HAPPENINGS: A few things worth checking out this week

Horae

This is a 40-minute theatre experience, written and performed by Susie Lamb. ‘Horae’ is an evocative tapestry of storytelling, song and movement which explores the ancient mysteries of sacred prostitution.

What was the true nature of the role of priestess? What did a sacred sexuality look like? How did the ‘holy whore’ fall so out of power to become a maligned ‘streetwalker’?

Horae unearths a fragmented history that sheds fascinating light on modern sexual politics. Delivered in an intimate style, Susie draws on her experience as both actress and dancer to create a unique fusion of story, song and movement.

It runs in the Complex Live Arts Centre, Dublin 7, until February 26 at 7pm. For booking go to www.tickets.ie or tel 01-5446922.

 

Bray Comedy Festival 2017

The Hardy Har Comedy Club and the Harbour Bar presents the Bray Comedy Festival from February 22 to 26. Delighted with the success of last year’s festival, organisers are bringing a load of laughs to Bray that will feature some of your favourite past comedians and some brand new top-notch acts. Headliners include Paul Sinha, Colin Murphy and PJ Gallagher.

One of the highlights will be Father Ted Friday when stars of ‘Father Ted’ – Joe Rooney, Michael Redmond and Pat McDonnell – return on Friday, February 24 to the Harbour Bar after their wildly successful Bray Comedy Festival debut last year.

 

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is one of the most beloved works in literature and this lively stage adaptation features all the sparkling wit and romance of the great novel.

Sparks fly when spirited Elizabeth Bennet meets single, rich and proud Mr Darcy. But Mr Darcy reluctantly finds himself with a woman beneath his class. Can each overcome their own pride and prejudice?

Balally Players bring a large, talented ensemble cast to this lavish, witty and romantic drama featuring some of the best loved Austen characters and maybe even a dance or two! Adaptation by Mary Keith Medbery, revised by Brian Molloy.

It runs in the dlr Mill Theatre, Dundrum Town Centre, from Tuesday, February 21 to Saturday 25 at 8pm.

 

Family Day: Explore and Respond to 2D Art

There are free family day workshops taking place at Draoicht in Dublin 15 on Saturday, February 25 around the theme of Explore and Respond to 2D Art.

Families can explore the wide collection of work, mediums and ideas presented in the major touring exhibition, 30 Years, Artists, Places, featuring some of Ireland’s most renowned artists. 

Each 50 minute session will begin with an interactive tour exploring different elements of the exhibition, followed by a chance to respond to the work in a hands on and fun way, supported by Draíocht artists. Sessions are free, but space is limited to 50 per workshop. All children must be accompanied by an adult. See draiocht.ie/events for details.

 

Lego Animation Workshops

These stop motion workshops at The Ark in Temple Bar make Lego mini figures come alive. All you need to bring is your favourite Lego character to cast as the star of your own legendary adventure.

The workshop involves plenty of hands on learning, combined with some simple demonstrations. You will work in small groups to create a set, storyboard and plan for your very own stop motion movie. 

You will then film, edit, and record audio for your mini-movie using iPads.

Your final masterpieces will then be shared on The Ark’s YouTube channel for you to share with friends and family.

The workshops take place from Tuesday, February 21 to Friday, February 24 and are suitable for ages 8-12. Cost is €16. See ark.ie/events for details.

 

The Wedding Singer

Malahide Musical Society will present its 40th anniversary show, ‘The Wedding Singer’, from Tuesday, February 21 to Saturday, February 25 (8pm nightly) at Scoil Iosa Hall, Malahide Community School. 

The tickets cost €16 (with concessions available on Tuesday and Wednesday nights). Bookings can be made at malahidebookings@gmail.com or call 086-3758196.

This hilarious, feelgood musical is set in 1985 and rock star wannabe Robbie Heart, who still lives in his grandmother’s basement, is New Jersey’s favourite wedding singer.

He’s the life of the party until his fiancé, Linda, leaves him at the altar. Shot through the heart, Robbie is so distraught that he makes every wedding as disastrous as his own.

‘The Wedding Singer’ will take you back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up, and a wedding singer might just have been the coolest guy in the room!

 

Humans Need Not Apply

‘Humans Need Not Apply’, a free exhibition exploring the possibilities of artificial intelligence, has opened at the Science Gallery,       Trinity College Dublin, and will run until May  28.

The exhibition will give visitors the chance to explore the creative possibilities of machine learning, sparking conversations on potential futures that are simultaneously celebratory, beneficial, dystopian and humorous.

The works presented in the exhibition explore the idea of computers creating culture, from algorithm-driven artworks to responsive robots and animatronic desk lamps.

For more information visit www.dublin.sciencegallery.com/hnna

 

Celebrating Ellen Hutchins

Ireland’s first female botanist, Ellen Hutchins (1785-1815), collected and identified hundreds of plant species in West Cork.

Many of her early drawings, specimens and letters – which chart her course as a trailblazing young scientist – are on display at a special exhibition in Trinity

Celebrating Ellen Hutchins exhibition, Old Anatomy Building, Trinity College Dublin, is open to the public from 5pm to 6.30pm, on Thursday            February 23, Thursday, March 30 and Thursday, April 27.

The setting of the exhibition in Trinity is an appropriate one as Ellen corresponded with James Townsend Mackay, curator of Trinity’s Botanic Garden, to classify many of her finds.