Birr Theatre & Arts Centre

Birr Theatre & Arts Centre
10th Anniversary Celebrations
MUNDY
Friday 30 July
Having consistently played to full houses since his first gig at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre back in 2001 we're delighted that Mundy is celebrating our 10th Anniversary with us.
€18 8pm

STREET FESTIVAL
Saturday 31 July
Mark this date in your diary! Birr Theatre & Arts Centre celebrates it’s 10th birthday this summer and are planning a ‘street festival’ to mark the occasion. With music, street theatre, stilt walkers, jugglers, visual arts and lots more this is an event for all the family to enjoy.
All welcome - 2 - 5pm

Summer School of Rock
facilitated by Brendan Keeley
Tuesday 3 – Thursday 12 August
The 5th Annual School of Rock will be facilitated by award winning multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter Brendan Keeley. This 2-week course will give intensive training in writing and performing your own and other wellknown songs. It will also provide training in various aspects of the music business including copyright, publishing, the recording process, voice training and instrument tuition. Anyone interested in participating should have at least a basic knowledge of an instrument (guitar, drums, bass, voice).
As places are limited, attendance at a workshop on Wednesday 7 July, 5pm is essential at which time places on the course will be allocated. Participation at workshop does not guarantee a place on the course.
Age 14 – 18yrs. in association with Offaly Local Development Company and Offaly County Council
€40 10am - 4pm

The Middle-Lands Circus Festival in association with Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival presents
Middle-Lands Circus Festival Gala
Friday 13 August
Birr Theatre and Arts Centre plays host to a theatrical celebration of the Circus Arts. This event marks its first foray into the local annual festive calendar under the umbrella of Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival and is honoured to open the latter’s theatrical proceedings. All are welcome (though with around 100 circuspeople to accommodate you’ll have to be quick!) to be amazed, dazzled, surprised, entranced and abstractly perturbed by a selection of Europe and Ireland’s finest Circus and Performance Artists. Support of this event will ensure its growth and further contribution to the cultural life of the town, which will help to build a brighter future for our youth, the evidence of which will be felt throughout the Festival weekend. Enjoy!
(Middle-Lands Circus Festival events run from Thursday 12 - Sunday 15 August; details from local press, www.birrvintageweek.com, Facebook: Middle-Lands Circus Festival)
€14/12 (small group: 1 adult / 2 children €25) 8pm BOOK NOW

Baroque Delight with Karin Leitner flute Fiachra Garvey piano Kerstin Doelle soprano
Saturday 14 August
Classically trained flutist, Karin Leitner has been touring Ireland for the past ten years performing in Ireland’s Great Houses and on Lyric FM. Austrian born, Karin captures celtic sounds in her own compositions. Soprano, Kerstin Doelle from Dresden, is welcomed back to Birr having performed worldwide in concert and opera. Fiachra Garvey, the very promising young Irish pianist has been nominated “Rising Star” of the National Concert Hall. With charming baroque music and stunning baroque style costume, together the trio will present you with an unforgettable and relaxed evening suitable for all audiences.
€16/14 (Friends: conc) 8pm BOOK NOW

Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival presents
Children’s Dance Classes
Facilitiated by Legitimate Bodies Dance Company
Monday 16 August
YUMMY DANCE 2 - 3pm: dance games for pre-school children (ages 3-5) to keep them active while nurturing their creativity and their development.
FIRST FOOTING 3:15 - 4:15: amazing fun dance sessions with lots of breathless dance, games and creative tasks for children (ages 6-8).
SECOND FOOTING 4:30 - 5:30: a wonderful opportunity to develop movement and creative abilities further for children (ages 9-11). Lisa Cahill is a freelance community and creative dance and drama facilitator. She led creative workshops as part of Hullaballoo Children's Arts Festival in 2009. Lisa has a degree in primary teaching and drama from Strawberry Hill, London and has just completed an MA in contemporary dance performance at the University of Limerick. From September 2010 Lisa will teach Yummy Dance and First Footing dance classes for Legitimate Bodies at Birr Theatre and Arts Centre.
€5 (family of 3 children: €12)

Birr Stage Guildin association with Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival presents
Vladimir Jablokov and The Slovak Festival Orchestra Musicians
Classical Twist – From Bach to The Beatles with a Twist
With Special Guest Sean Costello (Tenor)
Tuesday 17th August
Vladimir Jablokov first picked up a violin at the age of five and is the fourth generation of his family to make music his career. Since 1995, he has performed regularly on concert stages worldwide and now regularly in Dublin, including at Áras an Uachtaráin, by special request of President Mary McAleese. Sean Costello gained a reputation at a very early age as the ‘voice of the future’ when he won Scór Na nÓg awards. He has appeared all over Ireland as a guest with many musical societies and has won the prestigious AIMS award for ‘Best Male Voice’ on five occasions. Vladamir & the Slovak Festival Orchestra are delighted to return to Birr once again, following sold-out concerts in the National Concert Hall, Dublin. The evenings programme includes Mozart, Strass, Bach, Pachabel and Beatles Classics interpreted in Vladimir’s unique and lively style.
€20/€18 (Friends: priority) 8pm BOOK NOW

Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival presents
The Lilly Lally Show
Lunch-time Play
Wednesday 18 – Thursday 19 August
Written by Hugh Leonard
Directed by Dara Carolan
Performed by Maeve O’Donovan
Maeve O’Donovan takes to the stage as stand up comic, Mary Moone in Hugh Leonard’s wonderful tribute to the last great age of Dublin Variety. The pace of life was a lot slower when the likes of Maureen Potter, Jimmy O’Dea and Noel Purcell drew packed houses to the Queens and Theatre Royal. They were the superstars of their generation. Through the eyes of Mary Moone, Leonard’s funny, yet profound play offers an insight into the show business world and the ‘real lives’ beyond the footlights. The author states that his creation is not based on any living person, but I’m sure he drew some inspiration from the stars mentioned above and others. The Lilly Lally Show features Mary Moone, an old vaudevillian. She insists that she does not audition, and yet here she is in front of an unseen and unknown audience. "Do I get the part?" she asks, only half in jest and what transpires, is in spite of herself, an audition.
€14/12 (includes light lunch) 1.05pm sharp

Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival presents
Painters and Poets
Artist Talk with Michael Howard
This illustrated talk will explore the mysterious association between painting and poetry through the ages and will celebrate the power of the human imagination to visualise ideas and emotions through the interaction of word and image.
4 pm - No Charge - Complimentary Tea & Coffee

Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival presents
Niall de Burca
One of Ireland’s finest traditional storytellers, Niall de Búrca was raised in the west of Ireland. Recognised for the diversity of his stories and with an ability to reach all ages, Niall has captivated audiences in many countries, recently including Iran and America. He draws on a wealth of stories from traditional myths and legends to modern tales. Even the most reluctant listener cannot help but be entranced by his hilarious delivery. In an age of so much electronic entertainment, step back in time this Vintage Week and be enthralled by Niall’s wide repertoire – guaranteed to put a smile on faces of all ages!
Níor bhris focal maith fiacal riamh…A good word never broke a tooth.
‘Listening to de Búrca is reminiscent of childhood days of mysteries and make believe. If you get a chance to hear him it’s a pleasure you won’t forget’. Wanganui Chronicle, New Zealand ‘…truly spellbinding…’ Kilkenny Arts Festival
Tales for the Telling Stories for all the family 11am. €5 (1 adult and 2 children: €12)
The One Eyed King & other ancient stories 1.05pm. €10 incl. light lunch
The Buachaill 3pm. (Ages 12-18). €5
Told world wide - A chiller of a thriller! Join Niall for one of his most famous tales, and afterwards, the workshop especially for teenagers will have your hair standing on end and tickle your funny bone. Learn the nuts & bolts of performing & tale-telling techniques!

Rebecca Storm
Greatest Hits in Concert
Friday 17 September
It all started at the age of 23 when Rebecca auditioned for her first musical show, Blood Brothers, and won the lead role. After gaining rave reviews for her role Rebecca was catapulted into the world of musical theatre where she became a West End star and played some of the most demanding roles ever written for a leading lady – Eva Peron in Evita, Fantine in Les Miserables, Grizabella in Cats, Florence in Chess and many many more. Rebecca also found the time to chalk up a number of hit singles including “Putting on A Show” and “Mr Love” and host a number of TV Shows including “An Evening with Rebecca Storm” and “Rebecca at The Cork Opera House”. In 2006, Rebecca fulfilled a long held ambition when she delivered a powerful rendition of all of Barbra Streisand’s classic hits in her show The Streisand Songbook. “Absolutely superb, it is seldom you experience such an enjoyable evening of music in the theatre.” Gay Byrne This night promises to be yet another evening not to be missed!
8pm €27.50 / €25