Coming up - Performances

theatreWorksWest - The Cherry Orchard

THEATRE Wednesday 22nd May @ 8.00pm

“Without the cherry orchard I don’t understand the meaning of my life - if it can be sold, am I sold too?”
Following its highly successful run at Westport Arts Festival 2012, theatreWorksWest presents its ensemble adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s classic play, a thought-provoking comedy set in the 1900s that looks at a bygone world under assault: the bankrupt and fading world of the Russian aristocracy. Despite their blind denial, time has caught up with the Ranevsky family, and change is overturning everything that had once been certain. Now in decay, the sprawling and once elegant estate is threatened by the auctioneer’s hammer, and the prized cherry orchard by the axe.
The family must change to survive, but can the family members accept it? Production directed by Trisha Kuester.

Adm. €14 / €12 (concessions)


Beasts of the Southern Wild

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 28th May @ 8.00pm

Six-year-old tomboy Hushpuppy (a superb performance by Oscar-nominated Quvenzhané Wallis) and her sick father Wink live in precarious, jerryrigged quarters propped up on stilts in a wild bayou backwater in Louisiana. Part of a hard-living community of marginalised outsiders, she inhabits an imaginary world of rising waters and strange prehistoric beasts, while the realities of storms and rising levees work their infl uence on their fragile existence and call for more positive action. Calling to mind both the experience of Hurricane Katrina and ecological disaster, director Benh Zeitlin’s debut feature presents a fable that is both magical and poetic. A lyrical movie really made for the big screen.

“Striking… poetic... a surging paean to human resilience and selfreliance.”
- Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter
“Exhilarating… vividly poetic.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“A heart-on-sleeve, deeply eccentric tale of life, love and loss…
dreamy but strikingly immediate… a very magical
sort of social realism ” - Dave Calhoun, Time Out

Adm: €5


Access Cinema website.


Colm Naughton - The Space Between the Notes

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Wednesday 29th May @ 8.00pm

Colm Naughton is a renowned banjo and mandolin player from Creggs in North-East Galway. He started playing music at an early age which was inevitable, growing up in a large family of musicians. He spent a number of years playing in Galway as a session musician where he met and was influenced by many of the great modern day musicians. He has toured Ireland, the US and Europe with various different groups, including String Company, Fuaim Chonamara and John Beag Ó Flátharta. Currently, Colm can be seen playing regularly as a two piece with Matt Keane. The album The Space Between the Notes is Colm's first solo venture and is mainly Irish traditional with driving reels, laid-back barn dances and lilting jigs, but also dips into other cultures for a set of Spanish muñeiras here or an American folk song there. Adding another dimension to the mix, Colm has included two of his own compositions. This will be a night of music and song where the tracks on this recording will be brought to life to celebrate the release of this extraordinary new CD. Colm will be joined on the night by Finbarr Naughton (fiddle) and Pat Coyne (guitar), plus guest singers Matt and Orlaith Keane.

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

“I've always known Colm as a very accomplished and versatile banjo and mandolin player. On this recording, his playing is, as always, rich, full bodied and full of heart.... I wish him every success and hope that his recording captivates other listeners as much as it has done me.” - Máirtín Ó Connor


Mikel Murfi - The Man in the Woman s Shoes

COMEDY THEATRE Thursday 30th May @ 8.00pm

It's funny, it's sad, it's sometimes downright daft, but you won't forget The Man in The Woman's Shoes, a hilarious one-man show written by and starring Mikel Murfi. It's October 1978 and Pat Farnon has ‘some business’ to do in town, but a five-mile walk is no joke when you have to do it in a pair of women's shoes. Come with Pat on this hilarious journey as he encounters a host of characters with plenty to say for themselves as he walks from his wee white cottage to town and back again. "Today is beginning to feel very special and I've no idea why". It’s a charming encounter - an ageing man still with a boundless enthusiasm for life.
Mikel Murfi is an award-winning actor, director and playwright who has regularly appeared at The Abbey, and was a founding member of the acclaimed Barrabbas… The Company. The Man In The Woman's Shoes was developed with Sligo County Council Arts Service and Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo as part of Bealtaine 2012. It is presented here as part of Bealtaine 2013, celebrating creativity in older age.

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions) / €10 (over 65s)





Gerry Carney

CONTEMPORARY IRISH FOLK Thursday 6th June @ 8.00pm

Regarded as one of Irelands finest songwriters, Gerry Carney came to the fore with his now worldwide hit, “Paddy”, a song dedicated to the forgotten Irish. The people that left Ireland for work, and sent the money home to support the families they left behind. Paddy is now officially Irelands favourite song (Sunday independent poll), and is seen as a song that will go down as having played a major part in re-awakening interest in the plight of these people. But before “Paddy”, Gerry has been touching hearts with song like, ‘the flame just flickered and died’,’ nothing without you’, ‘the cottage by the sea’, and many more. Continuously touring England and America, he tells the stories behind his songs, these are stories that everyone can identify with, and the lyrics combined with powerful melodies have earned him a dedicated fan base. From his first album “the flame” recorded in 1995, Gerry has dedicated his career to writing and recording original songs. It was not always an easy road, but dedication and belief have led him to the top of his game as a singer songwriter. Always available to his supporters, he dedicates a large amount of time to charitable causes, mainly cystic fibrosis, and autism. His career so far has seen him work with the likes of Van Morrison and Alison Krauss to name bit a few. His songs have been recorded by many other artists and he is constantly in demand as a songwriter. His current tour showcases new songs from a forthcoming album, as well as his back catalogue. Gerry’s last show in the Linenhall theatre was a memorable night for fans and newcomers alike, and he is very much looking forward to singing his songs and telling his stories in the intimacy of this theatre.

“Paddy has captured the public imagination and is without fear of contradiction the big hit for Summer 2010. Gerry is moulding himself into one of the strongest singer/songwriters this country has produced in a long time.” - Western People

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

Gerry's "Paddy" on YouTube.


Untouchable (Intouchables)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 11th June @ 8.00pm

France 2011 112 mins French with English subtitles

The biggest French film success of 2011 and the highest grossing non-English language film of all time, Untouchable is an unashamedly feelgood movie about the mismatched friendship between a wealthy quadriplegic and the streetwise ex-con carer he unexpectedly hires as his carer. Based on a true story, directors Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache cast a funny, sharp glance at culture-clash, disability and an unlikely alliance between two characters from very different sides of the tracks, brilliantly portrayed by actors François Cluzet and Omar Sy.

“Charming mischief… pepped up by loveable lead performances and a real lightness of touch.” - Matt Glasby, Total Film
“Believe the hype - this irreverent take on disability is charming and uplifting.” - Dalya Alberge, The Guardian
“Superbly crafted. An exuberantly charming French buddy comedy.” - Claudia Puid, USA Today
“Omar Sy and François Cluzet are superb.” - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Adm: €5


Access Cinema website.


Castlebar Gospel Choir - Gather

LOCAL ARTS: CHORAL Thursday 13th June @ 8.00pm

Perennial favourites Castlebar Gospel Choir make a spirited return to the Linenhall Arts Centre. As part of The Gathering 2013, the choir will be inviting past members to join them for this special performance. Under the energetic direction of Kathy Fahey, the choir has been busy preparing a repertoire of old and new pieces which are sure to have toes tapping and hands clapping throughout the concert! Unique and unmistakable, Castlebar Gospel Choir’s performances are always brimming with passion and spirit and this evening’s entertainment will be no different! Not to be missed!

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)


St Angela’s - Seisiún na nÓg 2013

LOCAL ARTS: COIRM CEOL Wednesday 19th June @ 8.00pm

Drámaíocht, Damhsa agus Amhránaíochta ar an Sean Nós, damhsa seite agus seisiún ceoil le daltaí ó Scoil Naomh Aingeal, Caisleán a’ Bharraigh.
Sean Nós dancing, drama and musical performance with pupils from St. Angela’s Primary School, Castlebar.

Contact 094 9022902 for tickets and further information.







Mick O Brien, Emer Mayock & Aoife Ní Bhriain – Tunes from the Goodman Manuscripts

IRISH TRADITIONAL MUSIC Thursday 20th June @ 8.00pm

Top Traditional musicians Mick O’Brien (uilleann pipes/flute/whistle), Mayo’s own Emer Mayock (flute/whistle) and Aoife Ní Bhriain (fiddle) recently released a CD entitled Tunes from the Goodman Manuscripts, featuring repertoire drawn from original sources collected by Canon James Goodman in the mid-19th century in his native province of Munster. The manuscripts, which since his death have been held in the Library of Trinity College provide unique insights into the evolution of Irish traditional music and are of great significance because they preserve much of the traditional music of the south of Ireland as it was sung and played in the years before traditional culture there was devastated by the Great Famine of the 1840s. From these manuscripts, Mick, Emer and Aoife have chosen music ranging from unusual versions of tunes in the modern repertoire to those apparently unique to the collection. A night of top Trad on the cards.
The CD is available at www.claddaghrecords.com
This performance is funded by Arts Council Touring.

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

Emer Mayock's website.


Paddy Casey

CONTEMPORARY FOLK MUSIC Thursday 27th June @ 8.00pm

Paddy Casey has been the forefront of the Irish music scene since his debut album Amen (So Be It) in 1999, while his second release Living became the biggest seller in Ireland, out-selling even U2, and containing the hit singles The Lucky One and Saints and Sinners. In more recent times Paddy has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with that very band on their Vertigo Tour, he’s had a week long sold-out residencies in Dublin's prestigious Olympia Theatre and RDS, and performed on the CBS hit chat show The Late Show with David Letterman. Now, Paddy returns with his fourth album The Secret Life Of, recorded, produced and mixed at home in Paddy’s kitchen by Paddy and Pat Donne. “It’s my first completely independent record,” confirms Paddy, “a throwback to a recording style I used to have before I signed a record deal.” And the rest, as they say, will be history.

Adm: €20

“Paddy Casey... Irish music sensation.” - Time Out Australia
“One of Ireland’s leading singer songwriters.” - Hot Press
“Gifted.” - NME
“Magical.” - The Times

Paddy Casey's website.


Donal O’Kelly - Ailliliú Fionnuala

THEATRE Wednesday 3rd July @ 8.00pm

Ambrose Keogh works for Shell. When the Tunnel Boring Machine he named Fionnuala sinks into the bog in Erris Co. Mayo, he is magically confronted by Fionnuala of the Children of Lir. Fionnuala puts a geas on him – he’s bound to tell the truth about Shell’s operations, such as mysterious attacks on local opponents of the gas project. During his ordeal, Ambrose meets his school classmate, Malachy Downes, a Shell-to-Sea activist, and echoes from the past resound. Donal O’Kelly’s award-winning solo plays include Catalpa, Joyced!, The Cambria, The Adventures Of The Wet Señor and Vive La, and has performed his shows all over the world, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Melbourne, London, Paris, Rome, Helsinki, Warsaw, Harare, Lusaka and most recently Belgrade. He is also well known on screen as Bimbo in Roddy Doyle’s The Van, and Jap in the bilingual film Kings.

“Cuts a swathe through Shell/State propaganda, allowing audiences to access the truth of what’s happening in North Mayo.” - Hot Press
“O’Kelly performs superbly.” - Sunday Independent
“Digs for truth beneath the controversies.” - Irish Times
“A stirring piece of theatre.” - Irish Theatre Magazine
“Highly entertaining while packing a punch.” - Exeunt Magazine

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

Hot Press article on Donal's new production.


‘98 Recalled

EXHIBITION: THE GATHERING Monday 12th - Saturday 24th August

‘98 Recalled
As part of the In Humbert’s Footsteps Gathering Event, the Castlebar Committee, in association with the Linenhall Arts Centre, is delighted and honoured to present a unique exhibition of distinctive and Previously unseen artefacts (many from private collections) pertaining to the 1798 Rebellion in Ireland, and French General Humbert’s expedition in particular. The exhibition will run for two weeks only.

Adm. FREE
NB. Exhibition takes place in the Linenhall Theatre



View past performances