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FILM Blue Road - The Edna O’Brien Story CONCERT C
omposer Lab with the NSO THEATRE Accents When Cork musician Eoin French passed in August 2024, the Irish musical community mourned the loss of a giant. As known as Talos, French departed this mortal coil way way too early but leaves a musical legacy that will be cherished by many for years to come. He was also responsible for providing one half of the creative output of the transformative 2022 hit show Accents, written by Emmet Kirwan. Prompted by the birth of Kirwan’s first son, the actor-writer explores the sounds of our voices and how they define us, how we’re perceived and how they can give us power, a play that takes the form of eight poems delivered against French’s incredible soundtrack. The show has its own unique universe with its own gravitational pull, with an expanding and contracting celestial rhythm driven by Kirwan, under the compelling and energetic direction of one of Ireland’s most exciting directors, Claire O’Reilly. It is Kirwan’s Big Bang stage presence, his pulsating life-affirming energies through words and movement that make this show a must for your new year outings. Accompanied by the amazing musical talents of Ben Bix and Brian (The Line) Dillon, two classically trained musicians and members of the experimental electronic super group Melty Brains. Through their multi-instrumental talents they bring Eoin’s exquisite score to life. Ambassador Theatre, Dublin 16-18 January @ 7.30pm ticketmaster.ie We had the pleasure of an invite - courtesy of the Contemporary Music Centre - to the workshopping of this brilliant event which is a unique opportunity designed to support professional development in orchestral writing - a huge undertaking for any composer. Four young composers - Amelia Clarkson, Finola Merivale, Barry O’Halpin and Yue Song - with the expert aide of mentor David Fennessy, conductor Gavin Maloney and the wonderful National Symphony Orchestra, world premiere their new works tonight in this hallowed venue, which (as if that pressure isn’t enough) will also be broadcast on RTÉ Lyric FM. Tickets are free but must be booked through the NCH website. Highly recommended National Concert Hall Tuesday 21 Jan tickets.nch.ie Her books were banned and burned in her native Ireland. In London and New York, she had illicit love affairs, hosted star-studded parties, and made and lost a fortune. Blue Road – The Edna O’Brien Story is a candid portrait of one of the world’s greatest and most charismatic writers, Irish author Edna O’Brien. In her final year, aged 93, she shares her diaries and gives one last interview to filmmaker Sinéad O’Shea about her extraordinary life. Her diaries are read aloud by Oscar nominated actress Jessie Buckley. World premiered and rave reviewed at the esteemed Toronto International Film Festival, the opening night film at the prestigious DOC NYC Festival and recently scooping the award for Best New Irish Feature and the competitive audience award at the Cork International Film Festival, O’Shea’s film arrives heavily garlanded and should be a fascinating watch, telling a tale as much about the repressiveness of Ireland during the Silent Gen and Boomer periods as about the writer herself. In selected cinemas - IFI, Light House etc - from Jan 31st 46