Meridian Theatre Company, the company that brought last year’s sell-out Raccoon and The Exit Wound, makes a welcome return to the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar with a double bill of fresh, vibrant, new theatre on Thursday January 22 at 8pm: a pair of roguish new comedies in the shape of Love, Peace & Robbery and Thailand: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Liam Heylin’s Love, Peace & Robbery is a new comedy inspired by interviews with a group of men struggling to break the cycle of petty crime and imprisonment. A funny, touching, portrait of the human face of the underworld, his characters are shrewd, witty, survivors of a lifetime of self-abuse, still trying to go straight — sort of. Directed by Brian Desmond, starring Shane Casey, John Desmond, and Aidan O’Hare.
Thailand: What’s Love Got To Do With It? is a darkly comic, highly entertaining evening’s storytelling, featuring a stunning performance from internationally celebrated actor Máirtín de Cógáin. A unique take on modern Ireland and its contribution to the east Asian tourist economy, we follow Declan as he heads off to Thailand for the holiday of a lifetime with the lads, to embark on a bizarre journey of self-discovery and cheap thrills. Directed by Brian Desmond. Contains strong language and sexual references, not suitable for children.
Meridian Theatre presents the dazzling double-bill of Love, Peace & Robbery and Thailand: What’s Love Got To Do With It? at the Linenhall Arts Centre on Thursday January 22 at 8pm. Booking advised.
Lucy Hill and Alma Roche exhibition
The intriguingly titled exhibition Crickets Sing With Their Legs continues at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar.
The colourful and engaging exhibition comprises recent paintings by Tuam-born Almha Roche and Newport-based Lucy Hill, two artists with contrasting styles but similar objectives. The quirky title of the exhibition comes from a poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Almha and Lucy explain: “Having each created a body of work, it seems odd to formulate an explanation for something that can't be captured in words, as with the cricket attempting to explain its 'song' through another language. Images are made, music is composed, as the result of a natural need to absorb and reflect the world around us. For this exhibition we have each made our own particular 'song' and presented it in unison to see what new sounds it can make.” The exhibition runs until Saturday January 31.
Open mic at the Linenhall: poetry, prose and more
The Open Mic, an informal evening of poetry, prose, music and sometimes ‘even a step or two of dancing’ takes place at the Linenhall Arts Centre on Thursday January 29 at 8pm.
The Open Mic is an occasion when writers from all over Mayo are invited to read from their own work in front of an enthusiastic audience of peers, pundits and the public in general. This is the fifth evening of its kind, and takes place in the Linenhall Café, where refreshments will be available to enhance the general enjoyment and bonhomie. The evening will be MC’d by Westport poet Ger Reidy. Come along to share your own work, or enjoy the work of others. Admission free, all welcome.
