The Arts continues to engage our imaginations as the nights draw in and the cold mornings induce shivers.
Painter Mary Swanzy had a remarkable life, that saw her leave Ireland to travel widely including sailing to Hawaii and Samoa in the 1920s. Despite her obvious skill and talent, she herself was very conscious that her gender impacted negatively on her career. After the War of Independence when her cousin was killed by the IRA, she lived in London in a self-imposed exile. The IMMA exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with her extraordinary achievements and reinstate her as a Modern Irish Master. (From Oct 23 / www.imma.ie)
Speaking of wars, Junk Ensemble one of Ireland’s leading voices in dance theatre is bringing their acclaimed production Soldier Still on tour. A combination of dance and theatre and gorgeous design performed by four exceptional dancers and former Captain, Dr Tom Clonan, the production is a poetic and human perspective of the impact of violence. Blending movement, text, music, real stories and real people, Soldier Still explores the vulnerability, the viciousness and the trauma of violence. (more from www.junkensemble.com)
Woman Undone is a re-imagining of the extraordinary life of one of Ireland’s best loved singers Mary Coughlan. Created by award-winning Irish theatre company Brokentalkers and Mary Coughlan in collaboration with renowned Icelandic composer and music producer Valgeir Sigurdsson. It tells the story of a young woman who endured physical and sexual abuse, addiction and mental illness; whose discovery of art and music was instrumental in helping her to overcome trauma. The all-female cast including Mary Coughlan, Dublin-based folk pop quartet Mongoose, and dancer Erin O’Reilly. (www.projectartscentre.ie/brokentalkers)
Music Network bring us two highly gifted young soloists, Russian violinist Yury Revich and German cellist Benedict Kloeckner, sharing a stage for the first time in Ireland. A breath-taking journey through some of the most exquisite pieces in the classical canon including works by J.S. Bach, Reinhold Glière, Fritz Kreisler, Alessandro Rolla, Niccolò Paganini, Eugène Ysaÿe, Maurice Ravel is promised. A new work by Irish composer Sebastian Adams has been commissioned specially for this tour. (www.musicnetwork.ie)
Film director Mike Leigh orchestrates a superb ensemble cast in Peterloo, a rousing tale of working class uprising and its violent suppression in Manchester in 1819. It draws together so many of Leigh’s preoccupations: class consciousness, family dynamics, hypocrisy, humanism and the foibles of the male ego. It also led directly to the foundation of the Manchester Guardian. Starring Maxine Peake and Rory Kinnear.
If you are looking for a fight closer to home then Katie, a study of boxer Katie Taylor as she looks to reinstate her life after professional and personal upheaval, opens on October 26.
Maretta Dillon
Events around the Country / Oct Nov 2018
THE ENEMY WITHIN – THE SPANISH FLU IN IRELAND 1918-19
History and exhibition
The legacy of the Spanish Flu as seen in the folk medicines and cures used by the public to combat the pandemic.
Until April 7, 2019 / National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Information: museum.ie/country-life
MARY SWANZY MODERN IRISH MASTER
Visual Arts
Ireland’s first modernist painter was outspoken, and her work never received the attention it deserved.
From Oct 28-Feb 17 / Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), Dublin.
Admission free / information: imma.ie
WESTIVAL
Festival
A showcase of live music, late night antics, theatre, artistic adventures, family-friendly events and visual arts.
Oct 24-29 / Westport, Co. Mayo
Information and booking: westival.ie
KATIE
Film
Director Ross Whitaker’s study of boxer Katie Taylor seeking to rebuild her professional and personal life
Oct 25 nationwide
SOLDIER STILL
Theatre
A combination of dance and theatre: this is a poetic and human perspective on the impact of violence.
Nov 1 -22 / Junk Ensemble / various venues as part of a nationwide tour
Information: junkensemble.com/touring
PETERLOO
Film
Director Mike Leigh’s study of the 1819 Peterloo massacre when armed militias attacked peaceful marchers.
Nov 2 island wide.
SLIGO INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL
Choral
A stellar programme of singing events – competitions and concerts – with choirs from all around the world.
Nov 16-18 / Knocknarea Arena, Sligo, Co. Sligo
Information: sligochoralfest.com
BEFORE
Theatre
Pat Kinevane’s new play with much music, set in Clery’s of Dublin, on the very day the iconic store shuts – for good.
Nov 7 – Dec 8 / nationwide tour
Information and booking: fishamble.com
YURY REVICH AND BENEDICT KLOECKNER
Music
Virtuosi Russian violinist Yury Revich and German cellist Benedict Kloeckner share this classical music stage.
Nov 7 -12 / nationwide
Information and booking: musicnetwork.ie
SOUL CLAP ITS HANDS AND SING
Poetry and Traditional Music
Nessa O’Mahony (poet) and Dermot McLaughlin (fiddle) weave a collective spell.
Nov 8 / Poetry Ireland, 11 Parnell Square East, Dublin 1
Information: poetryireland.ie
YARN STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
Festival
Storytelling events taking place in venues throughout Bray and Mermaid Arts Centre.
Nov 10-18 / Bray, Co. Wicklow
Information and booking: mermaidartscentre.ie
WOMAN UNDONE
Theatre
A re-imagining of the extraordinary life of one of Ireland’s best loved singers Mary Coughlan..
Nov 17- 24 Project Arts Centre / Nov 29 Mermaid Arts Centre
Information: projectartscentre.ie/brokentalkers
MADELEINE PEYROUX
Music
22 years on from her debut record, Peyroux is regarded as one of the great interpreters in contemporary jazz.
Nov 20 / National Concert Hall, Dublin
Information and booking: nch.ie
AIDA
Opera
Verdi’s tale of love and war. A dilemma both personal and political.
Nov 24,27,29, Dec 1 / Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin 2
Information and booking: irishnationalopera.ie
Finally, if you would like your event to feature in our list of arts events please email: events.country@gmail.com
