Event of the week
Prima Facie
From Tuesday, January 27th, until Saturday, January 31st, Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, 7.30pm, from €21.50, ticketmaster.ie
The Australian playwright Suzie Miller began her professional life as a lawyer, a background that gave her a particular insight into some of the issues at play in this one-woman show, which premiered at Sydney’s Stables Theatre in 2019. It made its debut in the West End of London three years later, featuring Jodie Comer, who then appeared in it on Broadway too. The Killing Eve star now brings the production to Dublin, playing Tess Ensler, a barrister who specialises in defending men accused of sexual assault – in a legal system that too often fails the victims. Comer’s performance has won her Olivier, Tony and Drama Desk awards, among others. Prima Facie’s pulsating soundtrack is by the English musician Self Esteem.
Gigs
Pilgrims
Friday, January 25th, Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely, Co Wicklow, 7.30pm, €30, courthoursearts.ie
Friends reunited? Make way for something few could have predicted this time last year: Bell X1’s lead singer, Paul Noonan, teaming up with one of the band’s original members, Brian Crosby (who left in 2008). As Noonan continued with BellX1 and with side projects such as Printer Clips and Houseplants, Crosby went on to forge a career as an in-demand film composer. The pair reconnected musically in April 2025; they have been busy since then, recording a debut album that is scheduled for release on Friday, January 30th. Pilgrims tour nationwide throughout February; pilgrims.music has details of venues and dates.
All We Have Are Days
From Friday, January 30th, until Monday, February 2nd, Limerick, various prices, times and venues, allwehavearedays.com
“A winter weekend with music at its heart” is how the second edition of this multidisciplinary festival describes itself. Headline shows include Denise Chaila (Friday, January 30th, Coach House, 7.30pm, €22.50), Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody (Saturday, January 31st, St John’s Church, 7.30pm, €38.50, sold out) and Oxn (Sunday, February 1st, St John’s Church, 7.30pm, €38.50). Equally interesting is the support programme, featuring the panel discussion Days x London Irish Centre (Saturday, January 31st, Coach House, 4pm, free, ticket required), folk (Josh Okeefe, Saturday, January 31st, Commercial, 6pm, free, ticket required) and hip-hop (Curtisy, Saturday, January 31st, Pharmacia, 9pm, €12.50).
Gemma Dunleavy and Muireann Bradley
Friday, January 30th, and Saturday, January 31st, Abbey Presbyterian Church, Dublin, 7pm, €30/€20, dublin.ie/brigit
Two of Ireland’s brightest performers headline Brigit x District, a two-night concert series programmed in partnership with District Magazine, and part of the fifth edition of Brigit: Dublin City Celebrating Women. At 19, Muireann Bradley is a seasoned blues-guitar player from Co Donegal whose fingerpicking style has been praised from Letterkenny to Los Angeles. Gemma Dunleavy, meanwhile, is a Dublin songwriter whose soul/hip-hop work revolves around community and working-class values.
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Festival
Féile na Tána
From Sunday, January 25th, until Monday, February 2nd, Carlingford/Cooley Peninsula, Co Louth, various prices, times and venues, feilenatana.com
Féile na Tána celebrates St Brigid’s Day with a nine-day schedule of concerts, workshops and sessions featuring some of Ireland’s leading traditional artists. Programmed by the Co Louth-based musicians Zoë Conway (violin) and John McIntyre (guitar), music highlights include the singer Liam Ó Maonlaí and the poet Vincent Woods (Sunday, January 25th, Carlingford Heritage Centre, 6pm, €15), Gerry O’Connor and guests (Thursday, January 29th, Ti Chulainn, Mullaghbawn, 7pm, €14/€12) and a concert featuring Bill Whelan and guests (Friday, January 30th, Carlingford Heritage Centre, 8pm, €15).
Dance
Emily Aoibheann presents The Flag
From Monday, January 26th, until Saturday, January 31st, Shaw Room, National Gallery of Ireland, 1pm, free, nationalgallery.ie
The award-winning artist Emily Aoibheann premieres an immersive dance and music performance that comments on history‘s impact on the way we live and how national identity can be sensed through emotion and tension. Integrating archival research and soundscapes (field recordings, live brass) with contemporary dance and ribbon choreography, The Flag presents movement and music that allows audience members to linger in one of the NGI’s most atmospheric spaces.
Musical
Top Hat
From Tuesday, January 27th, until Saturday, January 31st, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin, 7.30pm, from €24.20, ticketmaster.ie
We know, of course, that this stage musical is based on the 1935 musical comedy film, which features Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing toe to toe if not cheek to cheek, and such classic Irving Berlin songs as Let’s Face the Music and Dance, Top Hat, White Tie and Tails, Isn’t This a Lovely Day (To Be Caught in the Rain) and Puttin’ on the Ritz. Kathleen Marshall choreographs and directs, with costumes (by Yvonne Milnes) and set designs (by Peter McKintosh) effectively co-starring. The lead actors/dancers are Phillip Attmore and Amara Okereke.
Stage
Eureka Day
From Friday, January 30th, until Sunday, March 8th, Gate Theatre, Dublin, 7.30pm, from €16.50, gatetheatre.ie
Any takers for a smash US comedy focusing on a private California elementary school that prides itself on its liberal values? Jonathan Spector’s satirical, thought-provoking play deftly explores, via a five-member board-of-directors meeting, potentially divisive issues such as open-minded beliefs, political correctness and, more urgently (and the reason for the emergency meeting), public health and safety. Roy Alexander Weise directs; Philippa Dunne, Ayesha Antoine and Stephen Brennan star.
Still running
Classics Now
From Friday, January 30th, until Sunday, February 1st, various prices, times and venues, Dublin, classicsnow.ie
Now in its sixth year, this festival explores present-day political and cultural affairs through the lens of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Highlights include an evening with the writer and classicist Natalie Haynes (Saturday, January 31st, 7pm, Whyte Recital Hall, RIAM) and an interview with the writer Pat Barker (Sunday, February 1st, 1pm, no booking required, online only).
Book it this week
- Finding a Voice Festival, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, March 5th-8th, findingavoice.ie
- The Twilight Sad, Button Factory, Dublin, May 9th, foggynotions.ie
- Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin, June 8th-13th, ticketmaster.ie
- Patti Smith Quartet, Galway International Arts Festival, July 15th, giaf.ie
