Roscommon Arts Centre has just launched its autumn/winter programme and it certainly does not disappoint! With the new building now open, patrons can look forward to an extended programme of events that includes a host of classes in the new workshop space.
From Beat Buddy Babies weekly music sessions for very little ones to sean nós dancing after school with the brilliantly talented All-Ireland champion dancer Eimear Mulvey and not forgetting our Songbirds and Elderberries classes for older people, Roscommon Arts Centre has something lined up for all ages.
For those working, there are also evening classes as Julie Sharkey returns with another season of Adult Acting Classes and we dip our tow into the world of musical theatre with new classes for both adults and children this October using “The Greatest Showman” for inspiration.
The new gallery space continues to feature work by Roscommon artists as the WAR exhibition continues into October. Xnthony makes a welcome return to the centre with his exhibition 'Very Famous Art to Colour In' and Susan Mannion, who was awarded the Roscommon Visual Artists Forum accolade brings the visual art programme for 2019 to a close with her exhibition 'Water Memory' which opens at the end of November.
In September, there is a celebration of Roscommon writers (Heartland Writers ) with an afternoon of workshops and a Literary Miscellany featuring Jane Clarke, Brian Leyden and Michael O’Dea. To be expected, there is an abundance of performances that promise great nights of entertainment, including the return of the Roscommon Drama Group, the students from the Roscommon Community College and the Acorn Players The Lollipops Children’s Festival pops up in October and with Jon Kenny, Conal Gallen and some of the stars of Fair City and The Young Offenders en route to Roscommon, it promises to be a busy season.
Music highlights include the return of Slow Moving Clouds, the band who performed live on stage as part of Teach Damhsa’s enchanting 'Swan Lake' production, 'Gentle on my Mind' - the Glen Campbell Story, an evening with Finghin Collins, The Dublin Gospel Choir and the renowned Altan.
The theatre programme for the season includes two antarctic expeditions as Tom Crean: Antartic Explorer and Blue Raincoat’s Shackleton both grace the stage, while comedian Katherine Lynch joins Young Offenders star Shane Casey on stage in Madhouse. Fregoli Theatre Company who have been in residence at the centre over the summer months, will share a new work in progress I Salute Magpies with audiences this September, before returning later in the season with their full-scale shows The Fregoli Heart Project.
December’s programme is decidedly festive with everything from Santa Babies to Lygo Theatre’s Heart of Winter for young audiences and Xnthony’s Xmas show, packed full of shenanigans.
Details of all performances, workshops and visual art events are contained in the new autumn/winter brochure which is now in circulation, so if you haven’t yet picked up your season brochure, don’t delay and do so today! Programme details and booking for most events can also be found at: www.roscommonartscentre.ie and at the box office on 0906 625824.
