November 2021
VISUAL ARTS: Beneath | Beofhód – an exhibition by Shane Hynan
Beneath | Beofhód is a long term photographic series observing the raised bogs of the Irish midlands and the culture around them. Beofhód; an Irish word translating as 'life beneath the sod', allows modern excavations on bogs to be re-imagined as an archaeology of history and legacy, adding a vital layer of symbolism and metaphor to the project. Although the visual enquiry into the topography and architecture of bogs is an important element within the series, it is also used…
Find out more »SCHOOLS: How to Catch A Star
Once there was a boy who was always looking up. He dreamt of having a star as a friend. This is the story of his adventure. Branar, in association with Town Hall Theatre, are delighted to present a new film version of their acclaimed production of How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers. Partnering with 24 venues across Ireland, all schools will have the opportunity to experience this unique and well loved story. Based on the beloved book, this…
Find out more »SCHOOLS: Super Paua Stories
Choose from two online workshops outlined below to explore multilingual storytelling and creativity in your classroom. These workshops will be conducted via ZOOM. Super Paua Stories Workshop #1 - Krys’s Passport to Poland - Listening Party! “When Krys Maguire’s family move from Poland, she says goodbye to best friend Aggy and any chance of going to the Euros. “Co może być ważniejsze niż Mistrzostwa Europy?” But a trip to Dalymount means the soccer-mad schoolgirl might get the result she wants…
Find out more »December 2021
LOCAL ARTS: Newbridge Drama Group – 4 One-Act Plays
Newbridge Drama Group present four One-Act Plays - We Three by Olwen Wymark, Jimmy Shoe by Derek Egan, The Zoo Story by Edward Albee and Mary Lambert RIP by Siobhán Wright. We Three: A one act play written by Olwen Wymark Two women arrive for a rendez-vous but the third person they are expecting doesn't appear. Instead a girl that they don't know arrives, but she knows them. Who is she? Who are they? All is finally revealed. Cast: Em - Jenny…
Find out more »SCHOOLS SCREENING: Los Lobos/Wolves
Migrant family tale, imbued with a sense of magic, innocence, and poetry to yield a wonderful story of hope. In a rundown apartment in New Mexico, Lucia and her two sons attempt to make their new home. While she’s out working all day, the boys create fantastic worlds in the room, drawing on Mexican myths and recollections of their grandfather. Vivid animations and Halloween spirits break up the day-to-day drabness. The boys meet kindness in the Chinese neighbours and seek…
Find out more »EXHIBITION TOUR: Beneath | Beofhód with artist Shane Hynan
Join Shane Hynan for an informal tour of his photographic series Beneath | Beofhód at the McKenna Gallery. Shane will be available to discuss his work, what it’s about and the wider context in which it was made. Beneath | Beofhód is a long term photographic series observing the raised bogs of the Irish midlands and the culture around them. Beofhód; an Irish word translating as 'life beneath the sod', allows our excavations on bogs, to be re-imagined as an…
Find out more »CINEMA: Riders of Justice
Markus (Mads Mikkelsen) returns home to care for his daughter when his wife dies in a tragic train accident. However, when a survivor of the wreck surfaces and claims foul play, Markus suspects his wife was murdered and embarks on a mission to find those responsible. Director: Anders Thomas Jensen Starring: Mads Mikkelsen; Anders Thomas Jensen; Andrea Heick Gadeberg Denmark, Sweden, Finland 2020 116 mins Please note, in line with new Government guidelines, you will be required to show your EU COVID…
Find out more »SCHOOLS: Graham Tugwell – Greetings, Heroes!
Greetings, Heroes! Online: The Impossible Library is an interactive storytelling experience where the students take the role of characters in the story, led by expert storyteller Graham Tugwell. Like a choose-your-own-adventure-book, or world-famous role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, Graham will guide the adventurers through a series of exciting and deadly challenges - will each door they choose lead to success or further peril? How will they approach the many puzzles within? Will they find the wondrous treasure at the heart…
Find out more »COMEDY: OWEN COLGAN – Still Alive
Owen Colgan, the Irish cult comedy hero is best known for his role as Buzz McDonnell from Hardy Bucks. He has starred in 4 successful seasons which aired on Ireland's national broadcaster RTE, as well appearing in the smash hit "The Hardy Bucks Movie" - produced by Universal Studios and hailed by media as 'the Irish Hangover'. Owen Colgan has been on a steady rise since launching his stand up career, leaving a trail of sold out shows behind him. This is his biggest show yet! Suitable for over 18s…
Find out more »THEATRE: Heather by Thomas Eccleshare
A reclusive writer. A massive bestseller. A dark secret. What are you willing to forget? What are you willing to forgive? A reclusive children’s writer becomes wildly successful. Her books are treasured across the country. But when a troubling narrative starts to unfold, we find ourselves asking: what matters more, the storyteller or the story? HEATHER is a short, sharp play about language, prejudice and the power of stories. After two highly successful 3-week runs at Bewley’s Cafe Theatre and…
Find out more »MUSIC: Tara Breen & Pádraig Rynne with Donal Lunny & Jim Murray
Tara Breen - Fiddle Pádraig Rynne - Concertina Dónal Lunny - Bouzouki & Bodhrán Jim Murray - Guitar Embark on an odyssey of wonder, joyfulness and upbeat music as four incredibly talented and creative folk musicians shape melodies from past and present into something dynamic and irresistible. A quartet comprising of musicians at the fore of our tradition, expect a performance from the gentle to the rhythmical and all the in-betweens. After over 10 years of performing together as a…
Find out more »COMEDY: Pat & Faye Shortt WELL
This comic Father and Daughter duo have written and performed two hilarious online shows The Wellness Hour with Paaah and Sile and Pat Shortt’s Comedy Heads. Now the pair bring their madcap characters to the stage in a brand new collaboration, Well. The show follows the unfortunate demise of Dad and Daughter Country and Irish music duo as they attempt to ascend the heights of their local music scene by playing a gig in the town’s hotel. ‘’Well’’ showcases the extraordinary comedy…
Find out more »FAMILY: Bosco’s Hansel and Gretel
Bosco is Bosco, not a boy, not a girl, just a Bosco: a cheeky, lovely, funny, slightly-cracked, irrepressible, eternal five-year-old who lives in a box and who loves nothing more than to just be Bosco and meet all the boys and girls! After starring on Irish TV for three decades, you’ll see why Bosco remains a firm favourite for each new generation. Enjoy the enchanted story of Hansel and Gretel where a silly Witch tries to capture Hansel and Gretel but…
Find out more »FAMILY: Bosco’s Hansel and Gretel
Bosco is Bosco, not a boy, not a girl, just a Bosco: a cheeky, lovely, funny, slightly-cracked, irrepressible, eternal five-year-old who lives in a box and who loves nothing more than to just be Bosco and meet all the boys and girls! After starring on Irish TV for three decades, you’ll see why Bosco remains a firm favourite for each new generation. Enjoy the enchanted story of Hansel and Gretel where a silly Witch tries to capture Hansel and Gretel but…
Find out more »SCHOOLS: Fighting Words – Creative Writing Workshop
Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge is the Kildare Partner of Fighting Words. We present creative writing workshops for primary and secondary schools. Fighting Words workshops are always free of charge to the participants. These interactive creative writing workshops will be conducted via ZOOM or Microsoft Teams by an experienced Fighting Words tutor, Pierina Campbell, and supported by 2-3 volunteers from Riverbank’s Fighting Words team. The workshop will last two hours (with optional break!) and we request that the teacher is present…
Find out more »CINEMA: Rose Plays Julie
Veterinarian student Rose has been searching for her birth mother. She longs to know the facts of her true identity. When she discovers that her mother is a well-known actress, she reaches out - despite her mother having stated she wants no contact. They meet, and an awful secret is revealed, one that pushes Rose onto a dark path. Armed with the truth and an unshakable desire for revenge, Rose sets out to track down her biological father, Peter. Reinventing…
Find out more »Special Screening: The Island of Saints (based on The Red Book of Ossory)
The Island of Saints is based on an important 14th century medieval manuscript, The Red Book of Ossory, which was compiled in Kilkenny and is housed there in St Canice's Cathedral. Pre-eminent among the manuscript’s texts are sixty remarkable Latin poems by Richard de Ledrede, Bishop of Ossory. Caitríona O’Leary, music director of Anakronos, has set de Ledrede’s esoteric and imagistic poetry to music from a multitude of medieval sources. This film version of The Island of Saints recounts the…
Find out more »SCHOOLS: Fighting Words – Creative Writing Workshops
Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge is the Kildare Partner of Fighting Words. We present creative writing workshops for primary and secondary schools. Fighting Words workshops are always free of charge to the participants. These fun interactive workshops will be conducted via ZOOM or Microsoft Teams by an experienced Fighting Words tutor, Pierina Campbell, and supported by 2-3 volunteers from Riverbank’s Fighting Words team. The workshop will last two hours (with optional break!) and we request that the teacher is present throughout.…
Find out more »COMEDY: NEIL DELAMERE – End of Watch
Fresh from a sell-out tour, star of BBC’s The Blame Game, Fighting Talk and the Newsquiz, Neil Delamere returns to the Riverbank Arts Centre with a new show. Time waits for no man, especially one trying to buy a watch. Things always get complicated. “You’ll be hard pressed to find a more gifted comic at the Fringe. *****” The Scotsman “One lean, mean, comedy, killing machine. *****” The Herald Please note, in line with new Government guidelines, adults (over 18s)…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: Highly Strung – All Wrapped Up
A year like no other has made us realise the value of friendship. For fans of the foursome, this is a special festive celebration of friendship old and new. The ladies are delighted to return to the Riverbank for their annual Christmas show of classics old and new, all wrapped up with their signature twist. The four friends’ diverse, complementary musical backgrounds create a mellow blend which hallmarks the spirit of Christmas for their audiences. Highly Strung sprinkles a little…
Find out more »FAMILY: KYLE’S CHRISTMAS SING-A-LONG
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a jolly big sing-a-long! There’ll be singing, jumping and shaking in this holiday-themed family concert with Kyle Riley. Chock full of Christmas favourites, Kyle’s catchy original children’s music and the kids fave raves , it's sure to get the whole family in the spirit of the season. We’ll also dance, make some big noise with percussive instruments, and float with colourful scarves. For under 8s, rock toddlers and little boppers in between. Please note, in…
Find out more »CINEMA: Perfumes (Les Parfums)
Guillaume is a divorced, private chauffeur, desperately trying to make ends meet so that he can afford a larger apartment, in the hopes of winning joint custody of his daughter. He is assigned a demanding new client, Anne, a once-famous professional “nose” in the world of perfume design. When Guillaume proves himself to be no pushover in the face of Anne’s normal diva-like behaviour, she begins to soften towards him and this odd couple’s initial fractious meetings quickly develop into…
Find out more »January 2022
VISUAL ART: Invisible Cords – An exhibition by Clodagh Kelly
'Invisible Cords' is a collection of artwork developed by Kildare based Visual Artist Clodagh Kelly over the last ten years. Clodagh uses drawing, mixed media and natural materials to explore health, landscape, healing and form in space. This exhibition draws from three bodies of artwork 'Scratched Room', 'Cruel Nature' and 'Boundaries' allowing the underlying invisible cords that resonate between the different series to emerge. ABOUT THE ARTIST: Clodagh Kelly graduated from Fine Art D.I.T in 1997 and worked as a…
Find out more »COMEDY: Jason Byrne: On Your Marks, Get Set… Gig!
Jason Byrne has been On His Marks since March 2020. Now he’s Set and ready to explode on to the stage. “The Outright King Of Live Comedy” (The Times) is ready to take back and carefully disinfect his crown. How can one man's life continue to fall apart while he is essentially locked in his own house? This hilarious brand new show see’s Jason attempt to make sense of the year in which his life officially became a sitcom script.…
Find out more »MUSIC: EIMEAR CREHAN
++Due to unforeseen circumstances, this event has been rescheduled from original date (7/10/21) to 21st January, 2022. If you are a ticket holder, we will be in touch directly to offer you the rescheduled date, a credit note or a refund.++ Eimear Crehan is a songwriter based in Kildare and has been performing in the Irish Music Scene for over 12 years now. In that time her sound has really developed, having moved through lots of genres like funk, soul,…
Find out more »THEATRE: The Handyman by Seamus O’Rourke
Hugh Spotten is the local Handyman. He is about to receive an award for his contribution to the community... but all is not what it seems in a small town, falling in on itself. Seamus O’Rourke explores friendship, relationships and how best to get noticed on your last day. The Handyman is hilariously funny, yet a poignant poetic look at small-town life in rural Ireland. Written and performed by Seamus O'Rourke Seamus O’Rourke is an award-winning writer, director and actor…
Find out more »MUSIC: Celtic Tenors
The Celtic Tenors celebrate 20 years on the road with a concert at Riverbank Arts Centre! The Celtic Tenors are celebrating over one million albums sold and a career that has seen them consistently play to packed houses across The United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. From classic scores from opera to beautifully crafted new work by some of today's greatest arrangers, The Celtic Tenors will thrill not only with their voices, but their funny, interactive and insightful banter. Please note, in line with new Government guidelines, you will be required…
Find out more »February 2022
THEATRE: Falling Through the Universe – a staging of James Joyce’s ‘The Dead’
FALLING THROUGH THE UNIVERSE a staging of JAMES JOYCE’s “THE DEAD” framed in a personal memoir Written and performed by Declan Gorman On a Winter’s night in 1982, a young Irish emigrant borrows an English language book from a library in Munich. He reads it over one evening. The course of his life is changed… Forty years later, he walks onto a stage to recreate the magic of that night and perform one of the greatest short stories ever written in the English…
Find out more »COMEDY: Neil Delamere – LIMINAL
Neil Delamere, star of BBC’s The Blame Game, Fighting Talk and the Newsquiz, hits the road again with his riotous new stand-up show, Liminal. Expect an evening perhaps best described as Schrodinger’s chat as our wisecracking comedic hero struggles to figure out this strange new world. “One lean, mean, comedy, killing machine.*****” The Herald “A wryly brilliant live performer.” The Sunday Times “You’ll be hard pressed to find a more gifted comic.*****” The Scotsman Please note, in line with new Government guidelines, you will be required to show your EU COVID Certificate and…
Find out more »March 2022
MUSIC: Eleanor McEvoy
Eleanor McEvoy achieved star status in Ireland in 1992 when her song "A Woman's Heart" was the title track for the A Woman's Heart anthology album. A Woman’s Heart has since gone on to become the best-selling album in Irish history. Since then, Eleanor has gone on to become an artist and performer known throughout the world. Her critically acclaimed canon of work spans fifteen albums and appearances on numerous compilation albums. Released in July 2021, it is no surprise…
Find out more »April 2022
THEATRE: Making a Mark
Mark has competed in the World Games, played King Lear before, packed houses and packed bags for 20 years in Tesco’s... But that’s not even half the story. Part live interview, part self-led confessional, this is Mark’s life and he’s ready to take a seat at the table. Ambition, disruption, grief and frustration. He hopes this show will be the making of him. Are you ready for what he has to say? Following a sell out premiere production at the Dublin…
Find out more »THEATRE: Making a Mark
Mark has competed in the World Games, played King Lear before, packed houses and packed bags for 20 years in Tesco’s... But that’s not even half the story. Part live interview, part self-led confessional, this is Mark’s life and he’s ready to take a seat at the table. Ambition, disruption, grief and frustration. He hopes this show will be the making of him. Are you ready for what he has to say? Following a sell out premiere production at the Dublin…
Find out more »THEATRE: Making a Mark
Mark has competed in the World Games, played King Lear before, packed houses and packed bags for 20 years in Tesco’s... But that’s not even half the story. Part live interview, part self-led confessional, this is Mark’s life and he’s ready to take a seat at the table. Ambition, disruption, grief and frustration. He hopes this show will be the making of him. Are you ready for what he has to say? Following a sell out premiere production at the Dublin…
Find out more »COMEDY: Callan’s Kicks Live
Oliver Callan brings his huge cast of characters to the stage for the first time in seven years. It’s the first live Callan’s Kicks show in the age of Co-Teeshes Micheál and Leo the ledgebag, Boris and Biden and celeb scientists like Luke O’Neill. As we try to recover from lockdowns, NPHET advice and Stephen Donnelly interviews, Callan deconstructs the leaders and stars of politics, sport and entertainment in a special night of comedy. Callan’s Kicks Live promises to be…
Find out more »COMEDY: Des Bishop – Mia Mamma
I am often asked “where do you get your material from?” The truth is really that I try to see the funny in everything. My mother died in March 2019 and of course it was sad and grief can be tough sometimes but I saw a lot of funny in that too. Since death comes to us all and grief is something most of us will experience I thought there must be plenty of people who would like that funny…
Find out more »May 2022
COMEDY: Dirtbirds – No Filter
In a world where women are expected to have the patience of Mother Teresa, the arse of Jennifer Lopez, the social media profile of Kim Kardashian and the BMI of Elle McPherson the pressure is relentless. Dirtbirds the comedy duo and internet sensation present their hilarious new show ‘No Filters’ which takes a close look at the barrage of bullshit we are subjected to on a daily basis and reminds us that despite what we’re told there is NO SUCH…
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