Galway gets set for a feast of culture

TALES of drunks, biblical mysteries and hurling are set for the stage while Jimi Hendrix, Albert Einstein and Che Guevara will take to the street.

The organisers of Ireland’s largest arts festival are promising a vibrant mix of homegrown and international drama, comedy, art and music.

Galway will be jumping over the next 13 days as hundreds of performers, artists, writers and musicians descend on the historic city for its 26th arts festival.

“With over 400 writers, artists, performers and musicians from Australia, Canada, England, France, Iceland, Jamaica, Scotland, Spain, Romania, USA and of course Ireland creating theatre, spectacle, street art, music, comedy, literature and music, the 2003 Galway Arts Festival promises a stunning fortnight of cultural activity and celebration,” festival spokesman Paul Fahy said.

Officially launched last night, the festival features three world premieres of Irish productions, including the first Tom Murphy play to debut at the festival since 1985, The Drunkard, starring Stephen Brennan and Pauline McLynn.

Barrabas’ Hurl, written by Charlie O’Neill and directed by Raymond Keane, is a tale about Ireland’s oldest game featuring an international cast. And the third new production, The Mysteries presented by Macnas, is described as a spectacular re-working of the biblical tales.

Chicago’s world- renowned Steppenwolf return to Galway with a new play by Bruce Norris, Purple Heart. From Australia comes the Stalker Theatre Company, where Four Riders will take to the streets on giant stilts.

Charlie Chaplin’s grandson James Thierree brings his Juneburg Symphony to the city, a mixture of theatre, circus, dance and music while Irish and Classical Theatre of Pittsburgh will perform George Bernard Shaw’s Major Barbara at the Druid Theatre.

French artist Bernard Pras will have the city as his canvas with an open air exhibition of images of the 20th century’s most enduring cultural icons, including Jimi Hendrix, Albert Einstein and Che Guevara.

The Waterboys will tour the pubs and clubs around the city and hold workshops while keyboard player Richard Naiff will give a special performance at St Nicholas’ Church.

Arty McGlynn is joined by Paul Brady, Nollaig Casey, Liam O’Flynn, Sean Keane, Frankie Gavin and Matt Molloy in a series of special guest nights while Boz Scaggs, Carlos Nunez, Ron Sexsmith and The Proclaimers will also perform.