Five For Your Radar: Culture Night, House of Guinness, Dublin Theatre Fest...
Hamlet is at O’Reilly Theatre, Belvedere College, as part of Dublin Theatre Festival; Cillian Murphy stars in Steve, on limited cinema release ahead of coming to Netflix.
Pop-up gigs and mystery performances are promised across Guitar Town aka Clonakilty this weekend. The long-running CIAF will see gigs take place in premises such as butcher’s shops, framemakers, and of course De Barra’s. Acts to watch include Cork/Portugal five-piece Pot-Pot, Bog Jazz Duo, the Choice Prize-nominated Silverbacks, and former Mary Wallopers member Seán McKenna, who’s now striking out solo.
Adapted by Max Porter from his 2023 novella , Cillian Murphy, fresh from pagan raves and DJ sets at Sounds from a Safe Harbour, reunited with director Tim Mielants for Steve. He plays the titular headteacher battling for his reform college's survival while managing his mental health. Concurrently, troubled student Shy navigates his violent tendencies and fragility, torn between his past and future prospects. is in select cinemas before popping up on Netflix on October 3.
The first programme compiled by artistic director Róise Goan seeks to encourage patrons to ask ‘is it theatre?’ and start up a conversation with the person sitting next to them. Among the early highlights are (O’Reilly Theatre), staged by group of actors with Down syndrome who share their desires and frustrations through the production; and (Samuel Beckett Theatre), which promises a true tale of love and transition.
From Steven Knight, the creator of , comes this eight-episode origin story about the black stuff. It follows the aftermath of the death of brewery mogul Sir Benjamin Guinness and the great impact of his will on the fate of his four adult children: Arthur, Edward, Anne, Ben, and other Dubliners affected by the expanding Guinness empire.
The 20th edition of the annual all-Ireland event takes place on Friday. Over 100 venues across Cork city will be open from 4pm. Conversations, trad music, a Chinese cultural experience, and a walking tour are on offer around UCC; MTU Crawford College of Art & Design alumni stage a multi-venue exhibition of works; while Cork City Library hosts exhibitions, live music, theatre, readings, children’s storytelling, and creative workshops. Just a taster of what’s on offer this Culture Night. See culturenight.ie.
