2026 on stage: 20 headline plays in the year ahead, including Jodie Comer in Prima Facie
From a portrait of a declining Judy Gardland to comedy, film adaptations and musicals, there’s much to look forward to in the coming year
Conor McPherson
After an unsettled week, Joanna Donnelly has an outbreak of sense
Plus: What Michael D Higgins really thinks about Bob Geldof, celeb spotting and some Irish thought leadership
The Weir review: Brendan Gleeson and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor bring timeless play to Dublin
Conor McPherson directs his own drama, now almost 30 years old, with a cast that also includes Seán McGinley, Kate Phillips and Owen McDonnell
Brendan Gleeson: ‘I can’t go into a pub any more. I really miss it’
With The Weir, the star returns to the stage after a 10-year absence. It’s a play he loves for its portrayal of the Irish as a people
Event guide: The Weir, Kilkenny Arts Festival and other best things to do in Ireland this week
August 2nd-8th, 2025: The best movies, music, art and more coming your way this week
Brendan Gleeson to return to the stage for the first time in 10 years in Conor McPherson’s play The Weir
A new production of the award-winning drama, directed by its writer, opens in Dublin in August before a West End transfer
The Brightening Air at the Old Vic review: Conor McPherson’s outstanding new play turns convention on its head
Theatre: Chris O’Dowd, Brian Gleeson, Seán McGinley and Derbhle Crotty star in the Irish writer’s new drama
Slow Train Coming by Todd Almond: The inside story of Bob Dylan and Conor McPherson’s stage collaboration
American production of a play with music, Girl from the North Country, was more fraught than most
Irish Theatre in the Twenty-First Century: Development and diversity – Deserving of a wide readership
This comprehensive and wonderfully written book serves to remind us of how much outstanding Irish theatre has been produced in the past quarter-century
The Guide: The events to see, the shows to book, and the ones to catch before they end
The best movies, music, art and more coming your way this week, including an intriguing collaboration of Damien Dempsey and Conor McPherson
How to design with light: Master this subtle art, and you’ll be in hot demand
Gemma Tipton offers a beginner’s guide to taking up a new cultural pursuit
The Weir: The Abbey stages an atmospheric revival of Conor McPherson’s 1990s play
Theatre: Caitríona McLaughlin’s production runs for 100 minutes but holds your attention throughout
Collective artistic experiences are one of society’s safety valves
Latest Government announcements have delayed the promised increase in audience size for theatres and cinemas
Denise Gough: ‘It’s only recently women get to play parts that usually go to boys’
Irish actor on her character choices, catching Covid-19 and why she avoids social media
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices