Upcoming Entertainment at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre in February 2015
Exhibiting in February at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Birr, Co. Offaly – (057) 9122911 / www.birrtheatre.com.
The Romantic Tragedy – Ann McKenna
In this new body of work Ann explores this theme which she feels is visited time and time again from ancient legends such as Tóraíocht Dhiarmada agus Gráinne, to Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and Emily Bronte’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ – stories which are immortalised through their intense passion and drama. The drawn image is at the essence of her work and the capacity to visually narrate across language and age barriers is integral to her work as an artist.
Open Mon-Fri 1.00 – 5.30pm and during performances until Monday 16th March 2015.
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Tuesday 3 February at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Birr, Co. Offaly –(057) 9122911 / www.birrtheatre.com.
Film@BirrTheatre– “Pioneer”
Dir: Erik Skjoldbjærg, 2013, Norway, 106 mins, Cert: 15A, Language: Norwegian.
Starring: Aksel Hennie, Wes Bentley, Stephen Lang, Stephanie Sigman, Andre Eriksen.
Skjoldbjærg delivers another smart, suspense-filled tour de force, set in the eerie underwater world of the Norwegian Sea where, in the early 1980s, rich deposits of gas and oil have been located deep below the ocean floor. With both commercial interests and national pride at stake, Norwegian and American companies collaborate on developing new methods to extract these natural resources. Professional deep-sea diver Petter (Hennie) is part of an elite team, but following a test-dive accident he’s treated in a disturbingly underhand fashion, leading him to wonder whether there is more to his ‘accident’ than meets the eye.
€5/€3
8pm
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Thursday 5 February at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Birr, Co. Offaly – (057) 9122911 / www.birrtheatre.com.
Catalpa
Written and performed by Donal O’Kelly / Live music by Trevor Knight.
Catalpa is a story in the great epic tradition of Moby Dick and Gone With The Wind – with a passing glance at The Great Escape – all in the vibrant imagination of a rejected screenwriter! From New Bedford, USA to Fremantle, Australia, across the high seas on the whaling ship Catalpa and based on the true story of the daring 1875 rescue of six Irish prisoners, Catalpa is about heroes and visionaries, political intrigue and personal loyalty, with hot romance, bumbling rebels and battles at sea. An epic adventure that challenges the nature of heroism and a celebration of the power of live theatre, lyrical and passionate, satirical and very funny,
€16/€14
8pm
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Tuesday 10 February at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Birr, Co. Offaly –(057) 9122911 / www.birrtheatre.com.
Film@BirrTheatre– “Before the Winter Chill” (Avant L’Hiver)
Dir: Philippe Claudel, France, 2013, 103 mins, Cert: CLUB, Language: French.
Starring: Daniel Auteuil, Kristin Scott-Thomas, Leila Bekhti, Richard Berry
Scott Thomas plays Lucie, the downtrodden wife of terminally grumpy surgeon Paul (Auteuil), who maintains a sleekly modern forest home. Paul seems bored and distracted, but we come to learn that he has been receiving red flowers from a woman who wants to thank him for some surgery he claims not to have performed. This film is the second collaboration between director and writer Philippe Claudel and England’s greatest gift to French cinema, Kristin Scott Thomas. Their first film together was I’ve Loved You So Long, which became one of the most talked about film of 2008. This is another sublime, elegant slow-burner, and looks all set to repeat that success.
€5/€3
8pm
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Friday 13 – Saturday 14 February at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Birr, Co. Offaly –(057) 9122911 / www.birrtheatre.com.
Cinderella
Midland Drama School
The talented students from Midland Drama Schools bring Cinderella magically to life in this spectacular production. Lavish scenery, a glittering transformation of costumes, colourful scenes, modern songs and amazing choreography is set to make the fairytale of Cinderella an unmissable experience for all the family. Audiences are guaranteed a treat with many surprises and twists along the way. Book now to avoid disappointment.
€12
8pm
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Tuesday 17 February at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Birr, Co. Offaly – (057) 9122911 / www.birrtheatre.com.
Film@BirrTheatre– “Venus in Fur” (La Vénus à la Fourrure)
Dir: Roman Polanski, 2013, France, 95 mins, Cert: 15A, Language: French.
Starring: Emmanuelle Seigner, Mathieu Amalric.
Adapted from David Ives’ 2010 Tony Award-winning play of the same name, the latest New York theater adaptation from Roman Polanski follows Thomas (Almaric), a theater director staging an adaptation from the Leopold von Sacher-Masoch novel. Frustrated by the quality of actresses he has auditioned, Thomas is about to give up, when mysterious Vanda (Seigner) arrives in his theater unannounced, knowing every line by heart. As the two begin a fevered, intense, and at times aggressive collaboration, the lines between passion and obsession (and theatre and reality), begin to blur.
€5/€3
8pm
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Saturday 21 February at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Birr, Co. Offaly –(057) 9122911 / www.birrtheatre.com.
Pete Kennedy
With Full Nashville Band
This award winning singer-songwriter from Birr, now based in Nashville, Tennessee has won international music awards, toured extensively across the US and Europe and built an established, dedicated fan base since his debut in 2010. His musical influences stem from his celtic roots upbringing to those of Americana, folk and country songs. From early idols like The Eagles, Kris Kristofferson and Emmylou Harris to contemporary artists such as Garth Brooks and Rascal Flatts, Pete’s influences are evident in his distinctive crossover style. Pete’s music takes his audience on a musical journey through his life and the inspirations behind his songs.
2012 and 2013 BCMA Awards UK Album of the Year winner and 2014 BCMA Awards European Act of the Year nominee.
€20
8pm
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Tuesday 24 February at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Birr, Co. Offaly – (057) 9122911 / www.birrtheatre.com.
Film@BirrTheatre– “The Golden Dream” (La Jaula de Oro)
Dir: Diego Quemada-Diez, 2013, Mexico, Spain, 102 mins, Cert: CLUB, Language: Spanish
Starring: Brandon Lopez, Rodolfo Dominguez, Karen Martinez, Carlos Chajon
To escape from the squalid barrio in which they live, young Guatemalan teens Juan, Sara and Samuel make the decision to attempt the 1,200 mile-long arduous border crossing into “The Golden Cage”, i.e. USA, via Mexico in search of a better life. In order to protect herself from harm, Sara disguises herself as a boy named Oswaldo. En route they encounter Chauk, an Tzotzil Indian. Despite Juan’s fervent and passionate opposition, Sara insists they allow Chauk to join them. A harsh road follows as the children show inspiring bravery in the face of relentless danger and obstacles, both natural and manmade. All the while, they risk arrest, deportation and death.
€5/€3
8pm
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Saturday 28 February at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Birr, Co. Offaly – (057) 9122911 / www.birrtheatre.com.
Joe Prop
Performed by Maclean Burke / A new play by Gemma Doorly.
Following on from the amazing audience response to ‘Joe Prop’ at Barnardos Project Undermybed2014 at Smock Alley Theatre in January, ‘Fair City’ actor Maclean Burke (Damien) and playwright Gemma Doorly (W.A.G.) have extended it into a full length version.
The play is set in the bedroom of 12 year old, Joe Kavanagh. Medication for a childhood illness has left him overweight and a target for school bullies who among other things have dedicated a Facebook page to him called ‘Fat Joe Kavanagh’. However, Joe finds solace on the School Rugby team as a prop in the scrum. Joe has a dream – to be the greatest Tight Head Prop in world rugby and captain of a winning Irish Rugby World Cup team. With surprise voice over cameos from famous rugby personalities, 10% of all profits go to Barnardos.
€16/€14
8pm
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For further information contact (057) 9122911 or www.birrtheatre.com
Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Birr, Co. Offaly
