Programme of Events April - June 2015

1

HOW TO BOOK?

GALWAY DANCE DAYS FESTIVAL

1. CLICK Buy online twenty-four hours at www.tht.ie. You can now choose your seat when you book online for both the Town Hall AND Black Box.

Compagnie Nacera Belaza (Algeria/France)

2. CALL Phone 091 569777 Mon-Sat 10am -7.30pm. Visa, MasterCard and Visa Debit are accepted.

* Please note telephone and personal bookings are subject to the Town Hall Theatre Development Charge of 50 cent per ticket and online bookings are subject to a €1 Booking & Development Charge per ticket. We offer discounts on most shows - concessions apply to under 18 year olds, students, senior citizens and the unwaged. Proof of eligibility and ID required. 10% discount for groups of 10+. Some exceptions apply.

INTERVAL DRINKS

Avoid the rush by ordering your interval drinks before the show. The bar on the first floor is open before and after all performances. G IF T

SPECIAL ASSISTANCE

Please let us know - when booking your tickets - of any special requirements so we can make your visit as enjoyable as possible. If you book online, you should phone or email us to let us know of any special requirements.

CONDITIONS OF SALE

We regret that tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded unless a performance is cancelled or abandoned. Your statutory rights are not affected. For full list of conditions, see reverse of tickets. Please note the management reserve the right to make essential changes to the programme.

LATECOMERS

Late Admission cannot be guaranteed and can only occur if there is a suitable break in the performance. Gaillimhe | Ga na lw ch a ra

Fri 27 March 8pm Tickets €16* /€13*

CONCESSIONS/GROUP RATES

uncil y Co C it

Christina Noble

LES TEMPS SCELLÉ/ LES TRAITS (Solos)

3. VISIT Call in to the box office at the Town Hall Theatre at Courthouse Square, Galway. We’re here Mon-Sat, 10am -7.30pm and one hour before performances on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

y

Atlantic Film Alliance presents A Film by Ciarín Scott

MEDIA SPONSOR

HER VOUC

GIFT VOUCHERS IDEAL GIFTS! Looking for the ideal gift? One to suit every taste? Then why not treat someone special to a Town Hall Theatre gift voucher, available from the box office.

Galway Dance Days 2015 - three days of live performances, film screenings, workshops, street events - & Corp_Real International Symposium exploring the role of dance in conflict. For full programme including details of 3 Day and 1 Day Festival Ticket Offers, visit www.ciotog.ie facebook: galwaydancedays

Sat 4 April 8pm Tickets €10*

Followed by post show Q&A with Christina Noble and film director Ciarín Scott This powerful film follows the Irish humanitarian, whose unwavering commitment has seen her better the lives of countless children since 1989. Despite this achievement, Christina remains scarred by the memory of the children she was unable to save, her own brother and two sisters.

Tues 7 April 2.30pm & 5.30pm

This moving piece of film-making gives an unflinching portrayal of pain and betrayal. Hundreds of thousands have benefited from her daring and dedication but is it possible for Christina to put her own family back together after fifty-three years?

There is a magic place where Dinosaurs live and it’s right before your eyes. Jurassic Adventures - set on a magical island with a brave cast, superb scenery and, of course, DINOSAURS - allows you follow the footsteps of Doctor Grant’s team of explorers and laugh at their crazy antics as they search for proof that Dinosaurs still exist! This will leave you in “raptor raptures” and “pre-hysterics!” Get transported to a prehistoric place full of fun, thrills and screams. Don’t miss.

Tickets €15*/€13* Family Ticket (4 people) €48* For all the family, from age 3+

Comhairle

Ca th

2

3

The Crokey Hill Club

IT’S THE REAL McCOY

Wed 8 April 6pm

Early Bird Tickets €8* €10* after first 100 seats are sold For tickets and full details, visit www.galwaymarketing.ie

LITTLE JOHN NEE

Fri 10 & Sat 11 April 8pm Tickets €20*/18*

Back by popular demand! It’s The Real McCoy will have you laughing out loud - all night long!

HHHH THE IRISH TIMES HHHH IRISH EXAMINER

Thurs 9 April 8pm Tickets €15*

Asylum Productions

THE CHRONICLES OF OGGLE By PETER GOWEN

“…and poor Walter Raleigh: got his head chopped off. Okay, he did bring the lung cancer and the famine to Ireland, but he didn’t know that at the time, and he didn’t mean to. He was only trying to impress the queer wan over in London…”

THE DONEGAL YEARS THE LONDON YEARS THE DUBLIN YEARS

Written by Tommy Marren (Mid-West Radio) and starring Gerry Glennon alongside a very strong cast. Don’t miss! (and don’t delay - get your tickets early!)

Meet Pakie. An orphan, a storyteller, an adventurer, a survivor. He may not be the sharpest sandwich in the tool box, but Pakie knows a thing or two about the history of his native town – from the vicious Vikings, to the less-than Christian Brothers. Pakie’s a laugh a minute… but Pakie’s got secrets. Secrets the God fearing people of Oggle, may not be ready to hear.

Little John Nee is a writer, performer and musician based in Co. Galway. His shows have received international critical acclaim and awards.

Written and performed by Peter Gowen (Charlie, Love/Hate, The Butcher Boy) and directed by Donal Gallagher (Love All), Chronicles of Oggle is an hilarious and heartbreaking story of small towns and small minds.

Tickets €10*/€8*

Fri 10 & Sat 11 April 8.30pm

Fri 1 & Sat 2 May 8.30pm

Fri 15 & Sat 16 May 8.30pm

As a child Little John Nee would spend his summer holidays in Donegal like a large percentage of the kids in his Glasgow school. At twelve his family returned to Donegal to live. Within weeks of their arrival “Bloody Sunday” occurred twenty miles away and the effect was profound. Despairing at the world view offered by a church dominated education he chose rock’n’roll as the way to a better life.

In September 1977 Little John Nee left his family home and a fridge full of food to become a famous punk in London. These stories chronicle his adventures from his first morning arriving in a Letterkenny squat in Islington, labouring on building sites, opening the “doors of perception” and the long comic adventure before he finally made it onto a stage in Dalston Junction.

In 1982 Little John Nee, practically just off the boat from London, decided to try out his poetry act on Dame Street and from the encouragement of an audience of one, a young traveller girl, his life was to change as if by magic, setting into sequence a series of creative adventures far beyond anything he’d ever imagined, from Charlie Chaplin to the Late Late Show, from a lock-in at a pensioners’ Christmas party in Pearse Street Garda Station, to a surreptitious debut on the stage of the Abbey.

4

5

The Ark presents

The New Theatre, Dublin in association with Richard Ryan Promotions

Pete Foley & Black Dragon Kickboxing Club

THE ART OF WAR

By LAUREN-SHANNON JONES Directed by NORA KELLY-LESTER

Three short plays by IAN PATTERSON

Tues 14 - Sat 18 April 8.30pm

This taut and entertaining trilogy of one act plays casts an ironic eye on the worlds of education, finance, and family ties. In Best and Brightest a cynical tutor discovers the limits of knowledge when challenged by a palm reading undergraduate, two brothers clash on the best way to care for their ageing mother in Sorted, and a conscientious bank clerk struggles to do the right thing as investors rush to sell their shares in the cat and mouse of Soft Landing.

REDUCED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY in

THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF COMEDY (ABRIDGED)

The Ark presents a new theatre show by Amy Conroy, inspired by the age-old literary Tickets €8* Family Ticket (4 people) €24* fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, The Group (10 or more) Rate €6* Princess & The Pea and infused with the wild energy of aerial performance, dance For Ages 6+ music and great storytelling. Don’t miss!

Written and Directed by REED MARTIN and AUSTIN TICHENOR “Comic Gold” THE METRO

Tues 14 April 8pm Tickets €20*/€18*

Mon 13 April 8pm Tickets €15*/€12*

Two brothers of conflicting ideals sail to Ireland to defeat the High King Brian Boru. Over the course of the journey they part enemies, and meet again on opposite sides of the battlefield. Brian Boru was assassinated at the battle of Clontarf 1014. A story of brotherhood, blood, ravens on the battle field and the death of a great king.

Rise Productions

THE GAMES PEOPLE PLAY By GAVIN KOSTICK

Newbury Productions (UK) Ltd presents

By AMY CONROY Inspired by The Princess & The Pea

Tickets Adults €20* Juniors (U 14’s) €12*

Main event is the European Super Lightweight K-1 Title defence featuring current champion Paul “the Hurricane” Huish making a mandatory defence against Bilel Benyaich, a North African native fighting out of Belgium.

LOOSE CHANGE

Tickets €12*/€10* All tickets Tues 14 April €10*

Sun 12 April 3pm Sat 11 April Doors 6pm First fight 7pm

Hourglass Theatre Company

They’ve skewered history, the Bible and the world’s most celebrated playwright, now the Reduced Shakespeare Company tackles the subject it was born to reduce. From the high-brow to the low - and everything in-between - the bad boys of abridgement leave no joke untold as they deconstruct the entire history of comedy in 90 rollicking minutes. All ages, although we recommend 12 and upwards.

Wed 15 April 8pm Tickets €15*/€12*

Winner of Best New Play at the Irish Times Theatre Awards and the sell-out success of Dublin Fringe Festival, Rise Productions returns with The Games People Play, the follow-up to their international smash hit Fight Night. Described as “THE state of the nation play for the negative equity generation” this is a radical re-working of the Tír na nÓg myth. Niamh and Oisín were sold the dream – the house, the life, the kids. But what do you do when everything you ever dreamed of still isn’t enough? The mounting pressure of balancing family and career takes its toll, and one night a series of games starts to escalate, threatening to unravel their suburban paradise. Gripping family drama meets epic Celtic mythology, presented in the trademark ‘Theatre Strong Style’ of Rise Productions.

6

7

“A thoroughly enjoyable parcelling of three of Ireland’s best short stories” THE IRISH TIMES

Patrick Talbot Productions

Sat 18 April 8pm Tickets €25*

hardest! First confessions are the A new play based on stories by FRANK O’CONNOR Adapted for the stage and directed by PATRICK TALBOT Mon 20 & Tues 21 April 8pm

Ballet Ireland Marty Walsh Promotions

SBB INA SHUÍ 2015 Thurs 16 April 8pm Tickets €25*

Following last year’s sell-out success, the irrepressible Seán Bán Breathnach returns for a night of ceol, rince agus craic! Sean has lined up some of the most entertaining and versatile artists including Shaun O’Dowd, Richie Hayes, Heidi McCaffrey, Marian Kelly, Marcus Hernon and family bringing together a night of great, all-round entertainment.

TUTUS & BEYOND

Ballet for the 21st Century

Tickets €18*/€15*

Friday 17 April 8pm Tickets €20*/€16*

Journeys from traditional classical ballet to the striking contemporary work being produced today. Pas de Quatre, the romantic classic caused a sensation when it was created for the four greatest ballerinas of the time in 1845. Next up, Sing Sing Sing inspired by Bob Fosse, a legendary choreographer of Broadway & Hollywood throughout the 60s & 70s. The second half of the programme features the premiere of a powerful and magical new ballet, Lost, by Ludovic Ondievla. BI continues its commitment to new work in presenting this compelling piece by this ‘young rising choreographer’ (The Guardian). 

 With lighting by award winning designer Paul Keogan, this mixed programme shows the diversity of the company following its ‘wonderful tour’ (Sunday Independent) of Swan Lake which ‘ticked all the boxes’ (Sunday Independent) and was hailed as ‘one of best productions’ the company has done (Irish Mail on Sunday).

The legendary Kilfenora Céilí Band are set to release their latest album Now Is The Hour this Spring. With tunes forged out of raw native dance riffs from the Burren hills, the century-long odyssey of the 13-member Céilí supergroup is picking up pace, with a more contemporary sound. Artistic tension between the rich dance music heritage and their big new soundscape has added spice to their large-scale theatre spectacle complete with pile-driving rhythms, slick dancers and the talented Don Stiffe on vocals. The Kilfenora features fiddles, bass, cello, flutes, banjo, concertina and accordion, with what Folk Roots magazine called “one of the tightest rhythm sections in the world”.

The short stories of Cork born Frank O’Connor are universally regarded as being classics of their kind. Now, for the first time, three of those funniest stories: My Oedipus Complex, The Genius and First Confession are brought together within a single full-length play, which will provide a hugely entertaining and uplifting night of theatre. Richly evocative of Ireland in the early decades of the 20th Century, funny and moving, and featuring memorable performances, God Bless The Child is a must see.

8

9

21-27 APRIL 2015

Alongside the headline readings featured here, the 30th Cúirt Festival will present a packed programme featuring a diverse range of events for all ages. For full details or to get your copy of the festival brochure, visit www.cuirt.ie or www.tht.ie

Fri 24 April 8.30pm, Tickets €15*/€12*

Sat 25 April 6.30pm, Tickets €8*

Sat 25 April 8.30pm, Tickets €15*/€12*

An evening with

JOSEPH O’NEILL

PAUL MULDOON & JOHN MONTAGUE

IRVINE WELSH

Wed 22 April 8.30pm, Tickets €15*/€12*

Thurs 23 April 8.30pm, Tickets €15*/€12*

PAUL DURCAN

NAOMI SHIHAB NYE & KAY RYAN

Paul Durcan is celebrated as one of Ireland’s most important poets. His first book, Endsville (1967), has been followed by twenty-one others, including Daddy, Daddy (winner of the Whitbread Award for Poetry in 1990), Crazy About Women (1991), The Art of Life (2004), Praise in Which I Live and Move and Have My Being (2012) and his most recent collection, The Days of Surprise (2015).

Naomi Shihab Nye was born in Missouri, to a Palestinian father and an American mother. During her teenage years, she lived in Ramallah in Palestine and San Antonio, Texas. Nye has been an important voice in the Arab American community. Nye’s honours include four Pushcart Prizes and a Guggenheim Fellowship.

“To have heard him read adds another pleasure to the reading of his work – but the voice speaks clearly on the page in poems of harrowing intimacy, politics, and love” CAROL ANN DUFFY

Kay Ryan was born in California in 1945. Ryan was United States Poet Laureate 2008­-2010, and has published several collections of poetry including: The Best of It: New and Selected Poems, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry. In July 2013 she was awarded the 2012 National Humanities Medal by President Obama.

in conversation with EDEL COFFEY

Irvine Welsh is the author of nine previous books including the best selling novels: Trainspotting, Filth, Glue, Porno and Skagboys. Born in Edinburgh and now living in Chicago, Irvine Welsh has been described as: ‘One of the most significant writers in Britain’ (Times Literary Supplement). He comes to Cúirt to discuss his newest novel, A Decent Ride.

Joseph O’Neill was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1964 and grew up in Mozambique, South Africa, Iran, Turkey, and Holland. His novels include: This is the Life, The Breezes, Netherland (long listed for the Man Booker Prize), and the non-fiction book Blood-Dark Track, which was an New York Times Notable Book. His most recent novel, The Dog, was long-listed for the Man Booker prize 2014. Joseph lives with his family, in New York.

Chairperson for the event, Jim Carroll, is the producer and host of Banter, a series of well-travelled public discussions and interviews. Jim is an arts and music journalist and contributes regularly to The Irish Times.

Edel Coffey is an arts journalist and broadcaster. She is Books Editor for the Irish Independent, and is a regular contributor to RTÉ Radio 1’s Arena. She lives in Dublin. “Every page of The Dog is a little masterpiece of comedy, erudition and linguistic acrobatics” THE WASHINGTON POST

Paul Muldoon is the author of numerous books of poetry, including The Word on the Street, Maggot, Horse Latitudes, Moy Sand and Gravel, for which he won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize, and many others. He is the current Poetry Editor of the New Yorker Magazine. John Montague is the author of numerous collections of poetry including: A Drunken Sailor, Time in Armagh, The Dead Kingdom, Poisoned Lands and most recently: New Collected Poems (2012). He has been described as “The best Irish poet of his generation” (Derek Mahon).

10

11

WEIGHING IN Fri 1 & Sat 2 May 8pm Tickets €16*/€15*

Soap Stars On The Scales... Just Weight For it! Easi-Slims new member Pam McGowan (Isobel Mahon - Glenroe, The Clinic) has it all. A fabulous home, two perfect kids and a successful husband. Having lost four stone, Pam is only attending meetings to maintain her svelte figure. Breda (Rose Henderson - Fair City, Father Ted) has been struggling with her weight and is thinking about abandoning the diet – until Pam takes her in hand and power walks her into a new way of life. But, then again, things aren’t always what they appear to be.

THE HAPPY PEAR Sunday 26 April 8pm Tickets €20*/€15*

The Happy Pear twins, Stephen and David Flynn, take the stage in an evening of recipe demos, stories and laughs. From rugby playing boozers to vegetable revolutionists, the lads will prepare recipes from their best-selling book, The Happy Pear – Recipes and Stories from the first 10 years, while sharing with you their journey to a happier, healthier lifestyle! It’s all happening! The Happy Pear’s mission is far greater than just a shop. They want to start a healthy food revolution starting with getting people eating more fruit and veg! As Gandhi once said, “We must be the change we want to see in the world”! This event will feature some food demos and tastings, and will be followed by a Q&A session and book signing.

Karen Underwood and John O’Brien in

OF LADIES LOST AND FOUND Thurs 30 April 8pm Tickets €20*/€18*

Of Ladies Lost and Found is an exploration of love and loss by Karen Underwood as witnessed in the songs of artists such as Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Whitney Houston, Edith Piaf, and Amy Winehouse. It is directed and arranged by John O’Brien who was the inspiration behind Pagliacci (Irish Times Theatre Award for Best Opera 2012), Orpheus, and Der Vampyr.

HAW THEATRE COMPANY

THE EARLY HOURS By BERNARD FIELD

RUBBERBANDITS

CONTINENTAL FISTFIGHT Sunday 3 May 8pm Tickets €17*/€15*

DIRECT FROM THEIR “SELL OUT” RUN AT DUBLIN’S ABBEY THEATRE! The plastic-bag wearing, award-winning, musical comedy duo – responsible for YouTube sensation Horse Outside – finally bring their brand new ‘musical’ to Ireland. A big hit in London and Edinburgh, Continental Fistfight is packed with dazzling new songs, great big hits and at least one (celebrity) puppet. RUBBERBANDITS are ribbed for your pleasure…

HHHH “Rampant and unhinged … Wild and winning” THE GUARDIAN

HHHH “A riotous hour of hysterically rude songs... Brilliant fun” NO. 1 CRITICS CHOICE – TIME OUT

Tues 5 - Sat 9 May 8.30pm Tickets €10*/€8*

The Early Hours returns to Galway after a five year absence during which its reputation as a standout piece of theatre has steadily grown. Imagine returning from a night out, only to find what was once your home has been transformed into a prison. You are the victim. The Intruder is your prison warden. This night and consequent choices will change your lives forever… This psychodrama will have you on the edge of your seat.

“The Early Hours haunts its audience with questions about the issues it evokes and about its own elusive story” IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE

12

13

TRIAD

Dónal Lunny, Padraig Rynne & Sylvain Barou

REGINA ROGERS SCHOOL OF BALLET Thursday 7 & Friday 8 May 8pm Matinee Friday 8 May 4pm Tickets: Adult €15*, Child €12*

Students of the Regina Rogers School of Ballet will present dazzling and beautifully choreographed performances of Ballet and Jazz Dance. Excerpts from the ever popular Frozen coupled with variations from La Sylphide and Giselle will enchant audiences. Further highlights will feature the wonderfully colourful Gypsy Dance from Don Quixote and the dynamic solo from Esmerelda. Beautiful costumes, enchanting backdrops and girls whose passion is dance - what more need be said!

Sat 9 May 8pm “A swirling intoxicating brew of traditional Tickets €20* dance, hop and slip-jig sets, slow reels and melodies, all sitting harmoniously alongside newly composed contemporary pieces written by the musicians - don’t miss” Loco and Reckless Productions

THE MAN IN THE WOMAN’S SHOES By

Multi-instrumentalist and trailblazer Dónal Lunny is one of the greatest Irish musicians alive. For this trio, he joins forces with Padraig Rynne the experimental virtuoso of the concertina and Sylvain Barou on flutes, who has pushed the boundaries of Breton music like no other. When these three influential leading lights of the Irish and Celtic music tradition came together in 2012 it created such a level of excitement that audiences have since flocked to see their select performances at venues and festivals such as Lorient, Sidmouth and the National Concert Hall Dublin. 



Tues 12 & Wed 13 May 8pm “A physical comedian, Tickets €15*/€12*

MIKEL MURFI

It’s October 1978. Pope John Paul I is not long dead and Pat Farnon has ‘some business’ to do in town. The Man In The Woman’s Shoes follows Pat as he walks the 5 miles from his wee white cottage to town and back. He is an ageing man with a boundless enthusiasm for life.

CTD presents

“Exceptional Celtic Music Maestros”

blessed with plastic features, and with the vocal range of a ventriloquist, Murfi makes sheep, pigs, dogs, and even bees, come to life” IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE

Hilariously funny, tender and at times downright daft, The Man In The Woman’s Shoes will leave you uplifted and in love with life again.

“Astonishing - make no mistake, this is a high top performance” THE NEW YORK TIMES

THE MATCHMAKER By JOHN B KEANE

Fri 15 and Sat 16 May 8pm Tickets €20*/€18*

A Journey Through Time

with EVELYN CUSACK

Deputy Head of Forecasting, Met Éireann Thurs 14 May 8pm

Tickets €8*/€5 Family Ticket (4 people) €20** Evelyn will take us on a whistle stop tour through the varying climates of early earth, to the beginning of civilisation and the Weather Gods on to the Age of Enlightenment and our own Robert Boyle and then to the present high-spec numerical forecast models which can predict weather about a week ahead. A regular on RTÉ and a viewers’ favourite, Evelyn also teaches forecasting at UCD. As a member of the Irish Meteorological Society, she also tries to foster and promote a public interest in Meteorology and Science – and personally invites you to come along. A lively question and answer session will follow the talk. This is a great opportunity to get to grips with Ireland’s preoccupation with our ever changing weather. Don’t miss!

Branar Téatar do Pháistí and Teater Refleskion in association with Baboró International Arts Festival for Children present

THE WAY BACK HOME

The Matchmaker follows the efforts of Dicky Mick Dicky O’Connor to make matches for the lonely and lovelorn from all parts of the country. At the centre of this celebrated production is John B Keane’s marvellous and mischievous wit coupled by his unparalleled way with words. Television favourite Mary McEvoy (Biddie in the long running RTÉ series Glenroe) and actor and comedian Jon Kenny (of d’Unbelievables fame) together play a myriad of characters in this hilarious and earthy dramatic comedy. John B. Keane takes us back to a simpler time, when phones were few and far between and the only web was one left behind by spiders.

Sat 16 & Sun 17 May 1pm & 3pm

Tickets: Children €10*, Adults €12*, Family Ticket €40* A show without words, suitable for audiences aged 4-8 Duration: Approx. 40 mins. No interval. When a boy discovers a single-propeller airplane in his closet, he does what any young adventurer would do: he flies into outer space! Millions of miles from earth, the plane begins to sputter and quake, so the boy must make a daring landing on the moon. But as it turns out, he is not alone up there…. Based on the hugely successful book by Irish author Oliver Jeffers, this show combines puppetry, original music and the distinctive and evocative design of Teater Refleksion’s Mariann Agaard to realise a beautiful and imaginative story on stage.

HHHH “beautiful, touching and playful production” THE IRISH TIMES

14

Galway Film Society in association with access>CINEMA

BEALTAINE FILM TOUR THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY

SOWETO SPIRITUAL SINGERS Soweto Spiritual Singers is a 16 strong member vocal ensemble. Their performance style comes from the South African a capella gospel tradition. At the heart of their shows are Zulu songs, full of rhythm, style and spirit. Fresh sounds, inspirational harmonies and fabulous dance make this an irresistible performance expressing the spirit of Africa. An infectiously feel-good experience for all ages.

Tues 19 & Wed 20 May 8pm Tickets €20

The company has travelled extensively and also performed at the first ever FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup Opening Ceremony in Johannesburg (with R. Kelly) to the cheers of a billion people around the Globe. Come join them in their 90 minute journey of praise as they dance, clap, shout and ululate.

DIR: LASSE HALLSTRÖM · USA · 2014 · 117 MINS CAST: HELEN MIRREN, OM PURI, MANISH DAYAL, CHARLOTTE LE BON

Tickets €8*/€7*

Directed by Lasse Hallström (Chocolat) from Richard C. Morais’ novel, The Hundred-Foot Journey is an uplifting cultural feast. “…With its picture-postcard setting and mouthwatering Indian and French delicacies, The Hundred-Foot Journey is a film designed to comfort” THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

“There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in”

Tuesday 26 May 7.30pm

PIAF

Tickets €15*/€12*

Tickets €13*/€11*

GRAHAM GREENE

Christine threads her remarkable journey in the world of French Song with the life and works of Edith Piaf. No glamour. No gimmicks. No pretence. Nothing but a voice, singing of life’s triumphs and tragedies. PIAF is both a personal narrative and a powerful musical homage to one of France’s most endearing icons.

Mon 18 May 8pm Hassan Kadam (Manish Dayal) is a culinary ingénue with the gastronomic equivalent of perfect pitch. When Hassan and his family, led by Papa (Om Puri), move to a quaint village in the South of France with the grand plan of opening an Indian restaurant in the picturesque countryside, they are undeterred by the fact that only 100 feet opposite stands a Michelin starred classical French eatery. However upon encountering the icy proprietress, Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren), the Kadam family realise they may have bitten off more than they can chew.

Sat 23 May 8pm

BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR 2015

Christine Bovill’s

Thurs 21 & Fri 22 May 8pm Tickets €16*/€15*

Frank Pig Says Hello is Pat McCabe’s stage version of his acclaimed novel The Butcher Boy. It is a poignant and provocative journey into the heart and mind of Francie Brady, a young man who is driven beyond the boundaries of his mental and emotional health. A black comedy with an inventive fusion of storytelling and role play where over 30 characters are played by two versatile actors the production offers a highly theatrical experience. Challenging but rewarding, Frank Pig Says Hello is at times breath taking, often haunting and always hugely entertaining. Starring Patrick McBrearty and Stefan Dunbar. NB: Suitable ages 12+. Contains some strong language, disturbing themes.

“McCabe is a master ... Stark, fierce, and wonderful” THE GUARDIAN

“engrossing” NEW YORK TIMES

“something that comes close to pure magic” SUNDAY INDEPENDENT

Abbey Theatre

MAEVE’S HOUSE EAMON MORRISSEY Mon 25 May 8pm Tickets €20*/€18*

It was as if the magazine in my hands had become a mirror. After a sell-out run at the Abbey Theatre, one of Ireland’s best loved actors Eamon Morrissey brings his delightful one man show to Galway as part of the Bealtaine festival. This beautiful story of brief encounters and shared experiences features extracts from the writings of Maeve Brennan (one of our greatest short story writers) and is a moving portrait of two artists in conversation across generations. Directed by Gerard Stembridge.

The world’s most prestigious mountain film festival returns to Galway with an evening of extraordinary short films. Follow the expeditions of some of today’s most incredible adventurers, see amazing footage of adrenaline packed action sports and be inspired by thought-provoking pieces shot from the far flung corners of the globe. This is an inspiring evening of exhilarating film by the most talented adventure film makers of today. A festive event not to be missed with lots of free prize giveaways. Visit www.banff-uk.com for more details.

15

16

Play On Words Theatre

TOM CREAN -

ANTARCTIC EXPLORER Written and performed by

AIDAN DOOLEY

Thurs 28 - Sat 30 May 8pm Schools Matinee Thurs 28 May 11am Tickets €18*/€15*, Matinee Tickets €12*, Teachers Free 

 FINAL CHANCE TO SEE THIS MULTI-AWARD WINNING SHOW

Tom Crean, the intrepid Antarctic explorer and one of Ireland’s unsung heroes, is brought to life in this dramatic and humorous solo performance by Aidan Dooley. Hear the riveting true stories of Crean’s Antarctic explorations as one of the few men to serve with both Scott and Shackleton and survive the three famous expeditions: Discovery (1901-1004); Terra Nova (1910-1913); and Endurance (1914-1916).



“This magnificent revelation of a fascinating character simply compels a standing ovation” THE IRISH TIMES

Patrick Talbot Productions

SOILSIÚ FILMS

THE STRANGER

DES KEOGH as GEORGE BERNARD SHAW in

Thurs 4 June 8pm

MY FAIR LADIES

An English artist died alone, aged 44, in a stone shed, where he lived without water, electricity or heating on a remote Irish island, leaving behind volumes of secret diaries. The Gaelic-speaking islanders on the rapidly depopulating island, knew little of Neal during the 8 years he lived there. Who was the Stranger? A film about memory and perception, an unusual portrait of a man, living on the edge, physically and mentally, and the island community he lived amongst. Screening will be followed by a Q&A with the director, Neasa Ní Chianáín

Celebrating his 80th year in 2015, Des Keogh - one of Ireland’s most renowned actors and performers - gets to fulfil a life-long ambition to play legendary Irish man of letters George Bernard Shaw.

Tickets €7*/€5*

Fri 5 & Sat 6 June 8pm Tickets €20*/€18*

Following the phenomenal success of his show The LoveHungry Farmer by John B. Keane, Des has devised this hugely entertaining new play about the many ladies in the extraordinary life of one of the greatest playwrights of all time. Shaw not only shares anecdotes about the loves of his life, but also his forthright views on sex, marriage and celibacy. Shaw was the author of Pygmalion, which became the universally acclaimed film My Fair Lady. He was also a hugely controversial essayist and commentator. Join Des Keogh for a special evening of wit passion and humour in a very special year.

YES PRODUCTIONS

ARTHUR’S DIG One man’s epic struggle to bulldoze through the crash and build his own future. A virtuoso solo performance that ranges from city to country, from despair to hope, filling the stage with colourful characters guaranteed to win the hearts of anyone who has ever dreamed of creating their own home. A brand new play by Mark Wale, performed by Declan Mills and directed by Tara Derrington.



“Mills is impressive in a non-stop action performance” IRISH MAIL ON SUNDAY

Thurs 11 June 8pm Tickets €15*/€12*

CHAROLAIS

SONGS FROM THE SWANS AT COOLE

Written and performed by

NONI STAPLETON

Directed by BAIRBRE NÍ CHAOIMH Produced by BIGGER PICTURE PROJECTS

17

WINNER OF THE BEWLEY’S LITTLE GEM AWARD AT DUBLIN FRINGE 2014 A surreal comedy of love, Charolais takes the age old story of one woman’s jealousy of her female rival in love and gives it a new twist: the other woman is a cow, a literal one, a purebred Charolais heifer. Rarely in Irish theatre are the challenges of farming life and the joy of sex expressed so frankly.

Fri 12 June 8pm Tickets €15*

Thurs 18 June 8pm

MARY COUGHLAN

Sat 13 June 8pm Tickets €18*/€15*

Mary Coughlan is one of the finest singers to emerge from Galway and is widely regarded as Ireland’s finest jazz and blues vocalist. In this welcome return to the Town Hall Theatre, Mary will play all her trademark songs including The Double Cross, Ancient Rain, The Magdalen Laundry and Delaney’s Gone Back on the Wine and her recent cover of the Joy Division song Love Will Tear Us Apart. The vocal marrying of sardonic wit, visceral rage, orgiastic between-the-sheets passion, the tenderest of sorrowful regrets - this is Mary’s talent. Regardless of the elements she chooses to manipulate with flawless ease, Mary’s voice has always been an unforeseen, sudden seduction. Don’t miss!

Tickets €22*/€20*

A new musical setting for a series of songs/poems by W.B. Yeats in a classical operatic setting with an ‘orchestra’ of Irish traditional musicians. To mark the 150th Birthday of W.B. Yeats in 2015, Michael Scott has composed a new song cycle exploring his poetry focusing on the development of the Irish state and his unrequited love for Maude Gonne. Poems include Innisfree, Sailing to Byzantium, When You are Old, The Sorrow of Love, No Second Troy, September 1913. Deirdre Donnelly and Des Cave will read a selection of poetry, and singers Kathleen Tynan (soprano) and Anthony Norton (tenor) will sing the new musical settings of selected poems in an operatic and classical style with a traditional Irish orchestra. The orchestra will consist of Irish harp, whistle, percussion, fiddle, cello, French horn, uilleann pipes, pianoforte and keyboards.

18

Fishamble: The New Play Company

Galway Sessions

EDDIE MOLONEY MEMORIAL CONCERT

Written and performed by PAT KINEVANE Directed by JIM CULLETON

Sat 20 June 8pm

STOP MAKING SENSE DIR: JONATHAN DEMME · USA · 1984 · 88 MINS

Fri 19 June 8pm Tickets €8*/€7*

Acclaimed filmmaker Jonathan Demme made his documentary debut with this groundbreaking concert film. Stop Making Sense showcases the wacky exploits of the seminal bunch of art school dropouts turned arty new wavers known as Talking Heads.

Jez Colborne, and That’s Life performers, return to the Black Box to rock this year’s Club Tropicana following their Trickster sell out shows last autumn. They will be joined by Soundscape musicians, DJs and Vjs for what promises to be a magical Club club night.

Pat Egan presents

BRENDAN SHINE Sun 21 June 8pm Tickets €27.50*/€25*

Brendan Shine celebrates his 50th Anniversary this year with a new Best Of CD and a theatre tour of Ireland. Brendan has released over 50 albums and has had 45 hit singles in a glittering career that has taken him from his Co. Westmeath home to every major concert hall the world over. His hit singles include: O’Brien Has No Place To Go, Where The Three Counties Meet, Abbeyshrule, All My Roads Lead Back To You, How Much Time and, of course, Do You Want Your Oul Lobby Washed Down which Brendan famously performed for Pope John Paul II on his visit to Ireland. Even after all of these years, Brendan shows no signs of slowing down.

“Club Tropicana is the most amazing, entertaining and accessible club night for people with intellectual disability and friends. Galway City Arts Office is delighted to be associated with this event” JAMES HARROLD, GALWAY CITY ARTS OFFICER “A fantastic club night full of laughter and lots of surprises. Don’t miss it and bring your friends”

Tickets €12* (Carers €6*)

Eddie Moloney (1920-1980) was a traditional Irish musician extraordinaire - considered to be the best traditional flute player of his time, he was also a formidable fiddle player.

GALWAY FILM SOCIETY

CLUB TROPICANA WITH JEZ COLBORNE Wed 24 June 8pm-11pm

Tickets €18*

Eddie made many solo recordings for radio and TV and also for all of the main folklore field collectors of his time. He played with many famous Céilí bands, the Ballinakill CB in the 50s, the Mulhaire CB in the 60s and the Shaskeen in the early 70s. He had his own well known group, the Sea Captains. Many now well established musicians on the trad scene gigged with Eddie in their earlier formative years, including Frankie Gavin and Máirtín O’Connor. This concert will feature many of those who recorded and gigged with Eddie in the past, including his family. The proceeds of the concert and CD launch will be directed to a cancer care charity.

19

JAMES HARROLD, GALWAY CITY ARTS OFFICER

Tues 23 June 8pm Tickets €18*/€16*

Sticks and stones didn’t break Her bones, but words and pointing crushed Her. Is Beauty really only skin deep? Does Ugliness hide somewhere deeper? Following the runaway international success of Forgotten and Silent, Fishamble presents Pat Kinevane’s third solo play, Underneath, directed by Jim Culleton. This stunning new play is a blackly comic, rich and vivid tale of a life lived in secret, a testament to the people who live on the fringes, under the nose of everyday life. It explores the surface, and what lies underneath.

“Drop everything… book now… captivating, moving and - yes - even unforgettable” THE IRISH TIMES [ON FORGOTTEN]

For One night Only! Wed 24 June 8pm Tickets €15*

ROOTS, BOOTS AND BANJOS THE WILLIS CLAN WITH WE BANJO 3

Straight from Nashville, TN - Music City USA and from Season 9 of America’s Got Talent comes The Willis Clan, a band of 12 siblings that will knock your socks off with a show so diverse it will blow your mind! Singing, dancing, Irish, bluegrass, country, pop, 20 instruments, guys, girls, kids, all original material - you’ll find yourself wondering “What’s next?” Sure it’s confusing, they’re called We Banjo 3, there’s 4 of them and they don’t all play the banjo. However, this Galway band-of-brothers are the hottest property in Irish roots music right now. We Banjo 3 play Irish music with influences from the Bluegrass and Old Time American traditions. It’s about fun. It’s about good music played well and played with heart. The chemistry between these two family bands who met on the road is infectious!

20

THE SPEKS

Cúirt Presents

An Evening with COLM TÓIBÍN Thursday 25 June 8pm Tickets €15*/€12*

Colm Tóibín is the author of eight novels including The Blackwater Lightship, The Master and The Testament of Mary all of which were shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and Brooklyn which was awarded the Costa Prize. The Master was awarded the Dublin International IMPAC Literary Award in 2006. He has written two books of short stories, Mothers & Sons and The Empty Family. He has also written two plays, Beauty in a Broken Place and Testament. His most recent novel is Nora Webster.

“Nora Webster is a masterpiece in character study by a writer at the zenith of his career, beautiful and daring” THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

GALWAY FILM SOCIETY

BJORK: BIOPHILIA LIVE DIRS: PETER STRICKLAND, NICK FENTON · UK · 2014 · 97 MINS

Friday 26 June 8pm Tickets €8*/€7*

From a mind unlike any other, Biophilia Live chronicles the multidimensional concert centered on the eighth studio album of avant-garde Icelandic artist Björk. Nick Fenton and Peter Strickland, unique voices in their own right, film Björk live in performance and punctuate her music with evocative animation and science and nature footage. The infinitely creative journey presents a culmination of work that represents one of the most original musical endeavors of a generation. Tribeca Film Festival 2014

Sat 27 March 1pm Tickets €7*

The Speks present a lively mix of nursery rhymes and sing-along songs set to acoustic Irish music which will have adults and kids jumping in their seats. They live on a mysterious island off the coast of Co Clare called Glasses Island where everybody wears glasses! The Speks have won a Parents’ Choice Music Award in the US where their music has been described as ‘’Riverdance for toddlers’’ and they encourage kids to sing, scream, clap and dance along during their performances!

Sean Keane GRANNY’S SUITCASE Sat 27 June 8pm Tickets €20*

Sean Keane is going back to his roots in music. In this brand new one-man show, set in his grandmother’s kitchen as he searches through her old leather suitcase where she held all the words of many famous songs collected from people who visited her home in Carragh near Caherlistrane, Sean combines songs and stories of how he was influenced to sing in the traditional way from a very early age. Featuring many well-known favourites like A Stór Mo Chroí, Dear Little Isle, May Morning Dew and Erin’s Lovely Home.

NAME ADDRESS

Are You On Our

Mailing List?

Fancy being amongst the first to know what’s included in the coming season at the Town Hall and Black Box Theatres? And receive a copy of our free brochure in the post or via e mail, four times per year? Or already on our postal mailing list but prefer instead to receive a copy of our brochure via e mail? Or perhaps you wish to be update your contact details or maybe even be removed from our list altogether? If so, please complete and return the form opposite and we will take it from there. For the past two years, we have distributed our season brochure to each of circa 24,000 homes in Galway city every three months. This significantly helped increase awareness of, and attendance at, our programme of events - total attendances at Town Hall/ Black Box Theatre events in 2014 increased by 8% to 111,000. In response to changes in consumer preferences and needs, and to improve efficiency and reduce costs, we will be discontinuing the door to door delivery from April. So if you want to remain in close contact with all of our activities and to avoid missing out, please join our free mailing list. The Town Hall is now the busiest regional venue outside of Dublin and Cork, regarded nationally as a vitally important piece of Ireland’s cultural infrastructure and one of the main showcases for theatre in the regions. Thank you for your continued support, attendance and participation and we look forward to seeing you at a show here soon!

EMAIL TELEPHONE PLEASE TICK APPROPRIATE BOX:

I would like to receive a quarterly brochure by post I would like to receive a quarterly brochure by email I am currently on your mailing list, but would prefer instead to receive a quarterly brochure by email I would like to be deleted from your mailing list

We will not use your contact details for any other purpose. POST TO: MAILING LIST, TOWN HALL THEATRE, COURTHOUSE SQUARE, GALWAY OR FAX TO 091 569664 OR EMAIL [email protected]

Let’s Make Galway European Capital of Culture in 2020! For information on how to get involved in the weeks and months ahead, e mail [email protected], find us on facebook, follow us on twitter or visit www.galway2020.ie