh, Deordre O’Meara, Fearghal Ryan, and drama newcomers Aoife Bonnichon, Bebhinn Flynn and Nuala Parkinson.
(NB: While Splódar is generally known for Irish language productions, this is an English-language version of The Home Place. )
Moby Dick live on the stage
The very wonderful Gare St Lazare Players bring their exciting new production of Moby Dick to the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Thursday May 7 at 8pm. One of Ireland's best known touring theatre companies presents a one-man show based on Herman Melville’s classic novel of revenge and obsession, the epic story of Captain Ahab and the great white whale Moby Dick as seen through the eyes of the young adventurer Ishmael. Performed by highly acclaimed actor Conor Lovett, directed by Judy Hegarty Lovett. If you’ve seen Gare St Lazare Productions before, you’ll know you’re in for a treat. If not, go and see how good one-man theatre can get. Gare St Lazare Players present Moby Dick at the Linenhall arts Centre on Thursday May 7 at 8pm. Booking advised. Tel: 094 9023733. Please note this show is not suitable for under 14s
Gary Robinson in the Linenhall
Continuing at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar for the month of April is In-between Lines and Circles, an exhibition of recent landscape paintings by Longford-based artist Gary Robinson. In Gary’s own words, “These new paintings are an attempt to simplify our already overflowing visual memory. I would like to involve the viewer in looking at landscapes, streetscapes and inscapes through portals and openings that can easily go un-noticed.” The attractive, textural results are both atmospheric and lyrical, and an engaging evocation of the rural landscape.
Cello fireworks at the Linenhall
There’s a chance to experience a truly original musical phenomenon when the unique talents of the Rastrelli Cello Quartet comes to the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Tuesday April 28 at 8pm as part of a nationwide Music Network tour. The cello has been described as the instrument that sounds closest to the human voice and it is with this unique attribute that the Rastrelli Cello Quartet weaves its magic as audiences are treated to a heady mix of classical, jazz and Latin-American music in a concert by this astonishing and hugely entertaining quartet.
Since meeting up in 2002, the quartet has released three CDs, and between them the four cellists - Kira Kraftzoff, Kirill Timofeev, Misha Degtiareff and Sergio Drabkine - have garnered an impressive collection of prizes and worked with such luminaries as Gidon Kremer, James Galway, and Yuri Bashmet. This dazzling combination of talents brings the repertoire of the cello into unknown and surprising waters. With pieces by Piazzolla, Sulchan Zinzadze, Billy Strayhorn, Alfred Schnittke, Jimmy Forrest and Modest Mussorgsky among others, the result has to be heard to be believed.
The Linenhall Gallery is open to the general public Monday-Friday from 10.00am-5.00pm; Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Admission to exhibitions is free. Further details from the Linenhall. Tel: 094 9023733 or check out www.thelinenhall.com
