Cooking up something for the weekend

The May Bank Holiday weekend sees a host of events take place in towns and cities across the country. BRIAN O'CONNELLpicks out some of the artistic highlights and family-friendly activities

CULTURAL CHOICE:

CURTAINS UP:

KRAPP’S LAST TAPE

Running for 19 performances, actor Michael Gambon teams up with Gate artistic director Michael Colgan for Beckett’s masterpiece. This is Gambon’s third successive stage appearance at the Gate, following the success of Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land and Beckett’s Eh Joe last year. Runs tonight, tomorrow and Monday, with matinees on Saturday.

ALL-IRELAND DRAMA

FESTIVAL

Starting today and running until May 8th, nine amateur drama groups from around the country compete for this annual prize at the Dean Crowe Theatre and Arts Centre in Co Westmeath. Offerings include Agnes of God, Copenhagen and Of Mice And Men, and among those participating are the Nenagh Players, Lifford Players and Dundalk Theatre Workshop. A limited number of tickets are still available at deancrowetheatre.com or 090-6492129

FOR LAUGHS:

APRES MATCH

The comedy trio of Barry Murphy, Gary Cooke and Risteárd Cooper return to Galway’s Town Hall Theatre with a fresh show in advance of this year’s World Cup. New targets in their act include Ryan Tubridy, Brendan O’Connor and Joan Burton. Tickets are still available for tonight’s one-off performance. See tht.ie.

EXHIBITIONISM:

NESTA FITZGERALD

For the next six weeks, works from Irish artist Nesta Fitzgerald will be on exhibition in Gruel on Dublin’s Dame Street. The collection features 10 illustrations of familiar sites in Dublin such as Newman House and Joyce’s Bridge. Fitzgerald has been steadily building a name for herself, having produced work for the Saatchi gallery in London and Imma in Dublin. See gruel.ie for more details.

EV + A

Limerick’s annual contemporary arts exhibition this year includes themes such as spaces old and new. Part of the exhibition takes place in a new hub on Thomas Street and Catherine Street, while the curator is Elizabeth Bonde Hetz, a professor of architecture in Stockholm. See eva.ie.

PUBLIC SLEEPOVER

The Model Arts Centre in Sligo re-opens this weekend with a range of events, including a public sleepover at the gallery on Saturday night, in an inventive partnership with the local Sligo Institute of Technology. Up to 100 guests will be accommodated on innovative beds designed by the IT design students. Music and dance performances through the night. See themodel.ie.

WORDS TO THE WISE:

STROKESTOWN

INTERNATIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL

A good mix of national and international poets and musicians will gather in Strokestown over the weekend for the 12th annual festival, celebrating poets in both English and Irish. All readings are free and a number of poetry awards are handed out, including the Strokestown International Poetry Prize. See strokestownpoetry.org

LITERARY DEATH MATCH

Authors battle it out in a literary joust at the Sugar Club in Dublin on Saturday, hosted by Opium Magazine’s founding editor Todd Zuniga. Irish writers Julian Gough, Máighréad Medhb, Cathy Sweeney and Stephen James Smith compete. Tickets are €10. thesugarclub.com

SILVER SCREEN:

CORK CINE CLUB

Since the demise of the Kino cinema, the Half Moon Theatre at the Cork Opera House has looked to fill the void for Leeside cinema lovers with a series of Sunday screenings. This week it’s Michael Heneke’s White Ribbon, a ruthless examination of how violence can take root in society. Screening at 6.30pm and 9pm. See corkoperahouse.ie

DANCE TO THE JAZZ:

CITY OF DERRY JAZZ FESTIVAL

A strong array of acts head to Derry this weekend, including ex-Rolling Stone Bill Wyman and his band Rhythm Kings, Belgian act Aeroplane and the crowd-pleasing Jazz Buskers. Other than ticketed events, there is a Guinness- sponsored jazz trail. cityofderryjazzfestival.com

BRAY JAZZ FESTIVAL

Starting today and running until Monday, the festival features concerts, recitals and a jazz pub trail, and looks to live up to its billing as “one of the best small jazz festivals in Europe”. Highlights include British guitarist John Etheridge paying tribute to Django Reinhardt, as well as musicians from Africa, Brazil and much of Europe. See brayjazz.com

FIVE LIVE:

KILKENNY RHYTHM AND ROOTS FESTIVAL

The small festival with a big heart, as it has been described, celebrates its 13th year with a mix of big name acts and more than 60 free gigs around the city. Highlights include Josh Ritter, The Duke and the King, Caitlin Rose and Jason and the Scorchers. See kilkennyroots.com

BLACK EYED PEAS

One of the biggest live acts in the world arrive in Dublin this weekend for two dates at the O2, as part of The End world tour. Support on both nights comes from Cheryl Cole, and tickets are sold out

VANTASTIVAL

A three-day festival of music and entertainment, with a special welcome for camper van and scooter owners, takes place at the Dunany Estate in Louth this weekend. There are plenty of family-friendly events, from food and craft fairs to holistic healing areas, as well as music from Jack L, Mick Flannery and others. Tickets start from €30. See vantastival.com

TRADITIONAL FLEADH:

BY THE FEALE

Bringing together traditional musicians from Ireland and overseas, the 16th year of this festival in Abbeyfeale mixes traditional music workshops with headline concerts. Highlights include Frankie Gavin and the new De Dannan, a junior busking competition and the All–Ireland bones playing championship. See fleadhbythefeale.com

THREE MASTERS

To celebrate a new recording, Triúr Sa Draighean, from Peadar Ó Riada, the Glór Irish Music Centre in Ennis tonight hosts a performance from Ó Riada, Martin Hayes and Caoimhin Ó Raghallaigh. Tickets €20/€18. See glor.ie