GIG OF THE WEEK
Faith Healer
Friday, December 3rd to Saturday, January 22nd; Monday to Saturday; Abbey Theatre, Dublin; 7.30pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees; 2pm, €13-€45; abbeytheatre.ie
It's been 40 years since Joe Dowling directed the premiere of Brian Friel's masterpiece on the Abbey stage. Now, Dowling is directing this new production starring Aiden Gillen, Niamh Cusack and Nigel Lindsay, before a very welcome live audience. Faith Healer tells the story of Frank (Gillen), who claims to be endowed with unique and awesome healing powers. With his wife, Grace (Cusack) and manager Teddy (Lindsay) in tow, Frank embarks on a tour through the remote wilds of Scotland, offering his amazing medical miracles to those most in need. Is Frank truly gifted, or is he a charlatan? As we watch the interactions of this odd trio, the truth slowly unravels.
The Blindboy Podcast Tour
Monday, November 29th; Vicar St, Dublin; 7pm; €30; ticketmaster.ie
Blindboy has now become so famous in his own right, we've practically forgotten his surname (it's Boatclub) and the name of his band (The Rubberbandits). The man with the plastic bag over his head has become one of Ireland's most insightful thinkers and commentators, and his podcast has seen him tackle a myriad of topics that exercise the minds of the Plain People of Ireland, from feminism to racism, from US gun laws to Irish history. The podcast is also a place where people can freely and openly discuss mental health issues, with the host displaying extraordinary insight, empathy and understanding.
This live version of The Blindboy Podcast, rescheduled from last August, should be a raucous, rollicking, frank and funny exchange of views.
How to Catch a Star
Monday, November 29th to Friday December 10th; various venues; various times; various prices; branar.ie
You think it's difficult to catch a star? Try staging a kids' show simultaneously to thousands of schoolchildren in 24 venues across the country without breaking the budget – or the laws of physics. Branar – Teatar do Pháistí have found the perfect solution: make a film of the production and stream it directly to the venue. How to Catch a Star is a magical tale by Oliver Jeffers about a boy who just wants one thing for Christmas: a star he can call his friend. Branar have turned the story into a beguiling theatre show, using hand puppets and specially built miniature sets to bring Jeffers's magical tale to life. It's directed by Marc Mac Lochlainn and designed by Maeve Clancy, with puppetry by Grace Kiely and Neasa Ní Chuanaigh and music by Colm Mac Con Iomaire. Schools can find their nearest venue via the Branar website and book their classes in over a full week, and they'll also get access to an educational resource pack.
The Long Christmas Dinner
Tuesday, November 30th to Friday, December 31st; Abbey Theatre (Peacock stage), Dublin, Monday to Wednesday 8.30pm and Thursday to Saturday 6.30pm and 8.30pm; €16-€20; abbeytheatre.ie
Written by Thornton Wilder, The Long Christmas Dinner is described as a gift-wrapped seasonal gem, a meditation on how a family changes, evolves and progresses. We meet the Bayard family as they gather for their annual Yuletide repast - then meet them again and again through 90 Christmas dinners over 90 years. It’s like a speed-eating contest, as we watch the family dynamics change over almost a century of Christmases, and get a chance to reflect on our own family dynamics, and the things that are most precious to us at this time of the year.
Mabel's Magnificent Flying Machine
Wednesday, December 1st to Friday December 24th; Gate Theatre, Dublin; Various times; €10 (preview)/€15/€45 (family ticket); gatetheatre.ie
This pop-up Christmas adventure for kids aged 6+ tells the story of Mabel Mayfly, one of Santa’s elves, who is endlessly curious, eager to help, but also rather accident-prone. She’s keen to prove to Santa how useful she can be, and has devised a way to make his sleigh travel 26 times faster without the need of Rudolph and the other reindeer. But when she takes the sleigh on a secret test run, she ends up crashing it – right onto the stage of the Gate Theatre. To get the sleigh back in the air and back to Santa in time for Christmas, Mabel will need to use all her inventiveness – and enlist some help from her young audience. Seating at the Gate will be specially configured to Covid guidelines, and there’ll be a limited number of special beanbags for the younger kids. And there’s a special treat for everyone in the audience after the show: an emailed video message from a Mr S Claus.
Disney On Ice: Find Your Hero
Thursday, December 2nd to Sunday, December 5th; SSE Arena, Belfast; various times; £26.50; ticketmaster.ie
The Mouse House is ready to welcome back audiences to its latest show – all set up to keep families safe while reuniting with their favourite Disney characters. Disney on Ice has played to limited capacity audiences in the US, and the producers are pretty confident they can deliver an unforgettable family show without you bringing home any unwanted gifts. So who's going to be skating gracefully onto the magical rink this season? Who isn't? We're promised 50 of Disney's most iconic creations, along with some of their most fabulous princesses - and perhaps a beast or two. Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy will lead the celebrations, Moana will embark on an action-packed voyage to save her island, Anna and Elsa will belt out some right royal classics such as Let it Go, with help from Olaf the snowman, Ariel the mermaid will dive into the archive of 1980s hits, and the enchanted objects from Beauty and the Beast will put on a dazzling display of skating skills.
Handel's Messiah
Friday, December 3rd, St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin; 7.45pm; €50/€35/€30/€10/€5; stpatrickscathedral.ie
Sure it wouldn't be Christmas without a blast of Handel's masterpiece just to really put you in a festive mood, and the Irish Baroque Orchestra is joining forces with Chamber Choir Ireland for this immortal story of triumph over adversity, in the town where the composer first unveiled his work. This year in particular, we need a musical injection of comfort and joy to offset the downbeat atmosphere of the past couple of years, and Handel's Messiah will certainly deliver the required mood elevation. Messiah is directed by the orchestra's artistic director, Peter Whelan, and will feature spine-tingling breakout solo performances from individual choir members.
RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra Live
Friday, December 3rd; National Concert Hall, Dublin; 7.30pm; €25; nch.ie
It's billed as a live concert, but this special performance at the NCH – which will also be live streamed on rte.ie/culture – could more accurately be billed as a live-wire performance, a vibrant, electrifying blend of works from three very disparate composers, with chief conductor Jaime Martín wielding the baton like it's a lightning bolt. First up is Irene Buckley's Awakenings, composed just as the world was coming to a standstill in early 2020, and reflecting "the wondrous transition from the stasis of winter to the rebirth of spring ... Darkness emerging into light." That's followed by the glorious rapture of French composer Édouard Lalo's most celebrated work, Symphonie espagnole, featuring celebrated violinist Ellinor D'Melon. The evening finishes with sonic fireworks as Stravinsky's Firebird sparks into life with flamboyant colours and feverish rhythms.
