Upcoming at the Moat Theatre

Val O' Donnell's hilarious Flann’s Yer Only Man comes to Naas on Thursday 27 April, writes Celine Garvey of the Moat Theatre. It’s based on the life and work of Flann O’Brien, aka Myles na Gopaleen, aka Brian O’Nolan (1911-1966), who is widely regarded as Ireland’s finest satirist since Jonathan Swift. Val O’Donnell re-enacts a wide range of extracts from the humorist’s novels and his celebrated Cruiskeen Lawn column in the Irish Times. These are linked with key biographical events in the writer’s life.

All the great names of country music will be on one stage on Friday 28 April in The Legends of American Country. Boasting itself as Ireland’s No 1 Country Music Tribute, it features the music of eight of the biggest names on the American scene including Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard , Alan Jackson, Buck Owens and Johnny Cash. Each singer performs a string of hits with costume changes and a live six piece band that will include some of Ireland’s top musicians. To add the finishing touches a show that has sold out several theatres on the tour, there is a specially designed stage set to create the atmosphere and give the audience that real American experience.

Ronnie Drew’s son Phelim will take over The Moat’s stage with his own brand of entertainment this May. Down and Out in Paris and London on 5 May is about a man drifting through life in 1920s Paris, scraping by in dead end jobs and generally soaking up the rich underbelly of Parisian life. He finds himself falling helplessly short and discovering a very different view of life, looking up from below. With a keen understanding of social inequality and a wry sense of humour, he vividly recounts his experiences while down and out. This powerful performance from Phelim Drew brings Orwell’s classic to the stage with humour, empathy and wit.

Bookings and more details www.moattheatre.com or 085 7196050.