November 2019
LOCAL ARTS: Newbridge Drama Group Presents – 45 Seconds from Broadway by Neil Simon
From America’s master of contemporary Broadway comedy, here is a take on behind the scenes action in the entertainment world, this time near the heart of the theatre district. 45 Seconds from Broadway takes place in the legendary “Polish Tea Room” on New York’s 47th Street. Here Broadway theatre personalities gather and schmooze. Great acting roles flourish and home truths are at their best as Neil Simon continues to find humour in even the most painful moments of life This…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: NEWBRIDGE DRAMA PRESENTS 45 Seconds from Broadway
From America’s master of contemporary Broadway comedy, Neil Simon, here is a take on behind the scenes action in the entertainment world, this time near the heart of the theatre district. 45 Seconds from Broadway takes place in the legendary “Polish Tea Room” on New York’s 47th Street. Here Broadway theatre personalities gather and schmooze. Great acting roles flourish and home truths are at their best as Neil Simon continues to find humour in even the most painful moments of…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: Kildare Youth Theatre present WUTHERING HEIGHTS
'He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” ― Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights In this modern adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Gothic fairy-tale, Jane Thornton infuses Wuthering Heights with quick-fire dialogue and an urgency that brings the age-old tale to life for a modern audience. In this searing, wild, and often funny, production, a troupe of storytellers take their audience on a whistle-stop tour of the novel all the while inhabiting…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: Odd Theatre Company presents LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
The Odd Theatre Company is proud to present the smash-hit musical Little Shop of Horrors, a comedy that has wowed audiences on Broadway and beyond for over 35 years. From the creative team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin), this deviously delicious show contains some of musical theatre’s best-loved tunes, including ‘Suddenly, Seymour’ and ‘Skid Row’. When timid assistant florist, Seymour Krelborn, discovers a strange and interesting new plant, his…
Find out more »December 2019
MUSIC: HIGHLY STRUNG – All Wrapped Up
For fans of the foursome, this is an evening of festive highlights that’s not to be missed. 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 of sound which hallmarks the spirit of Christmas for their audiences. Highly Strung sprinkles a little starlight on the darkest time of the year with a…
Find out more »February 2020
LOCAL ARTS: Kildare Youth Theatre presents Queen’s County
Queen’s County draws inspiration from the fist trialled plantations operated by the English crown in Ireland in the 16th century in counties Laois and Offaly. The one in Laois became known as Queen’s County. This devised play explores displacement and alienation through the lens of young people’s experience today, and includes episodes on commuting, rural isolation, strangeness and belonging, in one character’s surreal train journey through County Laois en route home from Electric Picnic. The performance is devised by Kildare…
Find out more »May 2021
CONNECTIONS 2021: Youth Theatre Festival
Each year the UK’s National Theatre commissions ten new plays for young people to perform, bringing together some of the most exciting writers with the theatre-makers of tomorrow. Every year, 300 youth theatre companies and over 6,000 young people produce a Connections play. This year Riverbank Arts Centre is partnering with NT Connections to bring you plays by three Irish youth theatre companies Dramahouse, Kildare Youth Theatre and Ardclough Youth Theatre. Due to Covid restrictions, these plays will be streamed…
Find out more »July 2021
LIVE BROADCAST: ODD THEATRE COMPANY – The Last Five Years
The Odd Theatre Company is proud to present its production of the award-winning musical The Last Five Years, a show widely regarded as one of the finest musicals of the 21st century. An emotionally powerful and intimate tale of two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over half a decade, The Last Five Years follows the relationship of Cathy, a struggling actress, and Jamie, a rising novelist. The show's unconventional structure sees Cathy’s story…
Find out more »November 2021
LOCAL ARTS: Newbridge Musical Theatre presents: Music of the Night
Music of the Night: Musical Theatre’s Greatest Hits After nearly two years of waiting - musical theatre returns to Newbridge! Newbridge Musical Theatre (formerly Newbridge Musical Society) will stage ‘Music of the Night: Musical Theatre's Greatest Hits’ a concert featuring some of the greatest hits from Broadway and the West End at Riverbank Arts Centre. In particular, the concert will pay tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber, one of the most celebrated musical theatre composers, and will include classic songs from ‘Phantom of…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: Newbridge Musical Theatre presents: Music of the Night
Music of the Night: Musical Theatre’s Greatest Hits After nearly two years of waiting - musical theatre returns to Newbridge! Newbridge Musical Theatre (formerly Newbridge Musical Society) will stage ‘Music of the Night: Musical Theatre's Greatest Hits’ a concert featuring some of the greatest hits from Broadway and the West End at Riverbank Arts Centre. In particular, the concert will pay tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber, one of the most celebrated musical theatre composers, and will include classic songs from ‘Phantom of…
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 »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 »April 2022
LOCAL ARTS/YOUTH THEATRE: CONNECTIONS
Connections Kildare Festival is taking place 14th and 15th April in Riverbank Arts Centre. The festival will be hosted by Crooked House Theatre Company and will be attended by Ardclough Youth Theatre, Playacting Youth Theatre and Straffan Drama Club. During the festival, there will be three plays which will be performed in Riverbank Arts Centre. Ardclough Youth Theatre – The Ramayana Reset Kildare Youth Theatre – Like There’s No Tomorrow Straffan Drama Club – Remote Apart from the plays, Crooked…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: The Life and Songs of John McCormack
Kildare tenor Philip Scott is delighted to bring his show "The Life and Songs of John McCormack" to Riverbank Arts Centre. Philip brings a programme of John McCormack songs such as I Hear You Calling Me, Macushla, The Kerry Dance and many more. The programme will also be sprinkled with some well known Italian arias. The Story of John's life which weaves its way through his songs will be told by one of Kildare's finest actors Liam Quinlivan and accompanied…
Find out more »May 2022
LOCAL ARTS: Stormy Surprise by Dave Tiernan
Paul thought he’d planned the best surprise birthday party for his wife June when he hired an old remote cottage in the woods, but the shabby shack isn’t up to June’s standard, and things get even worse as the surprise guests that Paul has invited are people that June hates. A stormy night adds to the tension in the cottage and with a mysterious stranger turning up uninvited anything is liable to happen in this hilarious comedy. Written by Dave…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: Newbridge Drama Group presents Canaries by Bernard Farrell
Bernard Farrell's Canaries was first performed on stage at the Abbey Theatre in October 1980. Since then it’s been a great hit with many audiences. Set in the Canary Islands we meet a collection of colourful characters. From a couple who are not shy about sharing their ‘holiday’ with anyone willing, to a couple of singletons who are not who they seem! Throw in a young couple on holiday with a parent, an ageing Contessa who’s determined to get back to Madrid,…
Find out more »June 2022
BOOK LAUNCH: I am Edel by Susan Connolly & Cormac P. Walsh
Join us for the launch of I Am Edel by Susan Connolly & Cormac P. Walsh, foreword by Emilie Pine. Featuring live performances of four scenes from the play, guest speakers, Q & A and book signing. This stage play is the compelling true story of Susan Connolly’s 11 years as a child in Dublin’s notorious Goldenbridge Industrial School. Told from the viewpoint of a child, I Am Edel is a story of courage, friendship and compassion. Susan Connolly…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: GYT PRESENTS: Double Bill: It Only Ever Happens in the Movies/Grimms Fairy Tales
After two years of online and outdoor work Griese Youth Theatre are excited to be back on Riverbanks stage. Engaging with five separate scripts that explore the challenges and hopes of youth the performances will take place over three nights. Double Bill on June 23rd @7pm It Only Ever Happens in the Movies - Devised by Mikel Murfi, John Taite, and the cast of the National Youth Theatre 2011. (Playshare) Followed by Grimms Fairy Tales by John Morton (Playshare)
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: GYT PRESENTS: Double Bill -Little Big Foot / Beetroot
After two years of online and outdoor work Griese Youth Theatre are excited to be back on Riverbanks stage. Engaging with five separate scripts that explore the challenges and hopes of youth the performances will take place over three nights. Double Bill on June 24th @7pm (Pre-Youth Theatre group 11/12 year olds) Little Big Foot by Gerald P Murphy (Lazy Bees Scripts) Followed by Beetroot by Lucy Montague Moffatt (Playshare)
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: GYT PRESENTS DOUBLE BILL: It Only Ever Happens in the Movies & Remote by Stef Smith
After two years of online and outdoor work Griese Youth Theatre are excited to be back on Riverbanks stage. Engaging with five separate scripts that explore the challenges and hopes of youth the performances will take place over three nights. June 25th @ 7pm It Only Ever Happens in the Movies - Devised by Mikel Murfi, John Taite, and the cast of the National Youth Theatre 2011. (Playshare) Followed by: Remote by Stef Smith (NT Connections Programme) Suitable for over…
Find out more »October 2022
LOCAL ARTS: Route 66 Big Band – Live in Concert
Route 66 is a 16 piece Big Band with big sound! Route 66 make a very welcome return to Riverbank, bringing their unique mix of music which has proved a huge success in theatres all over Ireland. Fronted by a male and female singer and with a mix of brass, saxes and rhythm, Route 66 produces a fabulous sound. Their programme, which includes numbers made famous by Adele, Frank Sinatra, Amy Winehouse, Tom Jones plus many more , will have…
Find out more »November 2022
LOCAL ARTS: Griese Youth Theatre Presents – Grimm Fairy Tales by John Morton
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm were German authors who made it their mission to collect and publish the folklore of their native land, Germany. We have all heard some version of the stories they collected, be it Snow White or Cinderella, but the stories the brothers originally recorded are very different to the ones we are familiar with. The original folktales were far darker, and used to scare children, teaching them valuable lessons. It’s safe to say that the original stories…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: The Odd Theatre Company Presents – First Date
The Odd Theatre Company presents First Date, a hilarious new Broadway musical that follows two young New Yorkers on a high-stakes blind date. When Aaron, a buttoned-up banker, and Casey, an artist a bit too wild for Wall Street, first meet, sparks don’t exactly fly. However, when other restaurant-goers transform into their inner critics, best friends, manipulative exes, and protective parents, their evening becomes more than they bargained for. Can the couple turn apparent dating disaster into something that will…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: The Odd Theatre Company Presents – First Date
The Odd Theatre Company presents First Date, a hilarious new Broadway musical that follows two young New Yorkers on a high-stakes blind date. When Aaron, a buttoned-up banker, and Casey, an artist a bit too wild for Wall Street, first meet, sparks don’t exactly fly. However, when other restaurant-goers transform into their inner critics, best friends, manipulative exes, and protective parents, their evening becomes more than they bargained for. Can the couple turn apparent dating disaster into something that will…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: The Odd Theatre Company Presents – First Date
The Odd Theatre Company presents First Date, a hilarious new Broadway musical that follows two young New Yorkers on a high-stakes blind date. When Aaron, a buttoned-up banker, and Casey, an artist a bit too wild for Wall Street, first meet, sparks don’t exactly fly. However, when other restaurant-goers transform into their inner critics, best friends, manipulative exes, and protective parents, their evening becomes more than they bargained for. Can the couple turn apparent dating disaster into something that will…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: Newbridge Drama Group Presents – Calendar Girls by Tim Firth
With heartache can come good. When Annie loses her husband to leukemia, she and her best friend, Chris, decide to raise money for the hospital by making a calendar… in the nude. The biggest challenge? Convincing their friends to drop everything for a good cause. Based on a true story of 11 Women’s Institute members, Calendar Girls is about letting go, accepting love, and giving yourself permission to enjoy life. Directed by Carol Duffy May contain nudity, suitable for ages 12+…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: Newbridge Drama Group Presents – Calendar Girls by Tim Firth
With heartache can come good. When Annie loses her husband to leukemia, she and her best friend, Chris, decide to raise money for the hospital by making a calendar… in the nude. The biggest challenge? Convincing their friends to drop everything for a good cause. Based on a true story of 11 Women’s Institute members, Calendar Girls is about letting go, accepting love, and giving yourself permission to enjoy life. Directed by Carol Duffy May contain nudity, suitable for ages 12+…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: Newbridge Drama Group Presents – Calendar Girls by Tim Firth
With heartache can come good. When Annie loses her husband to leukemia, she and her best friend, Chris, decide to raise money for the hospital by making a calendar… in the nude. The biggest challenge? Convincing their friends to drop everything for a good cause. Based on a true story of 11 Women’s Institute members, Calendar Girls is about letting go, accepting love, and giving yourself permission to enjoy life. Directed by Carol Duffy May contain nudity, suitable for ages 12+…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: Newbridge Drama Group Presents – Calendar Girls by Tim Firth
With heartache can come good. When Annie loses her husband to leukemia, she and her best friend, Chris, decide to raise money for the hospital by making a calendar… in the nude. The biggest challenge? Convincing their friends to drop everything for a good cause. Based on a true story of 11 Women’s Institute members, Calendar Girls is about letting go, accepting love, and giving yourself permission to enjoy life. Directed by Carol Duffy May contain nudity, suitable for ages 12+…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: Riff Raff Drama Group Presents – The Work of Art
Riff Raff are back with The Work of Art by Dave Tiernan! Set in 1960 rural Ireland, Biddy Smith’s husband Mick is away in the Congo and Biddy is left to keep her home and family in order. But with her son Tommy wheeling and dealing with Biddy’s brother-in-law they get on the wrong side of the parish priest. The situation isn’t helped when her daughter Peggy’s new boyfriend Morgan claims an old painting is the real deal. Madness, Sadness and…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: Riff Raff Drama Group Presents – The Work of Art
Riff Raff are back with The Work of Art by Dave Tiernan! Set in 1960 rural Ireland, Biddy Smith’s husband Mick is away in the Congo and Biddy is left to keep her home and family in order. But with her son Tommy wheeling and dealing with Biddy’s brother-in-law they get on the wrong side of the parish priest. The situation isn’t helped when her daughter Peggy’s new boyfriend Morgan claims an old painting is the real deal. Madness, Sadness and…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: Riff Raff Drama Group Presents – The Work of Art
Riff Raff are back with The Work of Art by Dave Tiernan! Set in 1960 rural Ireland, Biddy Smith’s husband Mick is away in the Congo and Biddy is left to keep her home and family in order. But with her son Tommy wheeling and dealing with Biddy’s brother-in-law they get on the wrong side of the parish priest. The situation isn’t helped when her daughter Peggy’s new boyfriend Morgan claims an old painting is the real deal. Madness, Sadness and…
Find out more »December 2022
LOCAL ARTS: Newbridge Musical Theatre Presents – Tale As Old As Time
Newbridge Musical Theatre presents Tale As Old As Time - a concert celebrating magical music from childhood classics and family favourites. You are invited to take a trip down memory lane, as some of the most iconic songs from Disney and beyond are brought to life by our award-winning ensemble of local performers. Both the young and young at heart are guaranteed to enjoy singing along to classic hits from celebrated composers such as Alan Menken, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Elton John,…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: Newbridge Musical Theatre Presents – Tale As Old As Time
Newbridge Musical Theatre presents Tale As Old As Time - a concert celebrating magical music from childhood classics and family favourites. You are invited to take a trip down memory lane, as some of the most iconic songs from Disney and beyond are brought to life by our award-winning ensemble of local performers. Both the young and young at heart are guaranteed to enjoy singing along to classic hits from celebrated composers such as Alan Menken, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Elton John,…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: Newbridge Musical Theatre Presents – Tale As Old As Time
Newbridge Musical Theatre presents Tale As Old As Time - a concert celebrating magical music from childhood classics and family favourites. You are invited to take a trip down memory lane, as some of the most iconic songs from Disney and beyond are brought to life by our award-winning ensemble of local performers. Both the young and young at heart are guaranteed to enjoy singing along to classic hits from celebrated composers such as Alan Menken, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Elton John,…
Find out more »MUSIC: Highly Strung
Welcome to Highly Strung’s Mid-Winter Musical Gathering. The ladies are delighted to return to Riverbank for their annual festive performance. The four friends’ diverse musical backgrounds create a mellow blend which hallmarks the spirit of Christmas for their audiences. Highly Strung casts a little star light on the darkest time of the year with a quirky perspective on favourites from Bach to Berlin. Featuring an acoustic blend of voice (Angela O’Toole), flute (Jeanette Behan), violin (Lisa Lazenby) and harp (Mary…
Find out more »January 2023
LOCAL ARTS: Kildare Youth Theatre Presents A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
Ibsen's classic play was greeted with shock in 1879, with both its style and subject matter being seen as subversive. It premiered in Copenhagen at the dawn of the suffragette movement and continues to be one of the world's most performed plays. It ushered modern drama onto centre stage, banishing aristocratic comedy and melodrama to the side-line. The ending of the play, a slammed door, sent shockwaves around the world that still echo today. Kildare Youth Theatre present a new…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: Kildare Youth Theatre Presents A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
Ibsen's classic play was greeted with shock in 1879, with both its style and subject matter being seen as subversive. It premiered in Copenhagen at the dawn of the suffragette movement and continues to be one of the world's most performed plays. It ushered modern drama onto centre stage, banishing aristocratic comedy and melodrama to the side-line. The ending of the play, a slammed door, sent shockwaves around the world that still echo today. Kildare Youth Theatre present a new…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: MAC Productions Present – Nunsense
Nunsense is the hilarious musical comedy about a convent of Nuns staging a fundraiser to help bury the last four nuns of their order who died in an unfortunate convent cooking accident (and who are temporarily being stored in the freezer!). The sisters decide that the best way to raise the money is to put on a variety show so they take over the school auditorium, which is currently set up for a production of Grease. Here we meet the…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: MAC Productions Present – Nunsense
Nunsense is the hilarious musical comedy about a convent of Nuns staging a fundraiser to help bury the last four nuns of their order who died in an unfortunate convent cooking accident (and who are temporarily being stored in the freezer!). The sisters decide that the best way to raise the money is to put on a variety show so they take over the school auditorium, which is currently set up for a production of Grease. Here we meet the…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: MAC Productions Present – Nunsense
Nunsense is the hilarious musical comedy about a convent of Nuns staging a fundraiser to help bury the last four nuns of their order who died in an unfortunate convent cooking accident (and who are temporarily being stored in the freezer!). The sisters decide that the best way to raise the money is to put on a variety show so they take over the school auditorium, which is currently set up for a production of Grease. Here we meet the…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: MAC Productions Present – Nunsense
Nunsense is the hilarious musical comedy about a convent of Nuns staging a fundraiser to help bury the last four nuns of their order who died in an unfortunate convent cooking accident (and who are temporarily being stored in the freezer!). The sisters decide that the best way to raise the money is to put on a variety show so they take over the school auditorium, which is currently set up for a production of Grease. Here we meet the…
Find out more »March 2023
LOCAL ARTS: Ballymore Eustace Concert Band
Ballymore-Eustace Concert Band presents an evening of music with a repertoire featuring movie scores, marches, popular classical music and rock/pop pieces arranged for wind band. Under the direction of Jon Clifford the concert band will play a selection from their recently launched album Flourish and will be joined by award winning soprano Ruby Boland. The McGrattan Band will offer a contrasting programme specialising in traditional flute. The concert will feature a reading from poet Patrick Hopkins whose work is deeply…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: Curragh Community College Presents Grease
It's 1959 in California, greaser Danny Zuko and Aussie Sandy Olsson are in love. They hang out at the beach during summer but when they go back to school, the two are unaware that they are both students at Rydell High. Danny's the leader of the T-Birds, a group of black leather jacket-wearing greasers, while Sandy hangs out with the Pink Ladies, a group of pink-wearing girls led by Rizzo. When they reunite unexpectedly at Rydell's first pep rally, Danny…
Find out more »LOCAL ARTS: Curragh Community College Presents Grease
It's 1959 in California, greaser Danny Zuko and Aussie Sandy Olsson are in love. They hang out at the beach during summer but when they go back to school, the two are unaware that they are both students at Rydell High. Danny's the leader of the T-Birds, a group of black leather jacket-wearing greasers, while Sandy hangs out with the Pink Ladies, a group of pink-wearing girls led by Rizzo. When they reunite unexpectedly at Rydell's first pep rally, Danny…
Find out more »