February
March
April
Film Club
LA BOHEME
Tuesday 2 February Dir: Robert Dornhelm Cert: G
Starring: Anna Netrebko, Rolando Villazón, Nicole Cabell, Boaz Daniel, Stéphane Degout, Ioan Holender
Language: Italian This new cinematic version of Giacomo Puccini’s immortal opera is directed by Academy Award nominee Robert Dornhelm and stars the opera world’s dream team, soprano Anna Netrebko and tenor Rolando Villazon. It is Paris in the 1830s, and four friends share a drafty Parisian garret. It is Christmas eve, and they decide to celebrate in their favourite bar, the Café Momus. Rodolfo, a writer, stays behind to finish an article. There is a knock at the door and their neighbour Mimi, whose candle has gone out, asks for help. There is an instant attraction, and the two quickly fall in love. The light-hearted mood of Rodolfo and Mimi’s first days together does not last, however, for Mimi develops a fatal illness. Though they agree to stay together, Mimi leaves her lover. Only when she is desperately ill and dying does she return to the garret where she was once so happy, and to Rodolfo, the man she still loves with all her heart….
€7/5/3 8pm
Tuesday 2 February Dir: Robert Dornhelm Cert: G
Starring: Anna Netrebko, Rolando Villazón, Nicole Cabell, Boaz Daniel, Stéphane Degout, Ioan Holender
Language: Italian This new cinematic version of Giacomo Puccini’s immortal opera is directed by Academy Award nominee Robert Dornhelm and stars the opera world’s dream team, soprano Anna Netrebko and tenor Rolando Villazon. It is Paris in the 1830s, and four friends share a drafty Parisian garret. It is Christmas eve, and they decide to celebrate in their favourite bar, the Café Momus. Rodolfo, a writer, stays behind to finish an article. There is a knock at the door and their neighbour Mimi, whose candle has gone out, asks for help. There is an instant attraction, and the two quickly fall in love. The light-hearted mood of Rodolfo and Mimi’s first days together does not last, however, for Mimi develops a fatal illness. Though they agree to stay together, Mimi leaves her lover. Only when she is desperately ill and dying does she return to the garret where she was once so happy, and to Rodolfo, the man she still loves with all her heart….
€7/5/3 8pm
EDUARDO NIEBLA in concert
Spanish guitar & composer
with guitar accompaniment
Thursday 4 February 'Niebla is the king of Latin guitar, a world-class virtuoso.' Time Out
Hailed as one of the world's great guitarists, Eduardo Niebla returns to Birr with his internationally acclaimed guitar duo to present 'poignantly poetic... and truly breathtaking' (Scotsman) flamenco gypsy jazz from his new album. Inspired by tours to India and Jordan, Eduardo’s stunning compositions are interwoven with a myriad of Eastern colours and his passionate flamenco roots. In an acclaimed 30 year career Eduardo has worked with many top artists including Nishat Khan (sitar), Lol Coxhill (sax), George Michael & Craig David. He has written music for festivals, films and plays, including for the BBC, and recently wrote the music for the Yorkshire Planetarium with poet Ian McMillan. Niebla was in Birr over two years ago and we’re very excited about is return and look forward to a spellbinding evening of passion, verve and fleet fingered virtuosity from one of the most potent forces in flamenco jazz fusion. “A formidable guitarist and master of today’s generation… hugely enjoyable… experimental…with many stunning moments. Unbelievably invigorating.” (SONGLINES)
€16/14 (Friends: €14) 8pm
BUY NOW
with guitar accompaniment
Thursday 4 February 'Niebla is the king of Latin guitar, a world-class virtuoso.' Time Out
Hailed as one of the world's great guitarists, Eduardo Niebla returns to Birr with his internationally acclaimed guitar duo to present 'poignantly poetic... and truly breathtaking' (Scotsman) flamenco gypsy jazz from his new album. Inspired by tours to India and Jordan, Eduardo’s stunning compositions are interwoven with a myriad of Eastern colours and his passionate flamenco roots. In an acclaimed 30 year career Eduardo has worked with many top artists including Nishat Khan (sitar), Lol Coxhill (sax), George Michael & Craig David. He has written music for festivals, films and plays, including for the BBC, and recently wrote the music for the Yorkshire Planetarium with poet Ian McMillan. Niebla was in Birr over two years ago and we’re very excited about is return and look forward to a spellbinding evening of passion, verve and fleet fingered virtuosity from one of the most potent forces in flamenco jazz fusion. “A formidable guitarist and master of today’s generation… hugely enjoyable… experimental…with many stunning moments. Unbelievably invigorating.” (SONGLINES)
€16/14 (Friends: €14) 8pm
BUY NOW
Film Club
SLEEP FURIOUSLY
Tuesday 9 February Dir: Giddeon Koppel UK Cert: CLUB
Language: English, Welsh Set in a small farming community in mid Wales, a place where Koppel's parents - both refugees - found a home. This is a landscape and population that is changing rapidly as small scale agriculture is disappearing and the generation who inhabited a pre-mechanised world is dying out. Much influenced by his conversations with the writer Peter Handke, the film maker leads us on a poetic and profound journey into a world of endings and beginnings; a world of stuffed owls, sheep and fire. It is Koppel's remarkable achievement to present the community of Trefeurig in such a straightforward manner, without heroics of spurious, piled-on 'emotion', while avoiding the usual clichés - eg Welsh people being 'natural singers' - and although he pays obeisance to Under Milk Wood, his film is less indulgent, and far less self-indulgent, than Dylan Thomas' play.
€7/5/3 8pm
Tuesday 9 February Dir: Giddeon Koppel UK Cert: CLUB
Language: English, Welsh Set in a small farming community in mid Wales, a place where Koppel's parents - both refugees - found a home. This is a landscape and population that is changing rapidly as small scale agriculture is disappearing and the generation who inhabited a pre-mechanised world is dying out. Much influenced by his conversations with the writer Peter Handke, the film maker leads us on a poetic and profound journey into a world of endings and beginnings; a world of stuffed owls, sheep and fire. It is Koppel's remarkable achievement to present the community of Trefeurig in such a straightforward manner, without heroics of spurious, piled-on 'emotion', while avoiding the usual clichés - eg Welsh people being 'natural singers' - and although he pays obeisance to Under Milk Wood, his film is less indulgent, and far less self-indulgent, than Dylan Thomas' play.
€7/5/3 8pm
Silver Screen
THE APARTMENT
Thursday 11 February Dir: Billy Wilder 1960 Cert: PG
Starring: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred McMurray A welcome opportunity to revisit Billy Wilder's 1960 classic. Jack Lemmon is the put-upon junior exec in a Manhattan insurance company, who has a shaming secret: he sycophantically tries to butter up his bosses by loaning out his apartment to them for their extra-marital liaisons. Then he realises that one boss is using the pad to have his way with pretty elevator operator Fran, played by Shirley MacLaine, on whom he has a desperate crush. Seen again, what is striking about the movie isn't the romance, or even the comedy, but the shabbiness, pettiness and nastiness of the office politics. The popularity of TV's Mad Men, and the revival of interest in Richard Yates's 1961 novel Revolutionary Road – recently filmed by Sam Mendes - means that The Apartment's dyspeptic view is more current than ever. - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
€5 (Friends and Film Club Members: €3) 3pm
Thursday 11 February Dir: Billy Wilder 1960 Cert: PG
Starring: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred McMurray A welcome opportunity to revisit Billy Wilder's 1960 classic. Jack Lemmon is the put-upon junior exec in a Manhattan insurance company, who has a shaming secret: he sycophantically tries to butter up his bosses by loaning out his apartment to them for their extra-marital liaisons. Then he realises that one boss is using the pad to have his way with pretty elevator operator Fran, played by Shirley MacLaine, on whom he has a desperate crush. Seen again, what is striking about the movie isn't the romance, or even the comedy, but the shabbiness, pettiness and nastiness of the office politics. The popularity of TV's Mad Men, and the revival of interest in Richard Yates's 1961 novel Revolutionary Road – recently filmed by Sam Mendes - means that The Apartment's dyspeptic view is more current than ever. - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
€5 (Friends and Film Club Members: €3) 3pm
Portumna Players
THE MAI
written by Marina Carr
directed by Marian Frawley
Saturday 13 February The play deals with the ups and downs of one family who live in the midlands and the West of Ireland. It spans 4 generations and relives their lives over two summers. The conversations and stories of seven women, the history of a family and their broken and cruel love is remembered, recounted and re-lived by The Mai's eldest daughter Millie, who fuses past and present, history and lore, into a story as intimate, unique, disturbing, affectionate and recognisable as all family stories. The matriarch of the family is the 100 year old Grandma Friachalan, whose obsession with the “five fingered fisherman” left an indelible mark on her off spring.
€12/10 8pm
written by Marina Carr
directed by Marian Frawley
Saturday 13 February The play deals with the ups and downs of one family who live in the midlands and the West of Ireland. It spans 4 generations and relives their lives over two summers. The conversations and stories of seven women, the history of a family and their broken and cruel love is remembered, recounted and re-lived by The Mai's eldest daughter Millie, who fuses past and present, history and lore, into a story as intimate, unique, disturbing, affectionate and recognisable as all family stories. The matriarch of the family is the 100 year old Grandma Friachalan, whose obsession with the “five fingered fisherman” left an indelible mark on her off spring.
€12/10 8pm
Film Club
CLOUD 9
(Wolke Neun)
Tuesday 16 February Dir: Andreas Dresen Cert: CLUB
Starring: Ursula Werner, Horst Rehberg, Horst Westphal, Steffi Kühnert
Language: German Love hurts - even when you’re over sixty. That’s the message of German indie director Andreas Dresen’s tough new drama, which follows with stark handheld directness the confusion, joy and suffering of apparently happy-married Inge, a woman in her mid-sixties who begins an affair with an older man. The camera does not shy away even when things get steamy, but this film draws its strength from its tight dramatic focus rather than any shock value. The action kicks in quickly: within the first two minutes, home-based seamstress Inge is making out on the couch with Karl (Westphal), a gentlemanly 76-year-old whose trousers she has altered. It’s only later that we realise Inge has a husband - gruff-but-decent Werner (Rehlberg), also in his sixties, who likes to watch videos about diesel engines in the evenings. The catch is that Inge is still attached to her sprightly, still virile husband of thirty years, and leaving him for another man is not going to be easy. Winner - Un Certain Regard / Jury Coup de Coeur Award, Cannes Film Festival 2008
€7/5/3 8pm
(Wolke Neun)
Tuesday 16 February Dir: Andreas Dresen Cert: CLUB
Starring: Ursula Werner, Horst Rehberg, Horst Westphal, Steffi Kühnert
Language: German Love hurts - even when you’re over sixty. That’s the message of German indie director Andreas Dresen’s tough new drama, which follows with stark handheld directness the confusion, joy and suffering of apparently happy-married Inge, a woman in her mid-sixties who begins an affair with an older man. The camera does not shy away even when things get steamy, but this film draws its strength from its tight dramatic focus rather than any shock value. The action kicks in quickly: within the first two minutes, home-based seamstress Inge is making out on the couch with Karl (Westphal), a gentlemanly 76-year-old whose trousers she has altered. It’s only later that we realise Inge has a husband - gruff-but-decent Werner (Rehlberg), also in his sixties, who likes to watch videos about diesel engines in the evenings. The catch is that Inge is still attached to her sprightly, still virile husband of thirty years, and leaving him for another man is not going to be easy. Winner - Un Certain Regard / Jury Coup de Coeur Award, Cannes Film Festival 2008
€7/5/3 8pm
IN MEMORY OF 'THE REV'
Thursday 18 February
An event to suit every person, from metalers to chart lovers, there’s a band to suit you. Held in one of the best venues in the midlands, it is sure to be a memorable night. From the pop/rock style of Reef Stained to the metal of Strichnine and Dead Label, this is sure to be a fantastic show of local talent. At just €10 entry, it’s not a night to be missed. A night also in memory of one of the greatest metal drummers of all time: Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan.
Bands Line up: Fine White Line,Remission,Army Rising, Slaves to Ares,Strichnine, Dead Label, Reef Stained
€10 7pm
Bands Line up: Fine White Line,Remission,Army Rising, Slaves to Ares,Strichnine, Dead Label, Reef Stained
€10 7pm
THE TINKERS CURSE
One Man Play performed by Michael Harding Friday 19 February A Traveller's soul laid bare in a glorious, hauntingtale Sunday Independent
Nominated best play of the year at Irish Theatre Awards 2007.
One man’s story-One man’s life-One Man’s Broken Heart- At the top of Croagh Patrick The Tinker’s Curse is a play of laughter and joy, a show brimming with fun and rich imaginative language, as Mikey reveals the sequence of tragic events that leads to his own ultimate destruction. After the success of The Tinkers Curse in 2007, award winning actor and Irish Times columnist Michael Harding is back on the road with a moving story about a travelling man who climbs Croagh Patrick to find peace of mind.
This is a heart-searing, heart-searching piece of work, provoking tears and haunting the soul. Harding's performance is nothing short of glorious -- a piece of sustained dramatic economy that is performance art of soaring, incandescent strength. Every gesture tells, every step is measured, every pause significant, every subtle change of tone adding to a threnody for a dying soul.
Emer O Kelly. Sunday Independent
€16/14 (Friends: €14) 8pm
BUY NOW
One Man Play performed by Michael Harding Friday 19 February A Traveller's soul laid bare in a glorious, hauntingtale Sunday Independent
Nominated best play of the year at Irish Theatre Awards 2007.
One man’s story-One man’s life-One Man’s Broken Heart- At the top of Croagh Patrick The Tinker’s Curse is a play of laughter and joy, a show brimming with fun and rich imaginative language, as Mikey reveals the sequence of tragic events that leads to his own ultimate destruction. After the success of The Tinkers Curse in 2007, award winning actor and Irish Times columnist Michael Harding is back on the road with a moving story about a travelling man who climbs Croagh Patrick to find peace of mind.
This is a heart-searing, heart-searching piece of work, provoking tears and haunting the soul. Harding's performance is nothing short of glorious -- a piece of sustained dramatic economy that is performance art of soaring, incandescent strength. Every gesture tells, every step is measured, every pause significant, every subtle change of tone adding to a threnody for a dying soul.
Emer O Kelly. Sunday Independent
€16/14 (Friends: €14) 8pm
BUY NOW
MOORE'S MELODIES
with Dean Power, Aoife O'Sullivan and Katy Kelly
accompanied by Una Hunt Saturday 20 February In celebration of 200 years of Moore's world-famous songs, the Thomas Moore Festival is delighted to present concert performances of Moore's Irish Melodies. Beautifully interpreted by a trio of Ireland's finest young vocalists, the performance includes favourites such as The Minstrel Boy, The Meeting of the Waters and, of course, The Last Rose of Summer, with piano accompaniment by one of Ireland’s leading pianists, Una Hunt. The Thomas Moore Festival will present Moore's Irish Melodies at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall (New York) and in Washington, in March 2010 along with a performance at the National Concert Hall on 8 February 2010 but we here at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre look forward to welcoming this Festival to our doorstep first.
€16/14 (Friends: €14) 8pm
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with Dean Power, Aoife O'Sullivan and Katy Kelly
accompanied by Una Hunt Saturday 20 February In celebration of 200 years of Moore's world-famous songs, the Thomas Moore Festival is delighted to present concert performances of Moore's Irish Melodies. Beautifully interpreted by a trio of Ireland's finest young vocalists, the performance includes favourites such as The Minstrel Boy, The Meeting of the Waters and, of course, The Last Rose of Summer, with piano accompaniment by one of Ireland’s leading pianists, Una Hunt. The Thomas Moore Festival will present Moore's Irish Melodies at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall (New York) and in Washington, in March 2010 along with a performance at the National Concert Hall on 8 February 2010 but we here at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre look forward to welcoming this Festival to our doorstep first.
€16/14 (Friends: €14) 8pm
BUY NOW
Film Club
EVERLASTING MOMENTS
(Maria Larssons eviga ögonblick) Tuesday 23 February Dir: Jan Troell Cert: 15A
Starring: Maria Heiskanen, Mikael Persbrandt, Jesper Christensen, Callin Ohrvall
Language: Swedish Discreet, old fashioned, traditional and altogether admirable, this is Jan Troell in what he does best, a period drama about a woman photographer living in Sweden at the turn of the last century. Paying minute attention to the smallest details, taking its time but never appearing to drag its feet, immensely sympathetic to its heroes and villains alike, this is an intimate family portrait and at the same time a rich canvass of working class life at that particular time. Told in a precise, authoritative manner, the dense fabric of the plot and all its various ingredients are put together in an exemplarily clear narrative, accompanied by a spectacularly homogenous visual style. Heiskanen's Maria is a striking character, a small, determined, courageous woman, who dares her husband and her fate, fiercely defends her brood and almost gives up her natural talent for images, only for their benefit. Sigfrid, as played by Persbrandt, is a cheerful brute who has trouble controlling either his thirst or his temper. The two, pitted against each other, are the driving force behind a plot which, despite its considerable length, never overstays its welcome: Screen International
€7/5/3 8pm
(Maria Larssons eviga ögonblick) Tuesday 23 February Dir: Jan Troell Cert: 15A
Starring: Maria Heiskanen, Mikael Persbrandt, Jesper Christensen, Callin Ohrvall
Language: Swedish Discreet, old fashioned, traditional and altogether admirable, this is Jan Troell in what he does best, a period drama about a woman photographer living in Sweden at the turn of the last century. Paying minute attention to the smallest details, taking its time but never appearing to drag its feet, immensely sympathetic to its heroes and villains alike, this is an intimate family portrait and at the same time a rich canvass of working class life at that particular time. Told in a precise, authoritative manner, the dense fabric of the plot and all its various ingredients are put together in an exemplarily clear narrative, accompanied by a spectacularly homogenous visual style. Heiskanen's Maria is a striking character, a small, determined, courageous woman, who dares her husband and her fate, fiercely defends her brood and almost gives up her natural talent for images, only for their benefit. Sigfrid, as played by Persbrandt, is a cheerful brute who has trouble controlling either his thirst or his temper. The two, pitted against each other, are the driving force behind a plot which, despite its considerable length, never overstays its welcome: Screen International
€7/5/3 8pm
NEIL DELAMERE
Saturday 27 February Seeing your photograph (along with those of 2 Ireland Rugby players, a national broadcaster and an elite athlete) on your university bookmark is food for thought. But this is what happened to our intrepid comedian, Neil Delamere. Best known as the star of RTE’s The Panel and BBC’s Blame Game, Irish comedian Neil Delamere debuts his new show Bookmarks. Trinity College has Oscar Wilde, Dublin City University has Neil Delamere. Hmmm. It was a sign. Life is just a series of bookmarks – the events that highlight how far we’ve come and how far we’ve left to go. They could be anything, weddings, funerals, charges being dropped even facing your fears (don’t). Neil considers these markers as well as how his photo appeared on the bookmark in the first place. Time to explore. Oh yeah, we also get to find out how long Neil will live!
€20/18 (Friends: €18) 8pm
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Saturday 27 February Seeing your photograph (along with those of 2 Ireland Rugby players, a national broadcaster and an elite athlete) on your university bookmark is food for thought. But this is what happened to our intrepid comedian, Neil Delamere. Best known as the star of RTE’s The Panel and BBC’s Blame Game, Irish comedian Neil Delamere debuts his new show Bookmarks. Trinity College has Oscar Wilde, Dublin City University has Neil Delamere. Hmmm. It was a sign. Life is just a series of bookmarks – the events that highlight how far we’ve come and how far we’ve left to go. They could be anything, weddings, funerals, charges being dropped even facing your fears (don’t). Neil considers these markers as well as how his photo appeared on the bookmark in the first place. Time to explore. Oh yeah, we also get to find out how long Neil will live!
€20/18 (Friends: €18) 8pm
BUY NOW
Film Club
THE BLACK BALLOON
Tuesday 2 March Dir: Elissa Down Cert: CLUB
Starring: Rhys Wakefield, Luke Ford, Toni Colette
Language: English Thomas is about to turn sixteen and start yet another new school but his problems are a little more complex than just being the new boy. His older brother Charlie is autistic and suffers from ADHD, so Thomas is often forced to be more keeper than playmate to him. And with their Mother under doctor’s orders to rest in her final months of pregnancy, Thomas’ responsibilities to look after his brother are only increasing. So often films featuring characters with learning disabilities are either over -sentimental or overly tragic but here, there is an irrepressible joy for this family, who just get on with life. Charlie’s physical strength and wilful determination are both challenging and potentially threatening (scenes between Charlie and Thomas’ girlfriend are deliberately tense) but this is essentially a hopeful and optimistic story where love and kindness can tame, or at least restrain. - Edinburgh Film Festival 2008
€7/5/3 8pm
Tuesday 2 March Dir: Elissa Down Cert: CLUB
Starring: Rhys Wakefield, Luke Ford, Toni Colette
Language: English Thomas is about to turn sixteen and start yet another new school but his problems are a little more complex than just being the new boy. His older brother Charlie is autistic and suffers from ADHD, so Thomas is often forced to be more keeper than playmate to him. And with their Mother under doctor’s orders to rest in her final months of pregnancy, Thomas’ responsibilities to look after his brother are only increasing. So often films featuring characters with learning disabilities are either over -sentimental or overly tragic but here, there is an irrepressible joy for this family, who just get on with life. Charlie’s physical strength and wilful determination are both challenging and potentially threatening (scenes between Charlie and Thomas’ girlfriend are deliberately tense) but this is essentially a hopeful and optimistic story where love and kindness can tame, or at least restrain. - Edinburgh Film Festival 2008
€7/5/3 8pm
Silver Screen
LAST CHANCE HARVEY
Thursday 4 March Dir: Joel Hopkins Cert: 12A
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Eileen Atkins, Kathy Baker, James Brolin Dustin Hoffman is failing music-jingle writer Harvey Shine, who's in London for the wedding of his estranged daughter (Liane Balaban) and couldn't be more transparently unhappy with himself. It's in the way he moves, the way he makes us cringe. When he encounters his ex-wife (Kathy Baker), her husband (James Brolin) and the rest of their extended clan, he and the audience realize what an outsider to real life Harvey has become. His path crosses that of Kate Walker (Emma Thompson), unmarried, her life becoming that of a spinster, set up by friends on blind dates leading nowhere. After Harvey's terrible day, he chats Kate up at a Heathrow bar. She's not interested. Where can this conversation lead?
€5 (Friends and Film Club Members: €3) 3pm
Thursday 4 March Dir: Joel Hopkins Cert: 12A
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Eileen Atkins, Kathy Baker, James Brolin Dustin Hoffman is failing music-jingle writer Harvey Shine, who's in London for the wedding of his estranged daughter (Liane Balaban) and couldn't be more transparently unhappy with himself. It's in the way he moves, the way he makes us cringe. When he encounters his ex-wife (Kathy Baker), her husband (James Brolin) and the rest of their extended clan, he and the audience realize what an outsider to real life Harvey has become. His path crosses that of Kate Walker (Emma Thompson), unmarried, her life becoming that of a spinster, set up by friends on blind dates leading nowhere. After Harvey's terrible day, he chats Kate up at a Heathrow bar. She's not interested. Where can this conversation lead?
€5 (Friends and Film Club Members: €3) 3pm
THE HIGH KINGS
Friday 5 March The High Kings, are hitting the road again to bring a new live show to Irish audiences. The last 2 years have seen The High Kings achieve platinum status with their Debut CD and DVD, complete 2 sell out tours in Ireland as well as racking up numerous TV appearances. Their highest accolade yet came as they were voted Best Newcomer and Best Folk Act at Irelands Music Awards, sharing nominations with accomplished Irish acts, such as the Wolfe Tones and Dubliners In this new show, The High Kings are showcasing their incredible versatility and skills as multi-instrumentalists, bringing a rousing acoustic flavour to well-loved Folk songs . This new show will feature songs from their highly anticipated new album. This is a chance to see The High Kings up close and personal, as they continue to live up to their reputation as a phenomenal live band, serving up laughter, good times and even the odd sing along.
€25 (friends: priority) 8pm
BUY NOW
Friday 5 March The High Kings, are hitting the road again to bring a new live show to Irish audiences. The last 2 years have seen The High Kings achieve platinum status with their Debut CD and DVD, complete 2 sell out tours in Ireland as well as racking up numerous TV appearances. Their highest accolade yet came as they were voted Best Newcomer and Best Folk Act at Irelands Music Awards, sharing nominations with accomplished Irish acts, such as the Wolfe Tones and Dubliners In this new show, The High Kings are showcasing their incredible versatility and skills as multi-instrumentalists, bringing a rousing acoustic flavour to well-loved Folk songs . This new show will feature songs from their highly anticipated new album. This is a chance to see The High Kings up close and personal, as they continue to live up to their reputation as a phenomenal live band, serving up laughter, good times and even the odd sing along.
€25 (friends: priority) 8pm
BUY NOW
Open Door Drama Group
SIVE
Saturday 6 March This is a story of greed, sex and bitterness, of a scheming matchmaker and a resentful woman forcing a beautiful young girl to marry an old man for money. Sive is a young and beautiful orphan who lives with her uncle Mike, his wife Mena and his mother Nanna. A local matchmaker, Thomasheen Sean Rua, wants Sive to marry an old man called Sean Dota. Thomasheen convinces Mike and Mena to organise the marriage. They will receive a sum of two hundred pounds as soon as she marries him. However, Sive is in love with a young man, Liam Scuab. But Liam is not suitable and is refused permission to marry Sive. Sive is distraught but is forced to do the will of her uncle and his bitter wife. Faced with an unthinkable future she takes the only choice left to her. Set against the harsh poverty and difficult times of 1950s Ireland, "Sive" caused considerable controversy on its debut in February 1959. Since then it has become an established part of Ireland's theatrical canon.
€12/10 (student group rates available) (Friends: €10) 8pm
BUY NOW
Saturday 6 March This is a story of greed, sex and bitterness, of a scheming matchmaker and a resentful woman forcing a beautiful young girl to marry an old man for money. Sive is a young and beautiful orphan who lives with her uncle Mike, his wife Mena and his mother Nanna. A local matchmaker, Thomasheen Sean Rua, wants Sive to marry an old man called Sean Dota. Thomasheen convinces Mike and Mena to organise the marriage. They will receive a sum of two hundred pounds as soon as she marries him. However, Sive is in love with a young man, Liam Scuab. But Liam is not suitable and is refused permission to marry Sive. Sive is distraught but is forced to do the will of her uncle and his bitter wife. Faced with an unthinkable future she takes the only choice left to her. Set against the harsh poverty and difficult times of 1950s Ireland, "Sive" caused considerable controversy on its debut in February 1959. Since then it has become an established part of Ireland's theatrical canon.
€12/10 (student group rates available) (Friends: €10) 8pm
BUY NOW
Birr Stage Guild
THE WIREMEN
Tues 16 – Saturday 20 March ‘The Wiremen’, with music, lyrics and book by Shay Healy will have its first ever amateur production in Birr Theatre & Arts Centre in March 2010! The Wiremen is set in Co. Mayo in the 1950’s and tells of the bringing of electricity to the West of Ireland and the impact the ‘Lightning Jacks’ had on rural communities.
€18 (Conc: €16 - Wednesday night only) 8pm
BUY NOW - for Monday's preview €14
BUY NOW - for Tuesday €18
BUY NOW - for Wednesday €18/16
BUY NOW - for Thursday €18
BUY NOW - for Friday €18
BUY NOW - for Saturday €18
Tues 16 – Saturday 20 March ‘The Wiremen’, with music, lyrics and book by Shay Healy will have its first ever amateur production in Birr Theatre & Arts Centre in March 2010! The Wiremen is set in Co. Mayo in the 1950’s and tells of the bringing of electricity to the West of Ireland and the impact the ‘Lightning Jacks’ had on rural communities.
€18 (Conc: €16 - Wednesday night only) 8pm
BUY NOW - for Monday's preview €14
BUY NOW - for Tuesday €18
BUY NOW - for Wednesday €18/16
BUY NOW - for Thursday €18
BUY NOW - for Friday €18
BUY NOW - for Saturday €18
Legitimate Bodies Dance Company
and Gallen Community School, Ferbane ROMEO & JULIET
Thurs 25 – Friday 26 March After the success of “Pinocchio”, a full evening show featuring 29 boys from a local primary school, Legitimate Bodies Dance Company together with the entire Transition Year of Gallen Community School, Ferbane, are ready to bring the magic of dance, music and drama back to Birr Theatre and Arts Centre. You all know the heart-breaking story of those two young lovers but what you don’t know is how this incredible cast will bring it into life in front of your astonished eyes! This is a local professionally driven initiative that deserves all your support! Early booking is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.
Thursday 25th March 1:30pm
Friday 26th March 11:30am AND 8pm
€12/8 (School group rate €6)
and Gallen Community School, Ferbane ROMEO & JULIET
Thurs 25 – Friday 26 March After the success of “Pinocchio”, a full evening show featuring 29 boys from a local primary school, Legitimate Bodies Dance Company together with the entire Transition Year of Gallen Community School, Ferbane, are ready to bring the magic of dance, music and drama back to Birr Theatre and Arts Centre. You all know the heart-breaking story of those two young lovers but what you don’t know is how this incredible cast will bring it into life in front of your astonished eyes! This is a local professionally driven initiative that deserves all your support! Early booking is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.
Thursday 25th March 1:30pm
Friday 26th March 11:30am AND 8pm
€12/8 (School group rate €6)
FREDDIE WHITE
Saturday 27 March Freddie White has long been synonymous with music of the highest quality. Whether interpreting songs by his favorite writers, such as Randy Newman, Tom Waits, John Hiatt and Guy Clark, or performing his own classy compositions, Freddie’s live performances are nothing short of legendary. Freddie has been part of the fabric of the live music scene in Ireland since the 1970’s and his albums continue to sell well, amongst his loyal and new-found fan base. His keen ear for quality songs, undisputed talent for interpretation and exemplary songwriting skills, stand out in this, the newest and most intimate offering from Freddie White, to date.
€20 (Friends: priority) 8pm
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Saturday 27 March Freddie White has long been synonymous with music of the highest quality. Whether interpreting songs by his favorite writers, such as Randy Newman, Tom Waits, John Hiatt and Guy Clark, or performing his own classy compositions, Freddie’s live performances are nothing short of legendary. Freddie has been part of the fabric of the live music scene in Ireland since the 1970’s and his albums continue to sell well, amongst his loyal and new-found fan base. His keen ear for quality songs, undisputed talent for interpretation and exemplary songwriting skills, stand out in this, the newest and most intimate offering from Freddie White, to date.
€20 (Friends: priority) 8pm
BUY NOW
BRENDAN GRACE
Sunday 28 March It's a funny old world when seen through the eyes of Brendan Grace.
The sanctimonious priest who knows more than he's telling: 'Blessed is he who gets married in the nick of time'.
The father of the bride makes a speech at his daughters wedding: 'She could have married someone with money; she could have married someone who was working. She could have married someone who wasn't working..but was willing to work.'
Then there's the schoolboy with the unspeakable personal habits and a fine line in sympathy pleas.
Brendan Grace is all of these and more. Each cock- eyed portrait he paints has a ring of truth that brings audiences to the point of apoplexy. Brendan's material owes more to the best of the traditional stand-up-comics than it does to modern alternative humour and his show is very much a show for all the family. There is a sincerity about his act that endears you to him, and his off-stage persona is very much a 'man of the people' as he makes himself available after each show for a photo and a 'meet and greet'.
€27.50 (Friends: priority) 8pm
BUY NOW
Sunday 28 March It's a funny old world when seen through the eyes of Brendan Grace.
The sanctimonious priest who knows more than he's telling: 'Blessed is he who gets married in the nick of time'.
The father of the bride makes a speech at his daughters wedding: 'She could have married someone with money; she could have married someone who was working. She could have married someone who wasn't working..but was willing to work.'
Then there's the schoolboy with the unspeakable personal habits and a fine line in sympathy pleas.
Brendan Grace is all of these and more. Each cock- eyed portrait he paints has a ring of truth that brings audiences to the point of apoplexy. Brendan's material owes more to the best of the traditional stand-up-comics than it does to modern alternative humour and his show is very much a show for all the family. There is a sincerity about his act that endears you to him, and his off-stage persona is very much a 'man of the people' as he makes himself available after each show for a photo and a 'meet and greet'.
€27.50 (Friends: priority) 8pm
BUY NOW
JACK L
Sunday 4 April
POSTPONED from 9 January due to bad weather
It is with regret that the Jack L concert scheduled for this Saturday night (9 January) has been postponed due to severe weather conditions.
Jack, the band and crew will have to travel some distance to Birr for the event, as do many ticket holders and therefore, it has been decided to postpone the event until Easter Sunday (4 April) .
We sincerely regret this decision but it is in the best interest of all.
We look forward to Jack's gig in April.
Tickets for the 9th January will be valid for the new date. There is no need to exchange tickets.
If the new date doesn’t suit ticket holders we need to be notified in advance for a refund.
“Astounding vocal talent ...completely mesmerized” - Washington Post
"Irish sensation Jack Lukeman has American audiences swooning over his chameleon-like stage presence and baritone voice." New York Daily News
“Everyone should be queuing up for a fix of Jack L”. Scotland on Sunday - five star review*****
Jack L is perhaps the most singular talent to have emerged from Ireland in the past decade”. The Irish Independent
€22 (Friends: priority) 8pm
BUY NOW
Sunday 4 April
POSTPONED from 9 January due to bad weather
It is with regret that the Jack L concert scheduled for this Saturday night (9 January) has been postponed due to severe weather conditions.
Jack, the band and crew will have to travel some distance to Birr for the event, as do many ticket holders and therefore, it has been decided to postpone the event until Easter Sunday (4 April) .
We sincerely regret this decision but it is in the best interest of all.
We look forward to Jack's gig in April.
Tickets for the 9th January will be valid for the new date. There is no need to exchange tickets.
If the new date doesn’t suit ticket holders we need to be notified in advance for a refund.
“Astounding vocal talent ...completely mesmerized” - Washington Post
"Irish sensation Jack Lukeman has American audiences swooning over his chameleon-like stage presence and baritone voice." New York Daily News
“Everyone should be queuing up for a fix of Jack L”. Scotland on Sunday - five star review*****
Jack L is perhaps the most singular talent to have emerged from Ireland in the past decade”. The Irish Independent
€22 (Friends: priority) 8pm
BUY NOW
GoGoshKa
Saturday 10 April
Piano sound & vision show
The GoGoshka piano, sound & vision show is about playing serious music with a hint of fun and a lot of style. Classically trained pianist, GoGoshKa's choice of music genre ranges from Crossover to Boogie Woogie and from Classical to Jazz/Classical ~ Crossover. Whether it's a Phil Coulter, Ray Charles, Ernesto Lecuona, or Liszt score you are sure to enjoy the sound of a true artist at work. It is a lively mix and while GoGoshKa plays the grand acoustic piano she changes from solo performance to the accompaniment of orchestral backing tracks or the accompaniment of her Band The Leavers. GoGoshKa has an amazing Dance duo, who will arouse passion and a warmth within you. GoGoshKa was a FINALIST in the 2010 "All Ireland Talent Show" but was not to the liking of some of the panel SO why not come along and JUDGE for yourself!!!!!
€15 8pm
BUY NOW
Saturday 10 April
Piano sound & vision show
The GoGoshka piano, sound & vision show is about playing serious music with a hint of fun and a lot of style. Classically trained pianist, GoGoshKa's choice of music genre ranges from Crossover to Boogie Woogie and from Classical to Jazz/Classical ~ Crossover. Whether it's a Phil Coulter, Ray Charles, Ernesto Lecuona, or Liszt score you are sure to enjoy the sound of a true artist at work. It is a lively mix and while GoGoshKa plays the grand acoustic piano she changes from solo performance to the accompaniment of orchestral backing tracks or the accompaniment of her Band The Leavers. GoGoshKa has an amazing Dance duo, who will arouse passion and a warmth within you. GoGoshKa was a FINALIST in the 2010 "All Ireland Talent Show" but was not to the liking of some of the panel SO why not come along and JUDGE for yourself!!!!!
€15 8pm
BUY NOW