Jackula, Civic Theatre
Jackula has never been a scary vampire, unlike his older, more famous, brother, Dracula. Instead of creating scares, he created tricks in his bedroom - from juggling, to balancing acts involving water...
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Tingo, Smock Alley Theatre
The opening sequence of Tingo, the title of Cian Ó Ceallachain and Jessie Doyle's new play and produced by Underdog Theatre Productions, gives a good hint at what might be on the cards as they quickly...
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Taking Stock of Big Shot The Musical
'What's a man to do?' the bigshot 'never loses a case ' lawyer sings in one of the best songs of the night. Lauryn Gaffney, book, music and lyric writer of this new musical, didn't seem to ask any such...
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Visiting Mr. Green, Viking Theatre, Dublin
Jeff Baron's first play, Visiting Mr. Green, has finally arrived in Ireland. 1996 was its first outing, before finding a slot in New York, and then flying around the world, including the West End. The...
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The Bells Of, Theatre Upstairs
Barry McEvoy's new play, The Bells Of, feels a little bit like the title itself, somewhat unresolved, and also uncertain. The setting is small town America through the eyes of four characters, two...
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From Eden, Theatre Upstairs
It's New Year's Eve, 'organised fun' Eva calls it as she converses with shy, awkward New Year's Eve hater Alan, both taking refuge in the bathroom of Tom's house where the party is. It is something...
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Snake Eaters, The New Theatre
"War isn't over when it ends, some pictures never leave your mind". A line from Miss Saigon came to my mind while watching Stewart Roche's new two act play Snake Eaters at The New Theatre. Hillis is...
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Pleasure Ground, Smock Alley
December in theatre is always that mix of festive and non-festive fare. It is also the time when the 'lists' are in the air; being considered, or maybe even written. I didn't do one last year, and the...
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A Christmas Carol, Smock Alley Theatre
Charles Dickens' tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge is no stranger to adaptation. There have been many since it was first published in 1843. It isn't a stranger to Christmas either, becoming part of the festive...
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Way Beyond The Blue, Theatre Upstairs
The idea of the central character, simply called 'The Woman', taking photos as she wanders her town is very apt for our world of selfies, instagram and every other social media outlet. The idea that we...
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The Aran Islands, Viking Theatre Dublin
The Aran Islands has a remoteness that perhaps today is not as noticeable, aided by the hotels, B&Bs, ferrries or small planes that bring the visiting tourists there daily. When J.M. Synge visited...
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Sure Thing, Bewley's Cafe Theatre @ Powerscourt
Today was a first: seeing a horse race projected onto the back wall of the theatre through Wayne as he wills his chosen nag on in Eric O'Brien and Jed Murray's Sure Thing. Projections, like any...
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Microdisney, The New Theatre
A rock like structure stands at the centre of the stage. Then comes the sound of moving water, the tidal movements, perhaps. Followed by the main character, in a white dress, taking her place at the...
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The Poor Little Boy With No Arms, Project Arts Centre
Colour is used very well in One Duck's production of The Poor Little Boy With No Arms, a dark comedy devised by the company and Mikel Murfi, and is apt for Skibberceannaigh that has the mantle of being...
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Spandex Blues, Smock Alley
The company's name, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, did bring a smile to my face, the first of the night, but unfortunately it wasn't one of many. The idea itself is bright and intriguing from the mind of Diane...
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School Of Rock - The Musical, Original Cast Album
'There's no way you can stop, the school of rock' is sung at the end of the rebellious and wonderful 'Stick It To the Man'. The thing is, the lyric is so, so true. Since the cast album arrived at...
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Made In China, Viking Theatre
Mark O'Rowe's play was first performed in 2001 at The Abbey Theatre, taking a look at an imagined Dublin gangland, where, despite Hughy's mother being in intensive care, the gang leader, who is never...
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Soundtrack of a Twenty-Something, Smock Alley Theatre
While there are a number of themes and ideas in Caoimhe Cassidy's one 'human' show, 'Soundtrack of a Twenty-Something', the idea that we use outside devices among other things to distract, maybe even...
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The Curse Of The Button Accordian, Smock Alley Theatre
Sharon is a worrier, her prime worry being the end of the world. And that it might start in Roscommon. She is also not good at anything, which isn't so great considering her Dad was in a very succesful...
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The Dead School, Civic Theatre
Ripped apart paper scatters the floor, among the shreds are hard-backed books, a table stands upright against the wall, and Malachy Dudgeon sits alone on the floor when Father Stokes enters. Dudgeon...
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