WE started the week with a touch of Rum and Vodka on Monday night - and went to the Civic Theatre in Tallaght to see Conor McPherson's boozy monologue performed by Alexander Downes. Having toured in Berlin and Edinburgh, the play opened at the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre last week and is set to continue in Tallaght for a fortnight.
Earlier in the evening guests gathered at the new roomy theatre for the announcement of the June-August calendar of events which also coincided with the opening of the Barabbas Theatre Company's production of Hupnouse at the Civic. Writer Charlie O'Neill was among those who gathered to listen to Tony O'Dalaigh officially launch the programme which includes Chekhov's The Seagull and The Country Boy by John A. Murphy.
Joanna Banks from the National College of Dance was there, along with Jim Culleton from Fishamble Theatre Company, who is directing Joe O'Connor's True Believers at the theatre next week, and Nuala Hayes from Two Chairs Theatre Company, who is due to co-produce Beckett's Happy Days in September.