Eclectic programme from Town Hall ranges from Shakespeare to Smokie

Recession or no recession, we all need the entertainment and challenge that the arts bring to our lives, and the Spring programme from the Town Hall and Black Box is an eclectic mix, with something for all tastes, from drama to dance to music, and film from the Galway Film Society.

The mix includes plenty from young local companies, with the Town Hall Studio being occupied by Galway talent for most of the season. The Renmore Pantomime continues on the Town Hall main stage until January 17 with Mother Goose, a comedic look at Celtic Tiger Ireland. Then, on January 20 fans of the showband era will have a chance to relive memories when RTÉ’s Ronan Collins is the host and compere for Reeling in the Showband Years. Those participating include Paddy Cole, Sean Dunphy Tommy and Jimmy Swarbrigg, Sean O’Dowd, The Conquerors, Art Supple of The Victors, and vocalist and instrumentalist Lorraine McDonald.

There’s a treat for lovers of classical music from January 22-24, when Music for Galway kicks off a celebration of Robert Schuman with a weekend event entitled Fantasies and Fairytales. The concerts are in the Town Hall at 8pm on Friday, at 2pm and 8pm on Saturday and on Sunday at 3pm. Full details from Music for Galway, www.musicforgalway.ie

The award-winning CosCéim Dance Company returns on January 26 with As You Are by Muirne Bloomer and Faun by David Bolger. As You Are is a quirky piece in which six extraordinary individuals are tested as they struggle for control over themselves and each other. In Faun revisits Nijinsky’s first ballet, L’après midi d’un Faune. Mixing Debussy’s famous score with Queen’s music, David Bolger explores how dance still reconnects us with our feelings and imagination. The show is at on January 26. For details of free workshops, contact box office.

Popular singer Johnny McEvoy comes to the Town Hall for an evening of nostalgia on January 28 at 8pm. The following night it’s the turn of Jack L, celebrating the launch of his recent album, The Story so Far – The Essential Collection. Comedian Ardal O’Hanlon of Fr Ted fame, brings his stand-up show to the venue on January 30

Olivier award nominee and RSC actor Gerard Logan presents solo performance of Shakespeare’s great narrative poem, The Rape of Lucrece on February 1. The piece, about the terrible crime of rape and its dreadful consequences has garnered 5 star reviews for the actor.

A stage adaptation of Flann O’Brien’s novel classic At Swim Two Birds will be presented by Blue Raincoat Theatre Company from February 4-6 at 8pm. It’s the turn of the kids on February 7 with the Lambert Puppet Theatre’s version of Snow White at 2 and 4pm. Then there’s more Shakespeare from February 9-13 when Second Age Theatre Company returns with Hamlet, directed by Alan Stanford.On February 16 country singer Nanci Griffith will be at the venue, and on February 18 the Irish Youth Russian Ballet Company presents La Sylphide, a tale of love and deception set in 18th century Scotland.

On February 20 its country and showband, when singer Mike Denver joins forces with the legendary Brendan Boyer. Traditional group the High Kings return on February 22 and it’s time for more serious matters when Ibsen’s classic play, Hedda Gabler will be presented by the Knocknacarra Amateur Theatre Group, KATS at from February 24-26.

The Three Tenors will be in concert on February 27 at 8pm, with a range of popular songs, while music is also to the fore when Twink and Linda Martin star in Menopause, The Musical from March 1-6. This comedy about women and ‘the change’ is back for its final Irish dates.

Local group, The Patrician Musical Society will present Gilbert & Sullivan’s Mikado from March 9-13, featuring such classics as Three Little Maids, I’ve Got a Little List, The Sun and I.

Popular group Smokie will bring people back down memory lane on March 16 with The Irish Collection Show, featuring songs like songs like Something’s Been Making me Blue, I’ll Meet You At Midnight, Don’t Play Your Rock ‘n’ Roll To Me and more.

Sex and comedy are on the menu with My First Time, which will be staged from March 18-20. The Irish premiere of this successful off-Broadway play features hysterical and heartbreaking stories about first sexual experiences written by Ken Davenport, based on stories from real people. It stars Leigh Arnold, Claire Tully and Alan Shortt.Excerpts from ballets including Giselle, Cinderella and Don Quixote will be presented on March 21 in the Regina Rogers School of Ballet Gala Concerts, which are at 3 and 8pm.

The Fureys and Davey Arthur will be in the venue on March 23 to perform hits including The Green Fields of France, The Old Man, Red Rose Café, From Clare To Here and Leaving Nancy.

It's the turn of Abba fans on March 24 with tribute band Abbamania celebrating over 30 years of hits from the Swedish supergroup. Local company Compántas Lir close the Spring season on the Town Hall's main stage with Bernard Farrell’s I Do Not Like Thee, Dr Fell, a savage send up of American group therapy, from March 26-27.

For more read page 27 of this week's Connacht Tribune.