APRIL 2008
The Irish Sopranos
With their sensational voices and stunning good looks, The Irish Sopranos wow audiences wherever they go. Wendy Dwyer, Kay Lynch and Deirdre Masterson are the crème de la crème of Irish classical vocal talent. All three have had extensive training and each possesses a very distinctive, very individual voice. When these voices come together, the result is a breathtaking creation of ravishing harmonies. An evening with The Irish Sopranos is at once uplifting and great fun. One minute the audience is transported by the heavenly quality of the sound, the next they are tapping their feet, clapping and singing along to the best loved songs from classical, Irish and popular music.
Main Auditorium - Thurs 3 April - 8pm - Tickets: €22/€20
An Evening of Dance
Marion Lennon School of Ballet
Come and enjoy an Evening of Dance with The Marian Lennon School of Ballet. The young energetic dancers demonstrate their skills in classical ballet, modern and contemporary dance. An Evening of Dance offers something for everyone to enjoy as the young students perform a rich and varied repertoire.
Main Auditorium - Fri 4 & Sat 5 April - 8pm - Tickets: €20/€15
Eoin - Wed 9 April, 8.15pm
Eoin McDonagh is a singer songwriter from Dublin with a vibrant new sound. In his early teens he began singing publicly at smaller venues and concerts, showcasing a progressing talent. His distinct soulful voice puts a funky spin on his rock/pop sound and he is destined to go places. Don't miss the opportunity to experience the musical energy of this up and coming star.
Over the Rainbow – The Life Story of Eva Cassidy
Theatre Productions. Starring Faye Tozer from Steps
This award winning show contains projection and original footage from Eva Cassidy’s life, following it from the age of 10 growing up in a musical family, to her first professional gig aged 18, her first meeting with her boyfriend and mentor Chris Biondo, a rabble-rousing rendition and recording at Blues Alley and culminating in her poignant and tragic death at the tender age of 33. She was discovered by Terry Wogan who promoted her music to the top of the album charts in the UK and now Europe, Australia and throughout the World. This show pays a genuine and heartfelt tribute to a true artist who was not interested in fame and fortune but wanted nothing more than to create beautiful music.
Main Auditorium - Thurs 10 April - 8pm - Tickets: €22/€20
Mozaik
Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny, Bruce Molsky, Nikola Parov, Rens van der Zalm
First envisaged by venerable vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Andy Irvine (Planxty, Patrick Street), Mozaik is the ultimate global string band- a truly international ensemble who can not only perform music from a wide array of cultures, but interweave their myriad influences into an entirely new sound. Mozaik moves effortlessly from Celtic to old-time to Eastern European music, with intricate string arrangements complementing Andy and Bruce's vocals. The line-up boasts musicians as versatile and eclectic as the music created between them, whose traditions and styles are distinct, yet blend beautifully to form a cohesive work of art. Long time fans from Irvine's Planxty days, will be aware that he has been experimenting with Eastern European melodies and rhythms for a long time now, which is a style he incorporates magnificently into this band.
Main Auditorium - Sat 12 April - 8pm - Tickets: €22 / €20
Showcase 2008
In aid of the Laura Lynn Hospice Foundation
VoiceWorks – a drama school established by Maeve O’Donoghue in Dublin 15 in 1978 – will showcase a term’s work in aid of The Laura Lynn Hospice. Sit back and enjoy a selection of dramatic extracts, poetry, mime, dance, drama and recitals presented by talented young people from 6 to 18 years and introduced and stage managed by senior Voiceworks students.
Main Auditorium - Tues 15 April - 7.30pm - Tickets: €12
A Musical Evening with Castleknock Community College
Following the success of the 10th Anniversary Concert in April 2005, the staff and students of Castleknock Community College are proud to present a feast of music, song and dance. We are delighted to welcome Neillidh Mulligan, an outstanding uilleann piper as the guest act on both nights. The programme of music will be wide and varied and will include Irish traditional, classical, choral and modern genres, giving the students an opportunity to perform and display their talents. It promises to be a wonderful night of entertainment.
Main Auditorium - Fri 18 & Sat 19 April - 8pm - Tickets: €20/€10
Music of the Night
Coolmine Musical Society
Fresh from their success with Copacabana, Coolmine Musical Society invite you to join them for this magical evening of entertainment, an evening of Andrew Lloyd-Webber, with songs from some of the best loved musicals of recent times. The performance will feature the talents of some of the stars of Copacabana as well as other Coolmine stalwarts, new local talent, special guests and the Coolmine Chorus. Let us transport you from Blanchardstown to Broadway with this unmissable show!
Main Auditorium - Thurs 24 & Fri 25 April - 8pm - Tickets: €20/€15
Ballet Extravaganza 2008
Ballet Ireland
Ballet Ireland presents three groundbreaking brand new ballets based on stories by the renowned Irish dramatist and poet, Oscar Wilde. First of these is Salomé, which will include the legendary dance of the seven veils. The Picture of Dorian Gray, the extraordinary tale of narcissistic Dorian Gray and his aging portrait in the attic, and The Birthday of the Infantin. The programme will also include a brand new production of Ravel’s Bolero. With Choreography by Artistic Director Günther Falusy, associate choreographer Morgan Runacre-Temple and guest choreographer Michael Corder this promises to be a very exciting new programme. Ballet Extravaganza 2008 follows on the enormous success of their last 2 gala seasons, Diaghilev and the Red Shoes (2005) and the Tchaikovsky Celebration Gala (2006).
Main Auditorium - Sat 26 April - 8pm - Tickets: €18/€16/€12 (under 16’s)
Funny Women – Irish Heats
The NIVEA Funny Women Awards 2008, now in their 6th year, encourages any woman who thinks she’s got what it takes to perform live Stand Up to give it a try! Funny Women are scouring the UK and Ireland for the brightest and freshest new comedy talent, with the final to be held at the prestigious Comedy Store in London. Come along for a night of the best brand new comedy talent that Ireland has to offer, plus a chance to win fantastic NIVEA goodies in aid of Ovarian cancer action! To enter please visit www.funnywomen.com. Funny Women Comedy Workshop also available - find your female funny with our skilled trainers.
This show contains strong language and adult content.
Draíocht Studio - Wed 30 April - 8.15pm - Tickets: €7
Comedy Workshop, 5-7pm, cost €45
MAY 2008
Freddie White
Freddie White has long been synonymous with music of the highest quality. Whether interpreting songs by his favourite 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. His latest album released in February 2008, ‘Stormy Lullaby’, is a stunning collection of eleven moody tracks in which Freddie’s musicianship and voice shine through. The album has an acoustic feel thanks to the input of a small, tight group of musicians from his native Cork. Some tracks are newly written, while others (not previously recorded by Freddie) have proven their worth by becoming firm favourites with his live audiences. It is often said of Freddie that he does not merely ‘cover’ great songs; more often than not he improves on the originals.
Main Auditorium - Thurs 1 May - 8pm - Tickets: €20/€18
Forgotten
Fishamble Theatre Company in association with Pat Kinevane
‘Has no one a skitter o’ dignity left?’ Forgotten is a solo piece of theatre which reveals the interconnecting stories of four people, ranging in age from 80 to 100 years old. It is at times challengingly dark and at other times, startlingly hilarious. Forgotten is presented in a fusion of European and Japanese Kabuki theatrical styles. Fishamble is one of Ireland’s most dynamic theatre companies and is dedicated to the discovery, development and production of new work for the Irish stage. The company won the Irish Times Irish Theatre Special Judges’ Award for creativity and innovation at the start of 2007, and Pat Kinevane has been nominated for the Judges' Special Award in the Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards for 2008. Following these performances at Draíocht, Forgotten will be performed in Prague and Edinburgh. Forgotten is Directed by Jim Culleton and Produced by Marketa Puzman.
Draíocht Studio
Fri 2 May, 8.15pm, Tickets €16/€14
Sat 3 May, 8.15pm, Tickets €25
Saturday performance is a Benefit Night for St Michael’s Link Project
Fingal County Youth Orchestra
With members aged between 9 and 19 years, Fingal County Youth Orchestra members showcase Fingal’s classical musical talent in their end-of-season performance concert, with conductors André Cavanagh (Seniors) and Karen Joyce (Juniors). Founded in 1990 as the West Dublin Youth Orchestra, the orchestra draws its members from all parts of Fingal and beyond. 2007 and 2008 saw the highest growth in membership recorded for years. Rehearsing fortnightly in Castleknock, the Orchestra combines classical music with good craic, including public, charity, and competitive performances, away trips, and musical workshops. The major highlight of the 2007-2008 season (so far) was a trip to Scotland in October, featuring 50 players in concert in the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle and the Chapel Royal of Stirling Castle, two locations intimately associated with major occasions in Scottish history.
Main Auditorium - Thurs 8 – Sat 10 May - 8pm - Tickets: €20/€18
Inherit the Wind
Classic Revival
Loosely based on the true Scopes Monkey Trial in America in 1925, this is a titanic courtroom battle where a teacher is brought to trial for teaching the Darwin theory of evolution in violation of state law. A number of films were made on the subject, the most successful one starred Spencer Tracey and Frederick March as the opposing lawyers on the subject of evolution versus creation. The authors specifically state that the time is ‘not too long ago. It might have been yesterday. It could be tomorrow’. There is still much controversy going on in academia on the subject. Directed by Pegeen Coleman and starring many familiar faces on stage as well as some new ones.
Draíocht Studio - Tues 13 – Sat 17 May - 8.15pm - Tickets: €16/€14
Juliet Turner
With three studio albums, a live album, double platinum sales and a Meteor Music Award under her belt, Juliet Turner needed a change of scene in 2007 so in October she returned to Trinity College Dublin to undertake a four year BSc in Clinical Speech and Language Studies. Song-writing and performing continued alongside and Juliet has been recording a new album with producer Keith Lawless in a Dublin warehouse over the last few months. Ever evolving, ever watchful of the human condition, Juliet is one of Ireland’s most intriguing female song writers. She now returns to the stage with a new batch of songs to accompany her classic material. The new material is thoughtful and less acerbic than some of her previous writing and the narrative lines running through the album are sympathetic and full of warmth.
Main Auditorium - Fri 16 May - 8pm - Tickets: €20/€18
Sonny Knowles & his Big Band
Celebrating 50 years in showbiz, Sonny Knowles can be considered the inventor of showmanship and style. He is one of those rare Dublin personalities whose popularity with the ordinary man and woman knows no bounds. Having beaten cancer not just once but twice, Sonny is determined to recapture his place among the great live performers of the Irish music scene. His comeback show will feature Sonny and his big band, plus guests, performing hits from ‘The Very Best of Sonny Knowles’, his latest album released in Oct 2007. This collection of hits is just an example of Sonny’s great style and showmanship. As you listen you can visualise the sharp suits and the shining hair and the big smile that has endured for five decades.
Main Auditorium - Sat 17 May - 8pm Tickets: €28/€25
Oirfia Trio
The three members of the Oirfia Trio Geraldine O'Grady (violin), Aishling Drury-Byrne (cello), and Veronica McSwiney (piano) are distinguished musicians in their own right. Recently the three friends decided to come together to explore the treasure-trove of chamber music written for piano trio. They now present concerts which include trios by the great classical composers and also some popular solo pieces. Their programmes are proving to be extremely popular with concert goers throughout Ireland.
Draíocht Studio - Tues 27 May - 8.15pm - Tickets: €18/€16
JUNE 2008
Stagezone on Stage
The pupils of Stagezone Theatre School present another extravaganza of song and dance with excerpts from the very best of musical theatre. They will feature an extract from their very successful production of ‘Oliver’ which was staged in March together with hip hop and jazz dance routines, comedy and singing. This is a highly entertaining family show showcasing the many talented pupils in the school.
Main Auditorium - Sat 31 May & Sun 1 June - 2pm & 7.30pm
Tickets: €17/€15
An Evening with Liam Clancy
Ten42 Productions
Since coming out of retirement in 2004 Liam Clancy has been delighting capacity audiences in theatres the length and breath of Ireland, and enjoying the occasional festival appearance abroad. His greatest hits double CD ‘The Essential Liam Clancy’ was the biggest selling folk album of 2006, inspiring Liam to return to the studio for the first time in over a decade in Autumn 07 to record a new album. Liam’s new show for 2008 will mix a selection of songs from the new CD with stories and poems he has gathered over his long and illustrious career as a performer.
Main Auditorium - Sat 7 June - 8pm
Tickets: €25/€22
Spréacha
Fingal's International Arts Festival for children, Spréacha 2008 is a seven day international arts festival for children taking place in June at Draíocht. Spréacha shows are perfect for school groups and families with events programmed in and out of school time. Spréacha is presented by Draíocht in partnership with Fingal County Council.
Mon 9 - Sun 15 June - Tickets: €5
Over and Out By Robert Massey
Lane Productions
Meet Ray, Arthur and Maurice, three security guards working in a large shopping centre complex on the outskirts of Dublin City. Ray is angry. He feels threatened by the number of ‘New Irish’ being employed by the security company he works for. The final straw comes when Polish Pete is promoted to be his supervisor and Ray gets fired. Arthur considers himself a liberal. Live and let live. But his only son has just told him he is gay. Arthur won’t have it and has to put him straight. Maurice is stuck in the middle. He is content. His internet Russian bride-to-be arrives tomorrow and he can’t wait to begin his new life. From the producers of I Keano and Alone it Stands, Over and Out is a new comedy that explores themes of family, friendship, fear of change, facing who we really are, and what it means to be a worker in the Ireland of today.
This show contains strong language and adult content.
Main Auditorium - Thurs 19 – Sat 21 June - 8pm
Tickets: €20/€18 |
