Spring is in the air and the vibe at Riverbank Arts Centre couldn’t be fresher. With an array of great Kildare-based, Irish and international acts coming to Newbridge this season, Riverbank Arts Centre is delighted to announce the new Spring programme from April to June 2010.
There are some real treats in store at Riverbank this season, particularly when it comes to theatre. New local drama group Crossfire Theatre present their production of David Lindsay Abaire’s Wonder of the Wonder on the 8th & 9th of April, while the award-winning b*spoke theatre’s The Sanctuary Lamp, written and directed by Tom Murphy, will run for three nights on the 26th, 27th and 28 th.
The Sanctuary Lamp tells of three people locked in a Catholic Church for the night; an ex-circus strongman who prays to the Sanctuary Lamp for strength, a run-away waif haunted by her past and an Irish blackguard. The much-acclaimed Tom Murphy directs this revival of his own play for b*spoke theatre company. On opening in London last weekend, The Sanctuary Lamp received rave reviews with the Guardian describing it as an ‘extraordinary, brooding play…likely to haunt one for months to come’.
Other top theatre productions include Eamon Morrissey’s The Brother, based on the writing of Myles na Gopaleen, Upstate Live’s The Ones Who Kill Shooting Stars and from Lane Productions (the company who brought us Stones in his Pockets) comes Setanta Murphy and The Original Theatre Company's The Importance of Being Oscar. Newbridge Drama Group also return to Riverbank in May to stage their production of The Matchmaker.
Also in April, Newbridge dance group Dancetones brings a fun-filled musical Janice in Wonderland on April 1st and the 50 strong members of the Monasterevin Gospel Choir will host an entertaining evening of song at Riverbank on Saturday 10th.
On the music front there is again a very strong line-up of big names with Martin Hayes & Denis Cahill, Duke Special, The Celtic Tenors, Liam O’Maonlai, Cathy Davey, Julie Feeney and Francesco Turrisi’s Tarab Ensemble and more. For those interested in combining theatre and literature (and a free afternoon tea!), there is a wonderful free event taking place on the 14th of May. The Picture of Dorian Gray sees Oscar Wilde's novella being read in one afternoon while the audience enjoys exotic teas, plates laden with pastries, cakes and cucumber sandwiches.
Again this season, Riverbank has programmed a great line-up of family orientated events starting with the return of Cartoon Saloon, makers of the Oscar nominated The Secret of Kells, for their animation workshop. Monkey Music Workshops keeps the very young babies entertained in May, while local groups StageWorks and Brian Brady Youth Theatre bring their fun-filled shows, Peter Pan and Music from the 80s. There’s a nice array of children’s film too with classics like The Wizard of Oz and the Muppet Movie popping up on the big screen.
In terms of Visual Arts, Riverbank will host three key exhibitions. Opening on April 8th with Broken Yardstick by Emma Roche, followed by Military Zones by John Conway and Paul Woods in May and Kildare artist John O’Connell brings his solo exhibtion The Visitor to the gallery at Riverbank in June.
The new Riverbank Spring programme also presents another great cinema schedule with their Monday Night Movies including the Oscar nominated White Ribbon, and Bright Star, the inspiring film about poet John Keats. Each monday night screening is open to everyone but if you're a regular film goer, there is good value to be had by joing the Riverbank CINEMA Club.
With an array of quality local arts, great comedy, cinema, children’s events and more, this is just a flavour of all that's happening at Riverbank Arts Centre and there’s certainly enough to keep everyone busy this Spring.
For more information check out www.riverbank.ie or call box office on 045 448327 to get a copy of the new Spring programme.