A “WITLESS band” contest, a poetry slam and an appeal to “play havoc” are among highlights of NUI Galway’s spring arts festival, which opened yesterday.
A celebration of “illumination” has been adopted as the theme for this year’s Múscailt arts festival, planned by NUIG arts officer Fionnuala Gallagher.
Such illuminations are “physical, mental, audio, visual and emotional, using the full colour spectrum”, she said.
“Many of the events are free and we urge the public to come along and attend all activities during the week.”
The programme includes NUIG’s Artsoc annual show, comprising drawings, paintings, textiles and pop-up sculptures. Guest artist Sinéad Aldridge will deliver an illustrated lecture titled Stop Making Sense – Play Havoc.
The NUIG musical society, known as GUMS, is staging a musical, Spring Awakening, and other performances will include a hit puppet show Mise Scéal Cailín, and a poetry slam with master of ceremonies Pete Mullineaux.
Colours Street Theatre Company will place sculptures on wheels in unexpected locations, and NUIG staff and students will perform in Solo Show. The university Dramsoc is producing The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl.
Classical and traditional music is promised, with performances by Rolf Hind, and NUIG’s Tradsoc, Choralsoc and diploma in traditional music students.
The public will be able to help judges in a “Witless Band Competition Final” in the NUIG student union bar tonight.
Information is available on the festival website, muscailt.nuigalway.ie