Production examines community's reaction to IPAs

The true story of how Newbridge community reacted to the arrival of 100 international protection applicants in the autumn of 2023 is the basis of a production from the Crooked House Theatre Company on Saturday 21 June, writes Brian Byrne. Is Mise Éire Eile will be presented in the Riverbank Arts Centre.

Based on interviews with the applicants, community members and local leaders, and reactions to protests that lasted for weeks, Is Mise Eire Éile examines a community grappling with itself and learning how to connect with new residents.

The production was conceived and is directed by Emily B Ditkovski.

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CPC students 'Grease' engages, entertains, enthralls

A stunning performance of Grease won the CPC TY student members of cast and crew standing ovations last night at the first of three performances in the school's Assembly Hall, writes Brian Byrne. The evergreen musical of teenage love and angst set in an American high school in 1952 was interpreted brilliantly by an extraordinarily talented bunch of 2025 young people in Kilcullen.

Enthusiasm, verve, grace, pathos, passion, singing and dance talent and sheer great fun was the order of the stage from some 120 students out on the boards. Many others provided the unseen but essential backstage support, the front of house management, and the set design and construction, marketing and other many functions of artistic production were shared between students and CPC staffers.

First night performance jitters might have been expected, but instead the whole evening passed in a seamless and colourful entertainment worthy of a professional production anywhere.

Next year marks the 30th anniversary of CPC's involvement in Transition Year and through decades the lead Grease characters of Danny and Sandy, along with their Rydell High classmates, have told their enduring story in Cross and Passion many times. Whatever the TY musical choice in any year, it is a highlight not just for those involved but for audiences fortunate enough to get tickets to the invariably sellout shows. This year is no exception and kudos to all concerned.

Lead parts were played by Sean Plunkett and Zoe Moran, in the company of T-Birds Fionn O'Brien, Tom Hanamy, Jack Sammon and Fionn Conroy, and Pink Ladies Tara McNally, Bethany Swaine, Roisin Munnelly and Tanesha Murape. The whole cast of primary and ensemble dancers gave displays worthy of Dancing with the Stars pros. The direction by Tanya Gallagher, choreography by Emmett O'Sullivan, musical direction by Susan Fox and Angie Lawrence were all assisted by students. There are too many names to reproduce here, but if you can get your hands on the really excellent programme, well supported by local business and community advertising, they're all deservedly named there.

At this stage, we have run out of superlatives for CPC musicals, so just thank you all for a wonderfully enjoyable night.

Some of the photos are shown here, as usual all the Diary's pictures can be seen at this link. 

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New play for young people at Riverbank

A new play for young audiences opens at the Riverbank Arts Centre on Saturday 22 April, writes Brian Byrne.

'The Wrens', written by Dan Colley, is about a collection of 'tricksters' living in the bushes at the edge of town, of whom the townspeople are wary. But those same people are happy to avail of services such as healing spells, love potions, and haircuts available from the residents of the gorse.

It's for young people aged 8 and above, and perhaps a different way of interpreting the old history of the 'wrens' who lived in destitution on the Curragh during the British Army times. It is described as 'poignant, funny and wildly speculative'.

Dan Colley is Theatre Artist in Residence at the Riverbank Arts Centre, a creative director specialising in  ensemble-devised theatre, theatre for young audiences, comedy, community participation, puppetry, and outdoor spectacle.

'The Wrens' is co-commissioned by Draíocht and co-produced by Riverbank Arts Centre, supported both by Fishamble’s New Play Clinic and The Ark; funded by the Arts Council of Ireland.

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'Making Waves' at Riverbank, for children with special needs

A dance theatre performance designed especially for children with mild or more complex needs will be coming to the Riverbank Arts Centre on Saturday next 11 March, writes Brian Byrne.

There will be two performances of Making Waves, at 12.30pm and 2pm, and the show by Jess Rowell, in association with Draíocht, is designed specifically for children aged 8-13 years with special needs.

The ambience is highly interactive, on the theme of the performers setting sail to find hidden treasure. Audience members are seated in family pods on stage, representing boats and each can accommodate six people.

Making Waves is funded by The Arts Council with support by Draíocht, Blanchardstown, Axis Ballymun, Riverbank Arts Centre & Mermaid Arts Centre, with additional support from Kildare County Council Arts Service. Jess Rowell is supported by Branar Meitheal 2022-2023.

Tickets are €8 and can be booked through the Box Office, either in person or by telephone on 045 448327 Monday to Friday 9.30am-5pm (closed for lunch 2-2.30) and Saturday 10am-1pm. Tickets for this event are only available via the Box Office.

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'The Murder of Wolfe Tone' coming to Riverbank

The connection of Irish republican Wolfe Tone with Kildare is revived every year by the processions of different political entities to his grave at Bodenstown to claim his memory to their cause, writes Brian Byrne. 

Which should make a performance in the Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge on 24 February a very interesting way of spending an evening for local people interested in the United Irishmen movement Tone founded, disastrously crushed in the insurrection of 1798.

The Murder of Wolfe Tone by historical entertainer Paddy Cullivan is part of a tour of his two shows, the other being Michael Collins, which is criss-crossing the country until midsummer.

Wolfe Tone died in prison in advance of his scheduled execution, reportedly by suicide. Cullivan's performance in song, story, imagery and presentation of research looks to unpicking what are often considered mysteries, conspiracies and lies around Tone's death.

Tickets for The Murder of Wolfe Tone are priced €15 and can be booked through the Riverbank Box Office, either in person or by telephone on 045 448327 Monday to Friday 9.30am-5pm (closed for lunch 2-2.30pm) and Saturday 10am-1pm. Tickets can also be booked 24/7 on www.riverbank.ie.

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CPC students in Moat Theatre panto

A number of Cross & Passion College 5th Year students are involved in Mary McLaughlin's Panto Club presentation of 'A Pan Tale' in the Moat Theatre Naas.

A small number of tickets are available for tonight's performance, Sunday 15 January, either at the door or from the theatre's website moattheatre.com.

The CPC performers are James Groome, Ellie Breen,  Kevin O'Connell,  Conor Melinn, Lucy Tanner and Katie Smith.

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Frankie Gavin for 34th Hopkins Festival

July 22 to 28 will feature the 34th annual International Hopkins Festival in Newbridge College. The Festival celebrates the work and wide interests of the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889) who spent the last years of his life in Dublin and who often visited Kildare on his various travels.

The Irish Music night will feature legendary fiddler Frankie Gavin in concert with concertina player Noel Hill, regarded by many as the best performer on that instrument. They will play in Newbridge College Theatre on Saturday July 23rd at 8pm. Admission €25 — advance booking advised for what will surely be a memorable event.

Another highlight of a packed week will be a one-man performance by renowned actor Barry McGovern, who has a worldwide reputation as an interpreter of the work of Samuel Beckett. His performance will take place in the College Theatre at 8pm on Wednesday 27th July and already has generated considerable interest.

A packed week of events will include a Writing Workshop in Newbridge Library on the Saturday morning, conducted this year by noted American poet Patricia Miller. Bring 25 copies of your poem for assessment by an expert.

The Youth Programme runs all week and is geared to the non-specialist, with a wide variety of activities and workshops, including one on Music. Hopkins was a conservationist and this facet will be commemorated with a Nature Walk along the Liffey, led by Michael Jacob, on the Wednesday from 11.30am. 

There will be a rich variety of Poetry Readings by writers from around the globe and some 20 countries will be represented this year, our record to date. Leinster Print Studios will stage a week-long Art Exhibition in the College and the legendary sessions in various pubs each evening always prove enjoyable and inclusive.

The Festival will be opened by the UK Ambassador Paul Johnson, a Hopkins enthusiast, during a reception at 7pm on Friday 22nd.

Web: gerardmanleyhopkins.org. E: abbottviv@gmail.com 

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Much Ado from the Moat Club

The Moat Club theatre group will be staging Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, outdoors in St David's Church grounds for five performances in July, writes Brian Byrne. The show will be on 6-10 July beginning at 7.30pm each evening.

The piece is set in the 1920s, in what the group describe as a 'post-war blow-out period following war and Spanish Flu. The production is directed by Lianne O'Shea.

Tickets are on sale from today, in sets of two and four, from €40 for two people. The price includes a pre-show drink.

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'Tom Crean: Antarctic Explorer', streaming tonight from Riverbank

Image by Play on Words Theatre.

If you have never managed to see Aidan Dooley's performance as Antarctic explorer Tom Crean, you can do so this evening courtesy of the Riverbank Arts Centre, writes Brian Byrne.

The show, by Play on Words Theatre, will be streamed tonight from 7pm, with tickets purchasable for €10.

'Uplifting', 'Magnificent', 'Rewarding', 'Unparalleled' are just some of the descriptions from Ireland's top theatre critics for the show, which has had sell-out performances throughout Ireland, USA, Australia, Europe and the UK.

You can book your ticket here, and watch the show on your computer, tablet, or phone (ED NOTE: from any of which you should be able to mirror it to your smart home TV and get the best experience).

Tickets must be booked before 7pm. (ED NOTE 2: It would make an enjoyable history lesson with the home-schooling youngsters.)

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Samovar, a Frank McGuinness play with Kilcullen director

Luna Collective recently released a new online piece of theatre, Samovar, a newly-written piece by critically-acclaimed Irish playwright Frank McGuinness. The production is an exploration into the unknown fate of Swedish humanitarian, Raoul Wallenberg, following his capture by Soviet forces during World War II.

"We were very honoured at Luna Collective to be trusted with this piece by Frank and are extremely proud of the finished product," says Rachel O'Sullivan from Kilcullen, one of the Luna Collective founders, who directed the production.

Samovar was made in collaboration with and funded by the UCD Ad Astra Academy.

ED: With Ryan O'Donnell as Anton and Graham Butler Breen as Raoul Wallenberg, Samovar is an intense and superbly presented piece of theatre. Less than 15 minutes long, a period of lockdown time well worth taking to watch it.

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'Making Theatre' video from Griese Youth Theatre

A video produced by the Griese Youth Theatre group in Ballitore is now online as a resource for young children, writes Brian Byrne.

The Secret to Making Theatre is the first of a series planned by the group, and features Aoife as presenter, narrator, and videographer.

The video is half an hour long, made on location in the Ballitore Meeting House which is the HQ of the group.

On a dull day when you can't get the youngsters out of the house, it's highly recommended. And series 2 is in the making. It could easily result in a number of home-bound children's theatres presentations across the county.

The project is in association with the Kildare Leader Partnership.



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'The Mental' performance for Woodbine Books

Pics: The Mental

Woodbine Books will be hosting a performance of John MacKenna's one-man play, The Mental, as part of Kilcullen 700. It's planned for 7.30pm on 2 May and tickets at €10 are available in the bookshop.

The Mental is a warm and gentle story of one man's journey through a life that might have followed a different path.

Set in St Joseph's psychiatric hospital in 1990, The Mental is the story of John Salter, a man who has been in psychiatric care for 40 years for 'attempting to do a good deed'. But times are changing and patients are moving into community houses — something John Salter is resisting.

"If I go, who'll get the crows up in the morning and who'll get them into their nests at night?" he asks.

Castledermot-born writer John MacKenna is a former award-winning RTE producer who is also the author of several novels, short story collections, plays for radio and stage, and poetry works.

The Mental, directed by Angela Keogh, was premiered and toured in the autumn of 2018. A promotional video for the play can be seen on the Woodbine Books Facebook page.

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