High School Musical live on stage at the Royal Castlebar!

Fri, Dec 19, 2008

First the smash hit Disney Channel original movie, followed by the record-breaking soundtrack, and now Disney’s High School Musical spreads its magic across the country on its first ever tour. This spectacular stage production, complete with everyone’s favourite characters and all of the unforgettable songs from the movie, opened in January 2008 and has broken box office records wherever it has visited, delighting families in towns and cities across the UK and Ireland. The producers are delighted to announce that the tour will now continue in 2009, including a season from Tuesday January 20 to Saturday January 31 at the Royal Castlebar Theatre and Event Centre. The leading roles of Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez are played by Ashley Day (On The Town and Mary Poppins) and Claire-Marie Hall (Les Miserables and High School Musical, Hammersmith Apollo season) respectively. Ruling drama queen Sharpay and her faithful brother and sidekick Ryan will be played by Emma Kelly (Mamma Mia) and Lee Honey-Jones. This new stage adaptation of the Disney Channel original movie hit musical features a book by David Simpatico (adapted from the original movie script by Peter Barsocchini) and a score that contains all the songs from the original chart-topping soundtrack, including the UK hit singles “Breaking Free” and “We’re All In This Together” plus two new numbers. The production will be directed by Jeff Calhoun, whose credits include the award-winning Broadway revivals of Grease and Big River. The creative team in completed by choreographer Lisa Stevens, scenic designer Kenneth Foy, costume designer Wade Laboissonniere, lighting designer Ken Billington, sound designer Rick Clarke and music producer Bryan Louiselle.

St Patrick’s Drama Group present Them

Fri, Dec 19, 2008

St Patrick’s Drama Group will stage Tom Coffey’s Them in Scoil Padraig National Scoil, Altamount Street, Westport from Tuesday January 6 to Saturday January 10. This is a powerful production and certainly, an emotive one. This unique play demonstrates a sharp contrast between comedy and tragedy within its three acts. Them was first produced in 1963. It is set in 1960s Ireland, in a time when those with intellectual disabilities were seldom accepted as special people. Like the character of Johnsie in Tom Coffey’s play, who was an embarrassment and almost a nuisance to some, and simply misunderstood by others, these special people were not to be seen or spoken about.

The people of the town in which Johnsie lives do not understand him, the townspeople, who never appear in the play, are the titular Them. All the action of the play takes place in Brid Flaherty’s kitchen. Brid (Bronach Joyce) is a widow, the mother of four grown-up children, including the central character, Johnsie (Paul Dunning).

Christmas is coming at the Linenhall

Fri, Dec 19, 2008

Lucy Hill and Almha Roche exhibtion at the Linenhall

Get rid of the post-Christmas blues with the two of Ireland’s top comics

Fri, Dec 19, 2008

Saturday December 27 promises to be full to the brim of festive fun and frolics when Neil Delamere and Jason Byrne come to the Royal Castlebar Theatre and Event Centre. A double helping of comedy genius arrives in Castlebar and Christmas Craic ! is a show not to be missed. Neil Delamere is one of the top headline acts working in the Irish comedy scene today and is one of the biggest factors in the huge success of RTE television’s hit show The Panel. Having performed on five continents, he staged his debut solo show in the Edinburgh festival in 2004. His live stand-up set was then recorded for the BBC comedy series One Night Stand. Hailed by the Irish Independent for his countless MC skills, Neil is the regular compere at several gigs round Dublin. He has performed all over Ireland as well as at the prestigious Kilkenny Cat Laughs Festival, the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival and the Adelaide Fringe Festival. He featured in both series of the TV stand-up show Liffey Laughs. Neil also presented the RTE television series covering the Montreal festival for two years in a row as well as The World Stands Up for Paramount. Apart from being one of the stars of The Panel, alongside Andrew Maxwell and Colin Murphy, Neil is also a regular on The Blame Game, a topical TV show for the BBC. “No TV camera could accurately measure the lightning speed of Delamere’s wit” – The Irish Times.

Early new year show by John Spillane

Fri, Dec 19, 2008

The Royal Castlebar Theatre and Event Centre is delighted to announce that John Spillane is performing at the venue on Friday January 9. John Spillane is well known in the world of music and has received both national and international acclaim as a singer/songwriter. John is a native of Cork, the county he lovingly describes as “the centre of the universe” and it has been a huge influence on this modern-day troubadour. Vocally, Spillane is quite unique with an almost sean nós like element and has been described as having a voice “full of honesty, commitment and sensitivity”. Long established as a songwriter for Christy Moore, Sean Keane and Sharon Shannon, his 2002 album Will we be Brilliant or What? established John as a top-tier recording artist in his own right. This success of the album, which featured the magical track “The Dance of the Cherry Trees”, resulted in John winning the 2003 Meteor Ireland Music Award for Best Folk/Traditional Act, taking the award ahead of the Chieftains, Sinead O’Connor, Christy Moore, Kila and Altan. John managed to add to his awards tally when he won Meteor Award 2006 in the Best Folk/Irish Traditional Music category following his 2005 album Hey Dreamer. According to John “I wasn't able to get out the door of the house for about a month, with the swelled head like!”

Christmas Entertainment at The Half Cut Bar

Fri, Dec 19, 2008

The Half Cut Bar will be providing the best in Christmas fun and festivities this Christmas season. With live music and DJs playing throughout the holiday period the Half Cut Bar is the only place you need to be. Live music will be provided by Paddy Thomas, Psycho Sue with the Blues Brothers and Rory spinning the discs and keeping the festivities moving until late. It all kicks off tonight Friday December 19 with the Blues Brothers playing the best in festive favourites and your favourite music. Psycho Sue will be taking to the stage live on Sunday December 20, while at 7.30pm on Sunday December 20 Paddy Thomas will kick things off live in the Half Cut Bar followed up by the Blues Brothers.

On the night before Christmas Eve, the Blues Brothers will be back in charge of the music and the following day Santa will touch down before he heads off around the world between 3pm and 5pm, with the Blues Brothers ringing in the Christmas until closing time. Those musical legends the Blues Brothers will be back on December 26 right through to December 28 also appearing will be Stone Lake on December 27, with Paddy Thomas also taking to the stage for a Sunday evening set on December 28 between 7.30pm and 9.30pm. The Christmas fun will continue with Rory on December 30 and what better way to ring in the new year than with the Half Cut favourites the Blues Brothers on New Year’s Eve? Angela and Pat would like to thanks all their customers for their custom and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Michael Flatley to Lord it at the Royal Castlebar

Fri, Dec 12, 2008

One of the most colourful characters in the world of entertainment, Michael Flatley, is to visit the Royal Castlebar Theatre and Event Centre within the next couple of weeks. Unquestionably the most talented dancer of his generation, Michael is coming to Mayo to promote his Lord of the Dance show which starts at the Royal Castlebar on Saturday January 3. “I have heard great things about the venue in Castlebar and I know that I am going to be hugely impressed when I see the world-class new facility with my own eyes,” says Michael. “It’s a huge step forward for the people of Connacht as it means that elite shows and events such as ours can be brought to their doorstep. Prior to the opening of the new Royal Castlebar, it was just not an option for us to travel west of the Shannon.”

Bonnie Tyler live in Castlebar

Fri, Dec 12, 2008

One of the most distinctive voices in the world of music is coming to the Royal Theatre, Castlebar on Sunday December 21. Gaynor Hopkins was born in South Wales where her father worked in a coal mine and her mother shared her love for music with her family of four girls and two boys. Having tried out the stage name of Sherene Davies in the early stages of her career, the talented youngster eventually decided to call herself Bonnie Tyler.

While Bonnie first came to prominence when her single “Lost in France” became a top ten hit in 1976, many regard her collaborations with Meat Loaf producer Jim Steinman as her best work and this partnership resulted in “Total Eclipse of the Heart”. This instant classic spent four weeks at number one on the US Billboard charts and helped the LP Faster Than the Speed of Night sell over a million copies and debut at number one in the UK, where the title track also became a hit. Bonnie then recorded "Holding Out For a Hero" for the blockbuster Footloose soundtrack. A steady string of other hit singles such as “It's A Heartache" and "A Rockin' Good Way", a duet with her fellow Welsh national Shakin’ Stevens, have confirmed Bonnie as one of the most successful female recording artists in the world. Her live performances, therefore, are guaranteed to contain a catalogue of classic songs that very few artists can match. Tickets can be booked through www.royaltheatre.ie, www.ticketmaster.ie, any ticketmaster outlets nationwide or, for the price of a local call, the box office of the Royal Theatre, Castlebar at 0818 300000; this number is operational 24/7.

James Kilbane competition winners

Fri, Dec 12, 2008

The winners of the James Kilbane competition for a copy of his new Christmas CD were: Mary Ann Lynagh, Creevagh Road, Kilmaine Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo. Michael Maughan, Knockaskeehaun, Rathnamagh, Ballina, Co. Mayo. Mary McEveney, Snugboro, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. Rita Harran, 10 Larch Hill, Newpark, Swinford, Co Mayo. Maureen Melrey Maughan, Bofield, Attymass, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

Bothersome Man at Ballina Film Club

Fri, Dec 12, 2008

Ballina Film Club’s autumn/winter programme continues on Tuesday December 16 at 8pm, with The Bothersome Man in Ballina Arts Centre. Norwegian director Jens Lien's debut, The Bothersome Man is a surreal, idiosyncratic black comedy. When forty-year-old Andreas (Trond Fausa Aurvag) mysteriously arrives in a strange city, with no memory of how he arrived, it seems a perfect place to live. He is fitted out with an office at an accountancy firm, and a smart new apartment. The people are friendly; he even finds romance with the pretty Anne-Britt (Petronella Barker). But beneath the surface, there is something sinister. This clean, efficient, smiling town is entirely without human feeling. Dinner parties are strangely joyless affairs, where friends obsess over interior decor. Hot chocolate is bland. And anyway, where on earth is he? Soon, Andreas is determined to escape. Admission costs €7.

Excel 08 Youth Arts Programme draws to a close

Fri, Dec 12, 2008

This is the sixth year of Mayo County Council Arts Office Annual Youth Arts Programme - Excel. The programme runs throughout the month of November and is aimed at young adults and teenagers. Workshops and masterclasses were provided for groups already in the arts as well as open events for young people who wanted to try something new.

This year saw a jam-packed programme catering for all interests and took place in venues across Mayo. The programme started off in Ballyhaunis with artist Chris Leach; at this open event participants really used their imaginations and created a temporary art sculpture, which was photographed in the streets of Ballyhaunis. Other open events included a performing poetry reading with poet Tony Curtis which took place in Ballina and Louisburg. Animation workshops by the Galway Film Centre were run in Belmullet. At this workshop young artists unleashed their creative talents and made clay models and drawings, all participants got a DVD copy of their work. Belmullet also saw hip hop artist Jen Fleenor give an open workshop to an energetic group of young dancers. Up coming musicians attended Ballina Arts Centre for a music panel discussion with Jon Richards from Galway Bay FM, Steve Reddy from FMC and Shane Power from the Guggenheim Grotto band. Budding art students attended portfolio preparation talks in Castlebar given by Joe Wilson, NCAD, Alice Lyons, GMIT and Nuala Moloney, IT Sligo.

Sharon Shannon and guests a perfect post-Christmas treat

Fri, Dec 12, 2008

With a special late night show on December 27 this promises to be one the best reasons to stay up late this Christmas! Celebrated Irish trad musician Sharon Shannon is coming back to the Royal Theatre in December, this time with a host of exceptional musicians including Mundy, Dessie O'Halloran, Jon Kenny and the Richie Buckley Band. Notorious for their excellent live performances, Sharon and guests will showcase their latest material and, no doubt, countless old favourites.

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