A busy time for the Arts as we head into the Autumn. If you still need some sun, then check out Sorolla: Spanish Master of Light at the National Gallery. Impressionist Sorolla earned the sobriquet Master of Light from fellow artist Claude Monet who admired his technical skill in depicting water and light. He travelled widely throughout Spain, but his breezy and vivid beach scenes of children, bathers, fisherfolk and workers remain wonderfully evocative of the Mediterranean. An extensive learning programme accompanies the exhibition. See nationalgallery.ie for more.
Sculpture in Context at the National Botanic Gardens is something of a win-win for both parties. Over 140 sculptures, from the surreal and straightforward to the fantastical and whimsical, will be found nestling in the shrubberies and standing in the shade of the trees throughout the gardens, as well as in and out of the ponds, Great Palm House, and Curvilinear Range. Smaller indoor works will be shown in the Gallery in the Visitor Centre. From Sept 7 at botanicgardens.ie
Four leading traditional musicians, Tara Breen, Laoise Kelly, Josephine Marsh and Nell Ní Chróinín, pool their considerable talents in the opening concert series from Music Network. (musicnetwork.ie for details)
September signals that it is time once again for the Dublin Theatre Festival. As usual, there is a dizzying array of theatrical goodies on offer. Among these is Hecuba, a new play from Rough Magic which re-imagines of the aftermath of the Trojan War and the events surrounding its iconic characters. While in The Playboy of the Western World, an all-female creative team promise a fresh new take on a classic. International work is not forgotten with the revisit of OBIE Award-winning Nilaja Sun and her one-woman show, Pike St. fresh from critical acclaim in the U.S. Delve deeper at dublintheatrefestival.ie
Downton Abbey hits cinemas on Sept 13 – you’re either a fan or not, but you won’t be able to ignore it. Irish film director John Crowley of Brooklyn fame has a new film, The Goldfinch, based on the book of the same name by Donna Tartt on release on Sept 27. While Renée Zellweger, no slouch in the singing department, takes on the title role of Judy Garland in Judy. Oscar-winner Zellweger delivers a note-perfect performance as Garland during the last year of her life in the moving adaptation of the stage play End of the Rainbow. Music biopics have proved very popular of late, and anticipation is high for this one – October 4 everywhere.
Finally, Culture Night is back on September 20 – bigger, better, and pretty much everywhere (culturenight.ie).
Maretta Dillon
Events around the Country / Sept-Oct 2019
SOROLLA: SPANISH MASTER OF LIGHT
Visual Arts
Impressionist Joanquín Sorolla’s life and work are celebrated in this stunning exhibition. Gorgeous.
Until Nov 3 / National Gallery of Ireland
Information and booking: nationalgallery.ie
SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT
Sculpture
A thought-provoking collection of work that bridges the gap between art and nature in an outside setting.
Sept 5- Oct 18 / National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
Information: botanicgardens.ie
VAGABONES
Opera
Raymond Deane’s new opera based on Emma Donoghue’s play about a witch trial in Youghal, Co. Cork in 1661.
Sept 6-13/ Civic Theatre, Tallaght and tours to other venues
Information + booking: operacollectiveireland.com
ARÁN & IM
Theatre
Manchán Magan celebrates the Irish language using sourdough bread and home-churned butter.
Sept 7 / as part of Garter Lane Arts centre’s Harvest festival and then touring
Information + booking: garterlane.ie / manchan.com
SPOTLIGHT CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Music
These four concerts showcase an eclectic range of repertoire and a wide variety of instrumental formations.
Sept 7, Oct 5, Nov 23, Dec 14 / Triskel Arts Centre, Cork city.
Information and booking: triskelartscentre.ie
TARA BREEN, LAOISE KELLY, JOSEPHINE MARSH AND NELL NÍ CHRÓINÍN
Music
Four traditional musicians who have been setting the bar high both at home and around the globe.
Sept 11-23 / island wide tour
Information + booking: musicnetwork.ie
CULTURE NIGHT
Festival
Wrap up in culture, as heaps of places and spaces host a programme of free late-night entertainment.
Sept 20 / island wide
Information: culturenight.ie
DUBLIN THEATRE FESTIVAL
Festival
Rough Magic presents Marina Carr’s play Hecuba, a passionate re-imaging of the aftermath of the Trojan War.
Sept 26- Oct 13 / part of Dublin Theatre Festival in various venues.
Information: dublintheatrefestival.ie
THE GOLDFINCH
Film
Irish director, John Crowley directs the adaptation of Donna Tartt’s book set in the world of art forgery.
Sept 27 / island wide
DUBRAY STORYFEST
Festival
A fun-filled, creative festival for children aged 0-12 and their families. If you like stories, it’s the place to be!
Sept 28/ Airfield Estate, Dundrum, Dublin 14
Information + booking: dubraybooks.ie/storyfest
JUDY
Film
Garland travelled to London in 1969 for a series of sell-out concerts. Renée Zellweger is super as Judy.
Oct 4/ islandwide.
WEXFORD SPIEGELTENT FESTIVAL
Festival
The 2019 programme includes musicians Jools Holland, Sinead O’Connor as well as comedian John Bishop.
Oct 11-28 / Wexford
Information and booking: wexfordspiegeltent.com
Finally, if you would like your event to feature in our list of arts activities, please email: events.country@gmail.com
