As the Leeside venue gets ready for a concert performance of The Mikado, Cathy Desmond gives the lowdown on the ever-popular operetta.

Britain’s economy failed to build much momentum over the past three months after almost stalling at the start of the year, reducing an already slim chance that the Bank of England will soon reverse last year’s emergency interest rate cut.

Marjorie Brennan meets first-time novelist and performance poet Carl Plover

Gurranabraher-based Jack Lyons, 71, is a former postman, busman and cohort of The Who. He is co-curating an exhibition on the Sir Henry’s venue for Cork City Library through August which will be on display from Saturday as part of Cork Heritage Week.

Week one.

USA:

Des O’Driscoll reveals what he expects will be the arts and entertainment  highlights of spring 2015.

Magic Moment: For a very literal answer, I would look to a spellbinding sequence from Ganesh Versus the Third Reich, a show by Australia’s Back to Back Theatre company that was one of several from Down Under during the Dublin Theatre Festival.

Beethoven’s life was a series of disappointments, recurring conflicts, worsening illness and increasing financial worries, but, says Eamonn Lawlor, nothing could diminish his genius    

Check out our spoiler-free guide to whats on TV tonight.

Nightcrawler ****

A quarter of a century in the life of famed artist J.M.W. Turner.

Mike Leigh tells Alan O’Riordan about finally getting his film on JMW Turner to the big screen

MUSIC NEWS:

ONE only has to go back to 2012 to find a Nicole Kidman vehicle that elicited gasps among the critics at Cannes.

Nicole Kidman’s Grace Kelly biopic has been met with a volley of damning reviews after it opened the Cannes Film Festival.

Ken Loach and Mike Leigh will go head-to-head at the Cannes Film Festival.

I HAVE been idling in Dunnes Stores for a good 10 minutes, watching a double act — my mother and her old friend Sheila — play out in the pyjama section. We are all wind-blown and purple-cheeked; it is minus two outside and braving the beach has exhausted any desire to ever go out of doors again.

SATURDAY

SATURDAY

British director Mike Leigh is a guest speaker at Corona Fastnet Short Film Festival this week, Conor Power reports

Des O’Driscoll rounds up the highlights of this coming week on TV

The European Commission has claimed a share in the Oscar-winning glory of 'The King’s Speech' – because the film was made with a little help from EU finance.

Colin Firth admitted there was “immense excitement” about the forthcoming Oscars ceremony where he will be hoping to repeat his Bafta triumph.

Colin Firth was crowned the country’s Leading Actor as The King’s Speech swept the board at the Orange British Academy Film Awards (Baftas).

Colin Firth was crowned the country’s Leading Actor as The King’s Speech swept the board at the Orange British Academy Film Awards (Baftas).

'Harry Potter' author JK Rowling will be at this year’s Baftas to accept an award on behalf of the films inspired by her books about the teenage wizard.

'The King's Speech', starring Colin Firth and Helena Bonham-Carter, has as expected led the field in the 2011 Oscar nominations, and is up for 12 awards.

BRITISH movie The King’s Speech is expected to reign at the Baftas after topping the nominations list for the film awards.

Colin Firth’s new film, 'The King’s Speech', has scooped five gongs at the Moet British Independent Film Awards.

Nobody makes films quite like the magnificent Leigh, turning the ordinary into extra-ordinary in characters and events … even around a framework that looks like it has disposed of a plotline.

Films starring Keira Knightley, George Clooney, Carey Mulligan, Colin Firth and Hilary Swank will be featured at this year’s London Film Festival, it was announced today.

Thai film 'Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives' was awarded the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

THE hypnotic Thai film Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives won the top honour at the Cannes Film Festival while Academy Award winners Juliette Binoche and Javier Bardem earned acting honours.

Actress Naomi Watts admitted today she was sent to boot camp to “toughen up” in preparation for her role as a CIA spy in new film 'Fair Game'.

Director Mike Leigh today suggested British film-makers take inspiration from a “rich harvest of human folly” in Britain’s current political situation.

The long-awaited sequel to 1980s hit film 'Wall Street' screens at the Cannes Film Festival today.

Kate Winslet was nominated for a best actress Oscar for her role in 'The Reader' today, while feelgood film 'Slumdog Millionaire' is in the running for best movie.

Filmmakers have named big-screen classic 'The Godfather' their favourite movie of all time.

HOLLYWOOD star Liam Neeson will be among the adjudicators at the Samhlaíocht Kerry Film Festival.

Perennially perky primary school teacher Poppy (Sally Hawkins) is a free spirit who refuses to let life get her down, rising above the misery and cynicism of London and its weary inhabitants in Happy-Go-Lucky (Cert 15, 115 mins, Momentum Pictures Home Entertainment, €25.52).

Director Leigh, famous for his unstructured impro films, comes up with another gem in teacher Poppy - wonderfully played by Hawkins - who sails through life sprinkling it with optimistic goodness and light. A real can-do girl.

The 'Mike Leigh DVD Collection' (Thin Man Films, €84.99) is the complete package for one of Britain’s more challenging directors. Leigh has never been afraid to tackle tough social themes such as abortion (in 'Vera Drake').