HAPPENINGS:

Swan Lake

The impressive Royal Moscow Ballet makes a return visit to The Helix at 8pm on Saturday March 2 with its inspiring production of Swan Lake.

Set to Tchaikovsky’s magical and mystical score, Swan Lake is one of the most famous and best loved works in the Ballet repertoire worldwide .

The Royal Moscow Ballet’s production is an irresistible combination of drama and tragedy set against the dramatic battle between good and evil. 

See www.thehelix.iefor details.

The Lonely Luchador

‘El Hombre’ is the world’s greatest wrestler. Flanked by his loyal manager Dex, and his beautiful wife Anna Lucia, there is not a country he hasn’t wrestled in, nor a title he hasn’t held. Save one. The Mexican Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Title is the only jewel that El Hombre’s crown is missing. But it is held by a monster among men and the man with the deadliest finishing move in Combat Sports, Mister Muerto. Young, powerful and deadly, he is the greatest challenge El Hombre has ever faced.

Yet El Hombre feels hollow and empty…. Can he trust those who claim to be his friends? Or will he forever more be…. The Lonely Luchador.’

A Head Above Water Theatre Company production, The Lonely Luchador is in the Smock Alley Theatre on February 28 and March 1 at 8pm.

Living Inside

‘Living Inside: Six Voices From the History of Irish Prison Reform’ is a new exhibition that has just opened in Kilmainham Gaol Museum. Based on historical research of leading UCD academics, and using evocative images by photojournalist Derek Speirs, and rarely seen objects from Mountjoy Prison Museum, the exhibition tells the story of six ordinary people whose lives were entangled in campaigns for prison reform in Ireland since the 1960s.

Jason Byrne

With a brand-new show ‘The Outright King of Live Comedy’ and the star of ‘Irelands Got Talent’, Jason Byrne, is one the most exciting live comedy performers in the world. What he achieves on a stage cannot be adequately described by audience members, critics or fellow comics. Thus, his legendary shows become a secret shared experience among his audience. 

Catch him at the Civic Theatre, Tallaght on February 28 at 8pm.

Family Tree

‘Family Tree’, part of the Scene + Heard festival in Smock Alley Boys’ School, Dublin, will be staged on Thursday, February 28 and Saturday, March 2 at 6.15pm.

It’s a smart and funny drama about the bravery and choices of so called ‘ordinary life’.  

Tickets and more information are available from www.smockalley.com or from the Box Office, 01-6770014.

45 Stories

An exhibition highlighting the story of Ireland’s membership of the European Union is on display in the Europe Direct Information Centre in Blanchardstown Library. 

The 45 Stories exhibition of pop-up displays showcases the many ways that EU membership has benefitted Ireland over the past 45 years. The exhibition continues until the end of February.

Shamrocks and Shillelaghs

During the month of the feast of Saint Patrick the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin is hosting a special Irish plants and folklore tour.  Hear about the magical myths and legends surrounding Irish plants from ancient to modern times. Find out which plant is the ‘real shamrock’, meet the nobles of the wood and learn about fairies in the forests.

Tickets costing €5 are available on the day in the visitor center.

The Tide

‘The Tide’ by Tara Maria Lovett continues until March 2 at The New Theatre, 43 Essex Street East, Temple Bar, Dublin.  

Two strangers meet on a beach. They both like to swim to forget the reality of their lives. Each of them has a dream of a different life. 

‘The Tide’ is a black comedy about the lengths this unlikely pair will go to, to make their dreams a reality.

The show takes place at 7.30pm nightly (+ Saturday Matinee at 2.30pm on March 2). Tickets cost €17 (€14 concession). For more information visit www.

Sonic Youth 

The Irish Film Institute (IFI) welcomes drummer Steve Shelley of iconic band Sonic Youth and acclaimed director Lance Bangs to the IFI on Saturday, March 2 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of ‘Daydream Nation’.

The evening will include a programme of films related to the album, with excerpts from the Bangs-directed concert film along with Charles Atlas’s documentary ‘Put Blood In The Music’.

Tickets, costing €16, are now available at https://ifi.ie/sonic-youthor from the IFI Box Office on 01-6793477.