Mermaid Arts Centre January to April 2020 Brochure by Mermaid Arts Centre

2020 JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL

SEATING PLAN

BOOKING YOUR TICKETS

We have no booking fees - at all, so book how you wish!

- PHONE: 01 272 4030 | ONLINE: www.mermaidartscentre.ie - IN PERSON: Pop in to us at box office during our opening hours. - Please note, once purchased, tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded. - Our wheelchair accessible spaces are located in the front row on the ground floor. Please note, it is not possible to book specific wheelchair seating online, please contact the box office to arrange.

Tel: 01-2724030 WWW.MERMAIDARTSCENTRE.IE

WELCOME

To be nobody-but-yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight.’ - E.E. Cummings In Mermaid as we start a new year, we take time to consider and contemplate last year’s successes and failings in order to improve. This year our question to ourselves is; how can we be ourselves and speak out? How do we respond to uniformity and inequality? Can we make a difference? We believe to make a difference requires thought, empathy and imagination. It takes creativity. Mermaid stands for tolerance, collaboration, solidarity, diversity and equity. You might well ask how can art programmes actually make a difference and promote tolerance? It’s a complex question. Our response is rooted in a simple idea: people can encounter each other in public spaces through art and culture. Through creating and sharing artistic work relevant to their own experience, they can understand one another better. Finding common ground people can work towards respectful ways of living together. Mermaid is not a place for one type of person or one type of voice. We are not just a centre of art, we are a centre of community. We value everyone. Through our programmes we offer interaction as an alternative to confrontation. Curiosity and discovery not certainty, hope, not hate. We work with artists and local people who work with and want to speak to their own locality. We don’t think we have answers to all difficult human experiences, but our work is an antidote. The power of art and culture is not mystical or mysterious – its undeniable. Art does not change the world, but it does change the people who change the world. I want to leave you with a quote from Jasmine Power (age 17), a wonderfully talented young autistic woman from Bray who worked with Paul Timoney (our Storyteller in Residence for 5 weeks at North Wicklow Educate Together). ‘They say man makes art but I believe that art makes man. In fact, I believe our creativity is what makes us human, when you put a child in a box of sand they make castles, and if you give a caveman a frayed stick and berries he makes art’. Niamh O’Donnell (Artistic Director) and the Mermaid Team

MERMAID SPACE

Mermaid Space and Made in Mermaid make up our residency programme and artists commissions. Both of these initiatives help us ensure we're not just a centre of presentation but a place of creation. It confirms our commitment to supporting the work of artists to research, make and produce new works. This season we are very pleased to announce the realization of large-scale initiatives as well as new artists and new partnerships to our portfolio; Mermaid is delighted to start working with Christian O’Reilly. Christian is a playwright and screenwriter based in Galway. His plays have been produced nationally and internationally by companies such as Druid, Northlight and Rough Magic. He was a recipient of the Stewart Parker Trust New Playwright Bursary for his debut play THE GOOD FATHER and his most recent work is SANCTUARY, a feature film he adapted from his stage play of the same name for Blue Teapot theatre company. SANCTUARY broke new ground in its casting of an ensemble of actors with intellectual disabilities in a feature film. Mermaid is supporting Christian who is currently developing a new work called UNSPEAKABLE CONVERSATIONS, thanks to support from the Arts Council. Christian attended a conference in Poland in 2015 and saw a presentation by Rosemarie Garland-Thomson of Emory University, USA, entitled ‘Habitable Worlds: Disability, Space, and Eugenics’. Her presentation was based on an article by wheelchair-user Harriet McBryde Johnson (New York Times, 2003). In it, Harriet describes her confrontations with philosopher Peter Singer of Princeton University, who argued that it should be legally permissible to euthanize disabled infants. The article sparked an idea for Christian’s new play. Christian, working with Rosemarie (and Lucy Ryan) has gathered an incredible group of talent together to realise this new work: director Lynne Parker, dramaturg Olwen Fouéré and performer Liz Carr (‘Silent Witness’). In January we will workshop for a week here in Wicklow and at the end of August we start rehearsals in Mermaid with a showing in September. Then the work will head to Dublin Fringe Festival (details soon to be announced) and finally on to Belfast International Arts Festival in association with University of Atypical. Keep an eye out on our website for details, this is a piece not to be missed! 4

MERMAID SPACE

Janet Moran is a wonderful (and well known) artist. In 2017, Janet was given a Gap Day Bursary (an artist’s support initiative led by Lian Bell and supported by Mermaid). Following this, Mermaid developed with her, a new work A Holy Show, (she also got support from The Pavilion Theatre). The work was produced by Mermaid and presented with Janet as a first-time Writer / Director with a talented cast: Caitriona Ennis and Patrick Moy. The show was presented in Mermaid in September 2018 and moved directly into The Abbey Theatre (on the Peacock stage) as part of Dublin Fringe Festival for eight sold out performances. Mermaid then handed over the producing reins to independent producer Donal Sheils, Verdant Productions and A Holy Show went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2019 where it played 26 performances in The Pleasance Theatre with four-star reviews in The List, the Edinburgh Reporter, The Upcoming and the Arts Review. A Holy Show in 2020 with two new cast members, Roseanna Purcell and Mark Fitzgerald, will head out on a 14-venue nationwide tour and we’re delighted to have it return to Mermaid on 5th February. This is an exciting chance for Wicklow audiences to see this highly entertaining piece which was made in Mermaid – don’t miss it! In 2020, Mermaid will again work and support Janet with a new piece called QUAKE, also supported by The Pavilion Theatre. Janet wants to explore the lives of seven characters over a year as they struggle with their experiences in a modern Dublin and with their own ability to understand and articulate these experiences. Each act will follow the form of a Quaker meeting, starting in silence. Each of the “silent” sections will use music, dance and physical comedy to progress the story. There will be a showing of this work in development as part of Dublin Theatre Festival 2020 – details to be released soon. Theatre truly is a collaborative art form because not only are the artists imperative to the success of the piece we also could not make these works without the support of; The Arts Council of Ireland Theatre Project Award and Touring Award. Script and Play Development co-commissioned by Mermaid Arts Centre and The Pavilion Theatre and supported by the Centre Culturel Irlandais (Paris) and Fishamble: New Play Clinic and Culture Ireland - no less!

MERMAID SPACE

Anna Newell (www.annanewell.co.uk) has been making theatre adventures for people of all ages to watch and to take part in since 1989. She created the world’s first BabyDay, introduced theatre for children and young people with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties into Ireland and helped start babytheatre in South Africa. Her work for Early Years audiences has been seen on five continents. She is an internationally acclaimed Wicklow based Theatre Maker. Mermaid, with the Wicklow County Council Arts Office, The Civic (Tallaght), Draiocht (Blanchardstown), Riverbank Theatre (Kildare) and the Arts Council have been supporting her in the development, creation and presentation of her work which inspires, thrills and enthralls babies and young people with additional needs. (Anne has multiple partners and networks for her work, too many to mention here although Enable Wicklow does deserve a mention! Have a look at her web-site for info on her partners https://www.annanewell.co.uk/babies). In 2020, we have five projects where we will support the making and showing of work by Anna. I AM BABA (International Early Childhood Arts Commission 2017) will be on a 10-week tour right across Ireland. Mermaid will present this work over two days in Mermaid, as well as Little Bray Community Centre on 14th and 15th April (see pg 44). Anna has received Arts Council of Ireland funding to create a new show for children and young people with complex needs in 2020. GROOVE will be a 60's/70's inspired chilled-out "happening" that will tour to schools and venues. To be presented in Mermaid in June 2020. SING ME TO THE SEA a show for children with complex needs that takes place in hydropools (strategic project for Wicklow County Arts Office in collaboration with the Riverbank Arts Centre & Enable Ireland) will return for a week to Mermaid in July 2020 partnering and presenting in the hydro pool in the Marino School. 2020 will also include R&D on Ireland’s first dance show for babies – I LIKE TO MOVE IT MOVE IT as well as the showing of some work completed in late 2019 on an experimental project called CONNECT where Anna and collaborating artist David Goodall worked with teenagers from Bray devising a new work for early years, working alongside researchers from ImmaLab in TCD exploring the impact on the teens of working with the babies in this way. 6

MERMAID SPACE

CREATIVE SALON

TUESDAY 21 January | 6pm - 8pm Free (Booking Essential - Limited Capacity) Creating a cultural future for us all. Join us for an evening of cross pollination at Outpost Studios hybrid salon/ reading group. These evenings have run for over three years gathering artists together to discuss ideas, work and practice with the aim of creating connections amongst as broad a range of artists as possible. Bringing as many people with a stake in the arts in Wicklow into one room to talk. The evening will start with a presentation by Eleanor Philips and Emma Finucane. Following their month long research residency at Mermaid with The Bureau for Creative Communities they will report on the cultural and artistic health of Bray. What is the diagnosis and is there a remedy? Inclusion, extraction, dissecting the creative climate - could there be a literary cure? There is an accompanying text for the evening in order to spark / initiate discussions and everyone is invited to bring articles, artwork, opinions and enthusiasm, (not necessarily in that order), for what will be an evening of entertaining debate and cultural intervention. (email outpostartiststudios@gmail.com if you would like the accompanying text in advance) All artists, creatives and disciplines welcome. No previous knowledge necessary, all discussion welcome. Outpost was founded in 2014 by artists Joanne Boyle, Raine Hozier Byrne, Rachel Fallon, Emma Finucane, Laura Kelly, Joanna Kidney, Eleanor Phillips and Ann Marie Webb.

GALLERY

DORJE DE BURGH - DREAM THE END

Opens THURSDAY 5 December | 6pm | Free Admission Exhibition runs FRIDAY 6 Dec − SATURDAY 1 Feb | 10am − 6pm Dream the End is an ongoing experiment born of obsession and loss - an attempt to reconstitute a lost city, a vanished civilisation, a family disappeared. It is a map of oedipal desire and its potential for violent and destructive excess; a cross generational collaboration, an analysis of the flow of intra-subjective trauma, a matrixial duet. It is a search for presence within a lost ocean of immaterial absence, a grasping at how little I know, can ever know, and now never will. How little photographs can say. It is a re-presencing of the dead and a re-telling of grief. It is also a telling of my mother’s story, the story of our relationship, its intensity, and its end. “Especially intriguing... a rich, novelistic -or filmic - texture.” - Hugh Linehan, The Irish Times “A work of mourning, loss and memory... a sort of imaginative, open-ended and unresolved link between the past and the present.” - Justin Carville, Visual Artists Ireland

GALLERY

SUSAN MONTGOMERY

Opens THURSDAY 13 February | 6pm | Free Admission Exhibition runs FRIDAY 14 Feb − SATURDAY 28 March | 10am − 6pm Susan Montgomery is a visual artist from Wicklow living in West Cork. She graduated from DLIATD in 1997. She is a member of the Tellurometer Project collective since 2012 and has exhibited widely throughout Ireland in both group and solo exhibitions. For Montgomery, the use of paint as material endeavours to articulate the existence of fragility and temporality in the context of her personal experience of the everyday. Findings, arrangements and observances from domestic and rural landscapes develop into abstractions that take the form of paintings. There is an attempt to decipher the delicate and often encumbering tension between large and small, rhythm and interruption, interior and exterior, self and other, night and day, stillness and movement and what happens within the slipping between the boundaries of these. Selected group exhibitions include RuaRed Winter OPEN 2019, ‘Everything is in everything’ Sirius Arts Centre 2019, Doswell Gallery, Rosscarbery (2019, 2017, 2016), Skibbereen Arts Festival 2018, Octagon,Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre 2013, Solo exhibitions include Signal Arts Centre 2008, Talbot Gallery 2009, Greyfriars Municipal Gallery, Waterford 2010. Recent residencies includes The Mothership Project Satellite Residency at Cow House Studios (2019), Collections include Office of Public Works, Trinity College Dublin, Waterford 9 Municipal Collection and Cork County Council.

GALLERY

LAURA KELLY

WHITEOUT ECHO

Opens SATURDAY 11 April | 3pm | Free Admission Exhibition runs MONDAY 13 April − SATURDAY 16 May | 10am − 6pm WHITEOUT occurs when human perception is confounded during a blizzard, the horizon line disappearing as surrounding landscape transforms under a blanket of white. In a similarly disorientating way, an ECHO fails to provide cues as to the source of a sound. Through the medium of expanded drawing, Laura Kelly's temporary occupation of the gallery space will allude to the transient nature of snowcover and it's capacity to dramatically camouflage and alter perception of a landscape. It results from a period of research referencing expansive, sublime landscapes following Winter Residency Awards at the Banff Centre, Canada (2016) and Vermont Studio Center, USA (2018). This is her fifth solo exhibition and she has exhibited extensively in group shows including RA, London; RHA Dublin and RUA Belfast. She holds a BA Fine Art NCAD & MA in Visual Arts Practice, IADT. www.laurakellyartist.com

MERMAID PATHWAYS

We believe in the importance of self expression and the right of every citizen to have the opportunity to be part of and engage in cultural activity. Mermaid has therefore established two new initiatives in our programme;

DEMENTIA FRIENDLY TOURS

THURSDAY 12 March 2020 | 11am | Free (Booking Required) Dementia can take away so much from a person but in 2020 Mermaid plans to take small practical steps to help build compassionate activities that provide some social activities to those experiencing dementia and for their family, friends and carers. We will host a free dementia friendly guided tour of Susan Montgomery's exhibition in our gallery, where all can participate in a morning of exploration and discussion in a relaxed and safe environment. Participants can expect a warm welcome, a seated tour of the gallery and an engaged discussion through exhange of ideas and thoughts. Tours will be followed by a complimentary tea/ coffee in the Betelnut Café. Mermaid is a fully wheelchair accessible venue, seating is provided for all participants.

RELAXED PERFORMANCES & SCREENINGS: HEART OF WINTER (CHILDREN'S THEATRE) WEDNESDAY 18 December 2019 | 10am | €8

MARY AND THE WITCH'S FLOWER (FILM)

TUESDAY 14 January 2020 | 11am | €5 | (See pg 18) As part of our work and involvement with Autism Friendly Bray, Mermaid will present two relaxed performances / screenings per season. These are specifically designed to benefit people who might need a more welcoming environment, including people with Autism, sensory and communication disorders, or a learning difference. Mermaid will reduce some of the sensory aspects of the event, for example we’ll reduce the sound and lighting levels where needed, take out strobe or flashing lights and any unexpected bangs/noises. We will also make sure not to let the theatre get too dark so audience members can walk in and out if they need to reduce stress levels.

VISUAL SUPPORTS AND SENSORY BOXES

From the start of 2020 Mermaid will provide sensory aids for audiences at box office for anyone who needs some support while attending an event. We will also be adding a visual aid on our website for anyone visiting so they know what to expect.

IFI EDUCATION SCHOOL SCREENINGS

At Mermaid we screen foreign language films for school groups throughout the academic year in association with the IFI Education School’s Programme.

SENIOR CYCLE FRENCH TITLE, AGE RECOMMENDATION 15+:

UNE COLONIE / A COLONY

MONDAY 24 February | 11am | €5 (Teachers go free) Duration: 102mins | Language: French (English subtitles) Genre: Drama

PRIMARY FRENCH TITLE, AGE RECOMMENDATION 7+:

LONG WAY NORTH / TOUT EN HAUT DU MONDE TUESDAY 25 February | 11am | €5 (Teachers go free) Duration: 81mins | Language: French (English subtitles)

SENIOR CYCLE GERMAN TITLE, AGE RECOMMENDATION 15+:

A JAR FULL OF LIFE / VIELMACHGLAS MONDAY 2 March | 11am | €5 (Teachers go free) Duration: 89mins | Language: German (English subtitles) Genre: Comedy/Drama

SENIOR CYCLE IRISH TITLE / SEACHTAIN NA GAEILGE: THE CAMINO VOYAGE (CERT: PG)

FRIDAY 6 March | 11am | €5 (Teachers go free) Duration: 98mins | Language: English & Irish (English subtitles) Genre: Documentary For more information or to book in your school group contact Stephanie Casey at Box Office on 01-2724030.

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MERMAID CINEMA AT A GLANCE

Our cinema programme brings you the best in international cultural film as well as some blockbusters and classics too. Thanks to Megan Robinson and Stephanie Casey for selecting this seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programme.

UNCLASSIFIED FILMS

Some of the films we screen here at Mermaid have not been certified by the Irish Censorship Office. In order to screen these films we have labelled them as UC. Our UNCLASSIFIED films are open to anyone over 18 to attend. All of our foreign language films have English subtitles.

JANUARY FILM NIGHTS | 8pm

FEBRUARY FILM NIGHTS | 8pm

MARCH FILM NIGHTS | 8pm

APRIL FILM NIGHTS | 8pm

2019 - DID YOU KNOW?

As we start a new year, hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a look back at 2019... -

366

events Mermaid presented -

43,835

people engaged in our programme & activities -

176

artists we supported in the development of new work -

639

free community tickets to schools & children in disadvantaged areas -

performances for children with additional needs -

1,418

children performed on our stage -

offsite events around Co. Wicklow -

talks, workshops & tours -

2,044

people heard a story during YARN Storytelling Festvial 14

CHILDREN'S THEATRE

PAULA LAMBERT PUPPET THEATRE PRESENTS

BOSCO'S MAGICAL GARDEN & SLEEPING BEAUTY FRIDAY 3 January | 2pm & 4pm €12

Bosco is Bosco, not a boy, not a girl, just a Bosco: a cheeky, lovely, funny, slightly-cracked, irrepressible, eternal five-year-old who lives in a box and who loves nothing more than to just be Bosco and meet all the boys and girls. After starring on Irish TV for three decades, you’ll see why Bosco remains a firm favourite for each new generation. Enjoy the enchanted story of Sleeping Beauty where an evil Fairy-Knight filled with jealousy tries to harm Beauty but luckily she has very good fairy friends. With its brilliant array of characters, there's lots of fun and excitement through this completely interactive live experience with the absolute magic of Puppet Theatre.

MUSIC

LEGENDS OF AMERICAN COUNTRY SATURDAY 4 January | 8pm €25

The Legends of American Country returns for another fantastic night of toe tapping Country classics. The 2020 tour will showcase highly acclaimed tributes to Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Don William, Patsy Cline and Kenny Rogers and 5 brand new tributes to icons Hank Williams, Charley Pride, Glen Campbell, Tammy Wynette and Jim Reeves with countless other well-known hit songs in this must see extravaganza. The show features 4 fantastic singers who are all backed by the superb award-winning live band and coupled with an authentic stage set that will transport you all the way hand clapping and toe talking to Nashville and back. One things for sure if you like Country music this is the only show in town! 15

FILM

KURSK: THE LAST MISSION (CERT: UC) MONDAY 6 January | 8pm €8.50/7 | Duration: 117mins

An explosion on a nuclear-powered Russian submarine kills most of the men aboard and causes the few survivors to huddle in waterlogged and oxygen deficient rear compartments, where they anxiously await rescue. It is a race against time with oxygen levels running low as the Russian government plans the best course of action, before finally accepting help from the British and Norwegian governments. Director Thomas Vinterberg and a formidable cast — including Matthias Schoenaerts, Léa Seydoux, and Colin Firth — recreate the tragic final hours of the real-life nuclear submarine explosion that left the ship stranded at the bottom of the Barents Sea, while bureaucratic obstacles impeded rescue and their families’ search for answers.

FILM

PAVAROTTI (CERT: 12A) FRIDAY 10 January | 8pm €8/6.50 | Duration: 114mins

Created from a combination of Luciano Pavarotti’s genre-redefining performances and granted access to never-before-seen footage, the film will give audiences around the world a stunningly intimate portrait of the most beloved opera singer of all time. Director Ron Howard takes an intimate approach in telling Pavarotti’s story, going beyond the iconic public figure to reveal the man himself. We get to know the great tenor as a husband and a father, a committed philanthropist, as well as a fragile artist who had a complex relationship with his own unique talents and unprecedented success.

CIRCUS

HOW TO SQUARE A CIRCLE SATURDAY 11 January | 7pm €16/14 | €50 Family Ticket

‘Just because something is impossible, doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying’. A heart warming story of friendship, ego, love and the joys of a cup of tea. With gravity defying acrobatics, aerial dance, cyr wheel and lots of laughter, dynamic duo Ronan Brady and Aisling Ní Cheallaigh, two of Ireland's leading circus performers explore the realm of the impossible, where the possibilities are infinite. Suitable for all ages, How to Square a Circle is contemporary Irish Circus at its best.

FILM

SORRY WE MISSED YOU (CERT: 15A) MONDAY 13 January | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 100mins

Ricky and his wife Debbie are zero-hours workers - he is a delivery driver and she is a care assistant. They are hard-working, loving parents, but they have never recovered from the 2008 crash, which saw Ricky lose his permanent job, and their chances of owning a home of their own disappear. Now renting, but still dreaming of their own place, Ricky sets his sights on a ‘franchise’ opportunity as a courier. In reality this means long hours, no job security and no benefits. So when teenage son Seb starts going off the rails, the pressures and mounting debts begin to tear the family apart. Loach and Laverty reunite for a true and searing look at the ‘gig’ economy. 17

FILM

RELAXED SCREENING:

MARY AND THE WITCH'S FLOWER (CERT: PG) TUESDAY 14 January | 11am €5 | Duration: 113mins

Mary is sent to live with her great aunt in the countryside. One day in the woods, she discovers a mysterious blue flower that only appears once every seven years, as well as an old broomstick. Before long Mary has discovered the Endor College of Magic, a secretive school for witches, which is presided over by Madam Mumblechook. Award-winning director Hiromasa Yonebayashi (Arriety, When Marnie Was There), adapts Mary Stewarts much-loved novel The Little Broomstick into this sublime blend of magic and fantasy, which will sweep audiences along with its charming, heartfelt adventure. Many thanks to North Wicklow Educate Together’s Animé Club for selecting this season’s relaxed screening.

WORKSHOP

FIRST FORTNIGHT PRESENTS

MADLOVE: A DESIGNER ASYLUM WORKSHOP THURSDAY 16 January | 10am FREE (Contact Box Office - Limited Capacity) | Duration: 3 hours

It ain’t no bad thing to need a safe place to go mad. The problem is that a lot of mental health hospitals are more punishment than love… they need some Madlove. Madlove aims to build the most crazy, bonkers, mental asylum we dare dream of: a desirable and playful space to 'go mad’. Meet artist James, who is passionate about changing how people see and experience mental health. Join him for a creative workshop to explore what mental health care could be without the limitations of physics or money! The art project invites those who have experienced mental illness to reconsider – and ultimately change how mental health is treated.

FILM

MARIANNE AND LEONARD: WORDS OF LOVE (CERT: 15A) THURSDAY 16 January | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 102mins

Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love is a beautiful yet tragic love story between Leonard Cohen and his Norwegian muse Marianne Ihlen. Their love began on the idyllic Greek island of Hydra in 1960 as part of a bohemian community of foreign artists, writers and musicians. The film follows their relationship from the early days on Hydra, a humble time of ‘free love’ and open marriage, to how their love evolved when Leonard became a successful musician. Along the way we learn of the tragedy that befell those that could not survive the beauty of Hydra, the highs and lows of Leonard’s career, and the inspirational power that Marianne possessed.

MUSIC

LUAN PARLE

FRIDAY 17 January | 8pm €16/14 Meteor & Tatler Award winner Luan Parle has had numerous hits & accolades including Meteor Award for Best Irish Female. Her top 10 hit single 'Ghost' spent three months in the Irish Charts and was the most played Irish single of that year. Parle signed her first record deal at just 12 years of age before later signing with Sony Music & Elton John's management company Twenty First Artists. Luan will be playing songs from her new album Never Say Goodbye which will be released February 7th 2020 & she will be accompanied by Clive Barnes. The album features 10 original tracks including two co-writes with Dire Straits guitarist Hal Lindes. This will be the 4th album release from the Wicklow born songstress.

COMEDY

LISA RICHARDS PRESENTS

DES BISHOP: MIA MAMMA SATURDAY 18 January | 8pm €25

I am often asked “where do you get your material from?” The truth is really that I try to see the funny in everything. My mother died in March 2019 and of course it was sad and grief can be tough sometimes but I saw a lot of funny in that too. Since death comes to us all and grief is something most of us will experience I thought there must be plenty of people who would like that funny to be shared. Also I did a show about my Dad being sick back in 2010 and I couldn’t face my mother in the afterlife because I know her first question would be “your Father got a show, how come I didn’t get one?” Where do I get my material from? Life and death!

FILM

THE FAREWELL (CERT: PG)

MONDAY 20 January | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 100mins | Language: Mandarin, English, Japanese, Italian

Billi is an unemployed Chinese-American writer, who moved as a child to New York with her parents. Currently still living with her family, Billi also keeps in regular contact by phone to China with her beloved grandmother Nai Nai. When Billi’s parents tell her that Nai Nai has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, she is horrified to learn that the extended family has decided to follow Chinese tradition and not tell the old woman about her condition. Instead the relatives plot to “stage” a wedding for Billi’s cousin in China, so everyone can pay their last respects to the oblivious matriarch. Director Lulu Wang skillfully finds the right balance between comedy and drama in this bittersweet, poignant and gentle film.

MUSIC

MUSIC NETWORK PRESENTS: ANXO LORENZO, DÓNAL O'CONNOR, JACK TALTY & JIM MURRAY THURSDAY 23 January | 8pm €20/18

Over the past ten years Anxo Lorenzo, Dónal O’Connor, Jack Talty and Jim Murray have been at the forefront of highly creative Galician and Irish music-making – as players, composers, arrangers, accompanists, producers and record label owners. Their individual talents as working musicians have seen them initiate hundreds of thoughtful and innovative projects, and the set list on this tour will include a Music Network commission from all four performers, their virtuosity and profound understanding of the music underpinning any daring off-piste exploration they might undertake.

EVENT CINEMA

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE PRESENTS THE ROYAL BALLET: PETIPA, THE SLEEPING BEAUTY (ENCORE SCREENING) FRIDAY 24 January | 7pm €14/12 | Duration: 3hours

This production of The Sleeping Beauty has been delighting audiences in Covent Garden since 1946. A classic of Russian ballet, it established The Royal Ballet both in its new home after World War II and as a world-class company. Sixty years later, in 2006, the original staging was revived, returning Oliver Messel’s wonderful designs and glittering costumes to the stage. Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score and Marius Petipa’s original choreography beautifully combine with sections created for The Royal Ballet by Frederick Ashton, Anthony Dowell and Christopher Wheeldon. This ballet is sure to cast its spell over anyone who sees it. 21

STREET ART OPERA

DUMBWORLD PRESENTS: STREET ART OPERAS “HE DID WHAT?” AND “TWO ANGELS PLAY I SPY” DOUBLE BILL SATURDAY 25 January | Drop by between 4pm - 7pm Free | Get your headphones at Box Office

Dumbworld brings together street art, mapped projection and contemporary music in an experience for public spaces, open and accessible to all. Two short ten-minute Opera Films will appear as street art by being projected from Mermaid onto Bray Municipal District offices. The animated video has an orchestral soundtrack broadcast to wireless headphones, and lyrics appearing as dynamic and crafted subtitles. Created by John McIllduff and Brian Irvine. Funded by the Arts Council.

THEATRE

PREVIEW SHOWING

SHAUN DUNNE PRESENTS: RESTORATION SATURDAY 25 January | 8pm €16/14 | Friends Selected Show

In the wake of a violent outburst by a young person, the staff at a youth service in Dublin are attempting to move on. But healing is hard when you're on the floor and out the door. Healing is hard when your wounds are still raw... Made in consultation with youth workers from the north inner-city, Restoration is a new play from the award-winning Shaun Dunne (Rapids, Making a Mark) directed by Darren Thornton (A Date for Mad Mary), exploring the politics of restorative practice and garda youth diversion in Ireland. Supported by the Arts Council and Mermaid. Shaun Dunne is part of Six In The Attic, an Irish Theatre Institute artist development programme and is a resident artist at Project Arts Centre.

FILM

NON-FICTION (CERT: UC)

MONDAY 27 January | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 102mins | Language: French Alain is in his 40s and runs a famous publishing house which publishes novels by his friend Léonard, a bohemian writer. Alain's wife, Selena, is the star of a popular TV series and Léonard's companion, Valérie, is the devoted assistant of a political figure. Although they are longtime friends, Alain is about to turn down Léonard's new manuscript, complicating the relationship between the two couples. Non-Fiction is a 2018 French comedy film directed by Olivier Assayas and starring Guillaume Canet, Juliette Binoche, Vincent Macaigne, Nora Hamzawi, Christa Théret, and Pascal Greggory.

LOCAL ARTS

BRAY ONE ACT DRAMA FESTIVAL

TUESDAY 28 January - SATURDAY 1 February | 7.30pm €16/13 Bray One Act Drama Festival will be bringing a wonderful mix of comedy and drama to the stage. Performed by both newcomers and seasoned performers, these plays are sure to provide 5 nights of varied entertainment, with all proceeds going to charitable causes. We welcome our adjudicator Alan Haslett who will be with us for the first time, and of course, the loyal Festival audience who support the Bray One Act Festival each year.

FILM

ROJO (CERT: UC)

MONDAY 3 February | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 109mins | Language: Spanish Set in provincial Argentina in the mid-1970s, just before the military coup, the life of a seemingly honest lawyer begins to unravel when a Chilean private detective comes to town, and starts asking questions about the disappearance of a stranger. Rojo is a disarming allegory about middle-class society turning a blind eye to the brutality of an emergent dictatorship.

EVENT CINEMA

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE PRESENTS THE ROYAL BALLET: PUCCINI, LA BOHÈME (ENCORE SCREENING)

THURSDAY 6 February | 7pm €14/12 | Duration: 2hours 45mins | Sung in Italian with English subtitles Puccini’s opera of young love in 19th-century Paris is packed with beautiful music, including lyrical arias, celebratory choruses for Act II’s evocation of Christmas Eve in the Latin Quarter and a poignant final scene over which the composer himself wept. Richard Jones’s character-led production perfectly captures La bohème’s mixture of comedy, romance and tragedy, with striking designs by Stewart Laing. The cast features some of the greatest interpreters of Puccini’s bohemian lovers performing today, as well as former members of The Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Young Artists Programme.

THEATRE

VERDANT PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

A HOLY SHOW

WEDNESDAY 5 February | 8pm €18/16 Verdant Productions presents A Holy Show Written & Directed by Janet Moran. A nostalgic comedy based on a very Irish hijacking of the 1981 Aer Lingus plane by an ex-Trappist monk with a bottle of water as his weapon, the Pope as his nemesis, and a burning desire to know The Third Secret of Fatima. A Holy Show takes us back to 1981 and brings us on board the ill-fated Aer Lingus flight EI 164 from Dublin to London. The show follows the passengers and crew as this most Irish of hijackings unfolds. Following on from the critical success of Edinburgh Fringe & Dublin Fringe, A Holy Show is now on tour throughout Ireland. This wonderful production is high energy and takes audiences on a whirl wind of a comic journey with both actors playing multiple characters at breakneck speed. The sharp, insightful script delivers a laugh a minute alongside a revealing and probing understanding of faith in Ireland, both in the 80s and today. Supported by The Arts Council. Airplane meets Hall’s Pictorial Weekly …will have you cracking a rib with laughter…. Only in Ireland could you get a hijacking this ridiculous. Or this hilarious. Or this much fun. - **** The Arts Review 25

MUSIC

MUSIC NETWORK PRESENTS: ALINA BZHEZHINSKA QUARTET FEATURING TONY KOFI, LARRY BARTLEY & JOEL PRIME FRIDAY 7 February | 8pm €18/16 If you think the harp is for angels then Alina Bzhezhinska and her quartet will set you right. She brings a new perspective to this supposedly dainty instrument, taking the ground-breaking work of Alice Coltrane in the 1960s as a stepping-off point for her own flighty improvisations and sonic adventures. Capable of high-octane lapelgrabbing statements, she can also create extraordinary lyricism and soul within her own compositions and this versatility and curiosity has marked her out as a pioneer in the field of Jazz Harp. Now there’s two words you don’t often hear in the same sentence, but let’s get used to them because this musician is here to stay.

MUSIC

MARY COUGLAN

SATURDAY 8 February | 8pm €25 Mary Coughlan is arguably one of Ireland’s greatest female jazz and blues singers, a true artist who has carved out a timeless and highly regarded career and a legion of devoted fans worldwide. Described as “Ireland’s Billie Holiday" Mary has overcome childhood trauma, alcoholism & drug addiction to become a musical force like no other. “Her life story gives weight to the truth that the best singers are the ones with the most painful lives” - The Guardian. Her seminal first album Tired and Emotional rocketed her to overnight fame in 1985, and fifteen albums later, her ability to deeply connect with both the song & her audience remains undiminished, a testament to her inner strength and to the power of transformation & redemption.

FILM

A BUMP ALONG THE WAY (CERT: 15A) MONDAY 10 February | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 95mins

When Pamela, a free-spirited, fun loving 44-year-old single mother finds herself pregnant from a one night stand-she is shocked! But not as shocked as her straight laced teenage daughter Ally, who finds her mothers conduct embarrassing at the best of times. A wonderful warm film about family and the unexpected challenges life throws at us all. Starring Bronagh Gallagher and Lola Petticrew. Winner - Best Irish First Feature, Galway Film Fleadh, 2019.

COMEDY

BRAY COMEDY FESTIVAL PRESENTS

ENYA MARTIN - GIZ A LAUGH FRIDAY 14 February | 8pm €20

Enya Martin, creator of the the comedy video facebook page “Giz a laugh” is bringing her stand up show “Would Ya Be Able?” to the Mermaid Arts Centre Bray as part of the fantastic Bray Comedy Festival 2020. Enya has successfully made the transition from online two minute comedy videos to the live stage. Enya’s “Would Ya Be Able?” is an hilarious comedy show inspired by Enya’s madcap life. Her sharp observations are brought to life on stage. So treat yourself to an evening with this superb comedian. Serious risk of laughter. 27

DANCE

JUNK ENSEMBLE

THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF MYRRHA THURSDAY 13 February | 8pm €16/14 | Friends Selected Show

Junk Ensemble collaborate with acclaimed visual artist Alice Maher for their new work The Misunderstanding of Myrrha, which reawakens the tale of Myrrha from ancient Greek mythology. This tale of transformation from female into hybrid form will be reimagined so that Myrrha’s story is finally told by a woman - we hear it through Myrrha’s once muted voice. Presented through intricate choreography, text, music and a stunning visual design, the solo dance work cycles through the tragedy of Myrrha’s curse, the acceptance of her fate, and the hope that is unearthed from the trauma. Myrrha’s existence becomes a thing of beauty as she spits out her fate and declares herself a new being: beyond woman, man or tree. Current Project Arts Centre Artists and previous Artists-in-Residence at The Tate, Junk Ensemble is a multi-award winning company that has built a reputation as one of Ireland’s leading voices in dance. ‘Junk Ensemble has created some of the most impressive contemporary dance in Ireland…Enthralling and exact’ The Sunday Times Funded by The Arts Council of Ireland Arts Grant Fund and Dublin City Council. Commissioned by Dublin Dance Festival and supported by Mermaid Arts Centre, Dance Ireland, Project Arts Centre and Shawbrook LD Dance Trust. 28

THEATRE

WHAT I (DON’T) KNOW ABOUT AUTISM BY JODY O’NEILL, DIRECTED BY DÓNAL GALLAGHER SATURDAY 15 February | 8pm €16/14 | Age Suitability: 16+

Sandra is looking for love. Gordon is seeking acceptance. Simon just needs these parents to be quiet for two minutes so he can get on with teaching their kids. And Casper? Casper is not here. What I (Don’t) Know About Autism is a sometimes comic, sometimes heart-breaking look at the world of autism. It uses narrative, song and dance in an exploration of this contentious and often misunderstood subject matter. Inspired by the writer’s own experience with autism and performed by a cast of autistic and non-autistic actors, the play celebrates autistic identity whilst offering deeper insight and understanding to non-autistic audiences. All performances include a post-show talkback. Funded by the Arts Council and Wicklow County Council. Coproduced by the Abbey Theatre in association with Mermaid County Wicklow Arts Centre and The Everyman. Supported by AsIAm, Middletown Centre for Autism, KCAT, Triple A, Rough Magic and Fishamble New Play Company.

FILM

CORPUS CHRISTI (CERT: 16)

MONDAY 17 February | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 115mins | Language: Polish Daniel, 20, lives in a young offenders’ institute, where he has found God and wants to become a priest. But his violent past means that's an impossibility. However, while released on parole, he is mistaken for a young novice at a rural village and steps into the role when the local priest falls ill. Bringing a vibrancy and charisma to the village, Daniel/Tomasz discovers an unexpected skill for pastoral care and begins to reach out to a local community, which has been recently traumatised by a terrible accident. Helping them forgive and heal, he finds his own path to redemption.

LOCAL ARTS

SHEEVAWN MUSICAL YOUTH THEATRE PRESENTS

LIONEL BART’S OLIVER!

WEDNESDAY 19 - SATURDAY 22 February | 7.30pm €17 | €60 Family Ticket (Family of 4) The award-winning musical adaptation of the classic Dickens' novel springs to life with some of the most memorable characters and songs ever to hit the stage. Consider yourself at home with this wonderful production full of Oom-pah-pah. You may be Reviewing the Situation as to Who Will Buy? the tickets, but if you miss it… That’s Your Funeral!

FILM

THE GOLDFINCH (CERT: 16)

MONDAY 24 February | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 149mins | Language: English, Ukrainian, German, French Oscar winner Nicole Kidman and Baby Driver star Ansel Elgort lead a top-flight cast in this gripping adaptation of Donna Tartt's Pulitzer Prize—winning novel. Following his success with Brooklyn (TIFF 2015), director John Crowley takes on a larger canvas in this sweeping, coming-of-age tale of criminal plots, personal secrets, and the transformative power of art. Young Theo saw his privileged life with his mother shattered one day on a visit to an art museum. In the aftermath of an attack among the masterpieces, one priceless 17th-century oil painting goes missing. What happened to the The Goldfinch? And how will its disappearance follow Theo across America throughout his whole youth and on to his Dutch hideout?

FILM

EXHIBITION ON SCREEN:

LUCIAN FREUD, A SELF PORTRAIT THURSDAY 27 February | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 80mins

For the first time in history the Royal Academy of Arts in London, in collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, is bringing together Lucian Freud’s self-portraits. The exhibition will display more than 50 paintings, prints and drawings in which this modern master of British art turned his unflinching eye firmly on himself. One of the most celebrated painters of our time, Lucian Freud is also one of very few 20th-century artists who portrayed themselves with such consistency. Spanning nearly seven decades his self-portraits give a fascinating insight into both his psyche and his development as a painter, from his earliest portrait painted in 1939 to the final one executed 64 years later.

MUSIC

FRANCESCO TURRISI PRESENTS

NORTHERN MIGRATIONS FRIDAY 28 February | 8pm €16/14 | Friends Selected Show

Italian pianist Francesco Turrisi has been defined a “musical alchemist” by the press. Collaborations with the likes of Bobby McFerrin, The King’s Singers, Philippe Jaroussky, and Rhiannon Giddens illustrate his remarkable versatility. "Northern Migrations" features original piano solo compositions and his lifetime journey from the heart of the Mediterranean to the North of Europe. Francesco’s music is layered with a multitude of different stylistic references, reflecting his myriad musical experiences and his life journey. Early baroque ostinato bass lines, evocative Mediterranean modal melodies, minimalistic grooves, renaissance counterpoint woven into a core of jazz improvisation all co-exist organically in Turrisi's music, creating a unique, and hard to define musical language.

MUSIC

SHARON SHANNON

SATURDAY 29 February | 8pm €25 In June 1989 Sharon was rehearsing and demoing tracks for her first album, when she was whisked away to Glastonbury festival with The Waterboys. In the 30 years that has elapsed since then, Sharon has recorded 10 studio albums; 5 Live albums, 4 Best of compilations and 3 live Concert DVDs. She has received many awards including being the youngest ever recipient of the Meteor Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2009. Sharons Irish theatre tour Jan/Feb 2020 will showcase music from her back catalogue beginning in 1989 right through to the present day.

FILM

FOR SAMA (CERT: UC)

MONDAY 2 March | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 100mins | Language: Arabic A love letter from a young mother to her daughter, the film tells the story of al-Kateab’s life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, Syria as she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to Sama, all while cataclysmic conflict rises around her. Her camera captures incredible stories of loss, laughter and survival as she wrestles with an impossible choice – whether or not to flee the city to protect her daughter’s life, when leaving means abandoning the struggle for freedom for which she has already sacrificed so much. Winner - L'Oeil D'Or, Festival de Cannes 2019. Winner - Human Rights Award, Galway Film Fleadh 2019.

YOUTH THEATRE

MR. SANDS YOUTH THEATRE PRESENTS A ONE-ACT DOUBLE BILL: THE IT BY VIVIENNE FRANZMANN + CEASEFIRE BABIES BY FIONA DOYLE WEDNESDAY 4 & THURSDAY 5 March | 7.30pm €10/5 The It is about a teenage girl who has something growing inside her. She doesn't know what it is but she knows it's not a baby. It expands in her body - starting in her stomach, but quickly outgrows that, until eventually it takes over the entirety of her insides. Sooner or later something's got to give... Ceasefire Babies looks at the relationship our identities and beliefs have with the past. In a city still divided by a crumbling wall, siblings Mikey and Jamie no longer see eye to eye. There’s change in the air and not everyone’s ready for it. 33

LITERATURE

THE WRITING LIFE: RICHIE SADLIER FRIDAY 6 March | 8pm €12/10

A former sports star turned pundit, psychotherapist, columnist, and now author, Richie Sadlier is one of Ireland’s most trusted voices in both the Irish sporting and mental-health arenas. Richie has spoken about his struggles with alcohol and mental health in the past. Now in Recovering – his insightful, new memoir – Richie reveals with unflinching honesty just what it took to face his demons and begin the road to recovery. In The Writing Life, playwright Philip St John will explore with Richie the fascinating questions raised by his bestselling book.

THEATRE

BLUE DIAMOND DRAMA ACADEMY

ONE LOVE

SATURDAY 7 March | 8pm €16/14 One Love is a joyous exploration of friendship and what it’s like to be in love and have a learning disability. Paul and Orla are engaged and making plans for their future. One Love charts their journey towards their big day.One Love has been researched and devised by the company. Blue Diamond is a new theatre company which the graduates of Blue Diamond Drama Academy have formed.The company is ambitious and is committed to creating engaging work. A show not to be missed!

FILM

MONOS (CERT: 15A)

MONDAY 9 March | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 102mins | Language: Spanish, English Exiled on a remote mountainside in South America, the Monos are a group of teenage soldiers. Their job: to guard a single hostage. They have their orders but also their rituals, and when the group’s leadership is tested, the dynamics shift and the few ties the Monos had to reality and the outside world dissolve. Monos is a powerful, beautifully surreal film, which uses a pulsating soundtrack and visual style to provide an immersive and mesmerising experience for the viewer. Winner - World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award, Sundance Film Festival 2019. Winner - Best Film, San Sebastián International Film Festival 2019. Winner - Best Film, BFI London Film Festival 2019.

LOCAL ARTS

COLÁISTE CHRAOBH ABHANN WEDNESDAY 11 - FRIDAY 13 March | 8pm €15

Coláiste Chraobh Abhann, Kilcoole return with their production of Popstars The 90’s Musical. It’s boyband vs girlband in this hilarious brand new musical from the team that brought you the global hit Back to the 80’s. Packed with hits from artists such as The Spice Girls, Back Street Boys, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, MC Hammer, Celine Dion and many more, this is sure to be a toe tapping night to remember.

MUSIC

PHELIM AND THE DREW HOUSE BAND SATURDAY 14 March | 8pm €18/16

Growing up I was always struck by the electricity generated by a concert given by The Dubliners. In the years since my father passed away, 11 years, I've come to enjoy listening back over his musical legacy and the wealth of material has reawakened not only a sense of pride but also appreciation. With the upcoming show at Mermaid I'll be singing some of the songs made famous by Ronnie, Luke, Barney, Ciaran and John as well as other personal favourites by other artists including The Pogues and Paul Brady that will hopefully go towards making up a night that the audience will enjoy as much as I will.

FILM

A HIDDEN LIFE (CERT: TBC)

MONDAY 16 March | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 174mins | Language: German, English A virtuous voice-over rages against God, sweeping shots depict a vivid country idyll and illustrate man’s lowly place in nature, and quick edits measure out a harrowing story in precious, incidental moments. Based on real events, Terrence Malick’s latest epic deploys a trademark style and probes familiar themes of faith and conscience in eulogising the barely acknowledged heroism of Franz Jägerstätter, an Austrian farmer from the bucolic village of St Radegund, a family man and devout Christian who refused to fight for the Nazis in World War II. A Hidden Life is a work of substance and significance from one of the world’s greatest living filmmakers.

LOCAL ARTS

BIFE PERFORMING ARTS PRESENT

THE GINGER ALE BOY BY ENDA WALSH THURSDAY 19 & FRIDAY 20 March | 8pm €12/8

Bobby is a young ventriloquist with ambition. He’s haunted by that balloon-folding fiasco in the Community Talent Show. Can Bobby survive a world that won’t forget past failures? His mammy believes Bobby is the second coming.This cabaret-style parody of showbiz was the dazzling debut play from renowned playwright Enda Walsh (Disco Pigs, Once). “His work is a cat’s cradle of language in which his characters swing between memories, dreams, and reflections” - The New Yorker

STORYTELLING

WORLD STORYTELLING DAY: VOYAGES FRIDAY 20 March This event is for people living in Direct Provision

World Storytelling Day, which takes place on 20 March, is a global celebration of the art of storytelling and is celebrated each year on the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere (the autumn equinox in the southern hemisphere). This year’s theme is Voyages. Mermaid is partnering with Fighting Words Wicklow to celebrate storytelling with people living in Direct Provision in Wicklow. We plan a fun packed series of workshops with singing, storytelling, food and conversations culminating on World Storytelling Day. We will share photos and recordings on our website. 37

MUSIC/ MASTERCLASS

GERRY O’CONNOR, GILES LE BIGOT & PAT O’CONNOR SATURDAY 21 March | 8pm €16/14

Gerry O Connor, Gilles le Bigot and Pat O' Connor are Irish Traditional Musicians from across the East Coast of Ireland and further afield bringing a blend of ancient traditions. All accomplished teachers, producers and stage performers in their own right with bands such as Planxty, Dedannan, La Lugh, Paddy Keenan and Fintan McManus to name but a few. Bringing Music to new and old generations across Ireland and Europe. Each drawing from a rich fountain of Music to bring a tuneful evening of melodies.The guitarist Gilles Le Bigot, is best known in Brittany as the co-founder of the groups Skolvan and Barzaz. Since the early 1980's his work as guitar-player and composer is characterized by the" open-tuning" style.

MASTERCLASS WORKSHOPS:

SATURDAY 21 March | 11am to 1pm - Break - 2pm to 4pm €40 (includes ticket to evening performance)

(1) GUITAR WORKSHOP WITH GILLES LE BIGOT (2) FIDDLE WORKSHOP with GERRY O’CONNOR (3) WHISTLE WORKSHOP WITH PAT O' CONNOR For full details on each masterclass workshop check our website www.mermaidartscentre.ie. Bookings for the masterclass workshops through box office only on 01-2724030.

FILM YARN

LE BRIO (CERT: UC)

MONDAY 23 March | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 95mins | Language: French Neila is a young Arab woman who grew up in the projects on the outskirts of Paris. She dreams of becoming a lawyer. On her first day at a prestigious law school she’s raked over the coals by Pierre, a snooty professor known for his provocative behaviour and politically incorrect blunders. Their exchange is recorded and goes viral, Pierre is reprimanded by the administration and, to make amends, is strong-armed into coaching Neila for an upcoming courtroom eloquence competition. Cynical and demanding, Pierre may just be the mentor she needs... But first they both have to overcome some serious prejudices.

LOCAL ARTS

BIFE DANCE PRESENTS SPIRAL

WEDNESDAY 25 & THURSDAY 26 March | 8pm €12/8 Bray Institute of Further Education students present ‘SPIRAL’ a sensational and invigorating performance of dance and movement. This performance will feature classical ballet, explosive jazz and diverse contemporary dance. Well known repertoire and debut performances of original choreography by both students and tutors, will also be featured. This is an excellent opportunity to see quality work and the talent of the dancers at BIFE.

LOCAL ARTS

BIFE MUSIC GOES LIVE FRIDAY 27 March | 8pm €8/5

Following on from the success of last year’s fantastic live show at Mermaid Arts Centre, BIFE’s Music Performance students will again showcase their individual and collective talents in this year's 'BIFE Music Goes Live!' music show. A versatile band comprising of students and tutors will present & perform an eclectic mix of contemporary, classic and original songs, which promises to be a real treat for fans of great live music. A performance not to be missed by the stars of tomorrow.

MUSIC

DON BAKER BAND: THE BLUES MAN TOUR SATURDAY 28 March | 8pm €25

To star opposite Daniel Day-Lewis in “In the Name of the Father”, headline with Tom Jones and Van Morrison at The Marley Park Festival, have his songs recorded by scores of artists including Sinead O’Connor, Charlie McCoy, Damien Dempsey, Finbar Furey, tour at home and internationally for 50 years; it can clearly be seen that Don Baker’s career in the entertainment industry has been amazing. But it is in his love of The Blues, of the harmonica and of performing live that Don really shines. Bono’s favourite harmonica player is first and foremost a true entertainer. 40

FILM

PARASITE (CERT: 16)

MONDAY 30 March | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 132mins | Language: Korean Ki-taek is the head of a family of tricksters, who live in a run-down basement flat. By chance, son Ki-woo is recommended to provide private English lessons to the teenage daughter of the wealthy Park household. Ki-woo devises a plan to use this opportunity to his family’s best advantage… On the surface Parasite appears to be a black comedy about class struggle, but as the story shifts quickly to become at turns dark, hilarious and shocking, this glorious Palme d’Or-winner reveals itself to be so much more.

LOCAL ARTS

BRAY MUSICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS

THE WEDDING SINGER

WEDNESDAY 1 - SATURDAY 4 April | 8pm €20/18 Following on from their sensational sell out run of “Sister Act”, Bray Musical Society are delighted to present “The Wedding Singer”. Based on the Adam Sandler comedy of the same name, “The Wedding Singer” is set in the 1980’s. The show revolves around wedding singer Robbie, his failed relationship with his former fiancée and his romance with a new love, Julia. With sparkling musical scores, this romantic musical comedy is guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face. 41

LOCAL ARTS

FIGHTING WORDS WICKLOW

YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS PROGRAMME SATURDAY 4 April | 12pm Free

Last year was the start of a new and exciting partnership between Fighting Words and Mermaid. For the first time in Wicklow aspiring young playwrights were invited to join us for a series of workshops from September to March working towards writing their own short plays for two actors. The process included mentorship from theatre makers and regular theatre visits. We are delighted to bring the young writers’ pieces to the Mermaid stage with a professional cast and director for a rehearsed reading of their work. Want to see just how talented these Wicklow youths are? Then make sure to get a ticket for a hugely impressive afternoon of new works.

FILM

SONS OF DENMARK (CERT: UC)

MONDAY 6 April | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 123mins | Language: Danish, Arabic One year after a bomb attack in Copenhagen, ethnic tensions are running high. Angered by the rising anti-Islamic climate, 19-yearold Muslim Zakaria is recruited by neighbourhood elder Hassan, and placed under the watchful eye of Ali. Eager but naive, Zakaria becomes entangled in a violent plot against a dangerous far-right leader. Ulaa Salim’s debut is a provocative, politically charged thriller. Debutant director Ulaa Salim delivers a provocative, politically charged and timely thriller. Winner - Best Director, Seattle International Film Festival 2019.

LOCAL ARTS

BRAY SCHOOL OF DANCE PRESENTS

DANCEWORKZ 2020

THURSDAY 9 & FRIDAY 10 | 7pm & SATURDAY 11 April | 2pm & 7pm €17 | €60 (Family Ticket - 2 Adults & 2 Children Under 12) Bray School of Dance comes to you with our highly anticipated Dance Spectacular of Classical Ballet, Modern Theatre, Jazz, Hip Hop and Tap Dance, where our students will delight you with their talent and enthusiasm bringing variety and entertainment to suit all ages. From Can Can Dancers to Swan Lake, Cool Jazz Funk to mesmerising Tappers. We will bring you Faeries, Princesses, Swans, Magical Flowers and Glistening Lanterns, come along to see what we have in store!

FILM

JUDY (CERT: 12A)

MONDAY 13 April | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 118mins 1968: Having fallen on hard times, and desperate to re-establish herself, Judy Garland (an astounding Renée Zellweger) accepts a residency in London to perform a five-week, sold-out series of concerts. Separated from her children and heavily dependant on drugs and alcohol, she reflects on her life, specifically her childhood, irreparably damaged by studio chief Louis B Mayer. Yet every night she still manages to dust herself off, welcome her fans and become “Judy Garland”, the star they all know and love. 43

CHILDREN'S THEATRE

ANNA NEWELL IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE CIVIC THEATRE PRESENTS

I AM BABA

TUESDAY 14 April | 11am, 12pm & 2pm €10 Adult & Baby (One adult per baby) | Age Suitability: 0 -12 months I AM BABA is a theatre adventure for babies created by internationally renowned theatre director Anna Newell (www.annanewell.co.uk) and composer David Goodall. Their shows for early years have been seen on five continents, off-Broadway and in every single Sure Start in Belfast. I AM BABA is a magical adventure of song, lights and textures for babies aged 0-12 months. It’s a show about identity, agency and personhood. For babies. I AM BABA was an Early Childhood Arts Commission funded by Fingal, South Dublin, Dublin City and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Councils via the Arts Council of Ireland’s Invitation to Collaboration Scheme which supports innovative and ambitious local authority collaborations.

FILM

THE CURIOUS WORKS OF ROGER DOYLE (CERT: PG) POST-SCREENING DISCUSSION WITH ROGER DOYLE & BRIAN LALLY FRIDAY 17 April | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 110 mins

The Curious Works of Roger Doyle is a feature documentary which looks at the life's work of Irish composer Roger Doyle as he gets a chance to stage one of his most ambitious musical projects; his first electronic opera. Presented with this opportunity, late in life, it is Roger's last chance to bring his music to a wider audience. As the film observes the preparations for the opera, it takes a trip through the unique music of the "Godfather of Irish electronica" and features contributions from his many collaborators such as actress Olwen Fouéré, theatre director Selina Cartmell and some of Ireland's first wave of pioneering filmmakers from the 1970s and 1980s - Joe Comerford, Bob Quinn and Cathal Black.

THEATRE

TO BE FRANK WRITTEN BY BROKENTALKERS AND FIONA WHELAN, MOVEMENT DIRECTION BY EDDIE KAY SATURDAY 18 April | 8pm €16/14

To Be Frank is a new dance-theatre piece exploring how men and boys interact with and are shaped by the world they live in. Through the fictional character of Frank, Theatre Makers Brokentalkers, Artist / Writer Fiona Whelan and Movement Director Eddie Kay explore the physicality and psychology of masculinity combining movement, testimony and research to create an intensely honest and timely theatrical experience. To Be Frank is developed as part of an intergenerational collaborative platform What Does He Need? (Fiona Whelan, Brokentalkers and Rialto Youth Project, 2018-2020) which is committed to exploring how social constructs of masculinity are cultivated and experienced by boys and men in specific places and at specific stages of life.

FILM

THE LIGHTHOUSE (CERT: TBC) MONDAY 20 April | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 110mins

Late 19th century: veteran seafarer Tom Wake (Willem Dafoe) and apprentice Ephraim Winslow (Robert Pattinson) arrive on a remote New England island to manage a lighthouse for a four week period. Tom’s hostile manner soon creates tensions between the two men, but when Ephraim also becomes curious about the lighthouse lamp that only Tom is allowed access to, the situation deteriorates further. Dafoe and Pattinson turn in extraordinary performances as The Lighthouse keepers who slowly descend into madness. Winner - FIPRESCI Prize, Directors’ Fortnight, Cannes Film Festival 2019. 45

LOCAL THEATRE

SQUARE ONE THEATRE GROUP PRESENTS:

DEATH OF A SALESMAN

TUESDAY 21 - SATURDAY 25 April | 8pm €18/16 Paul Flynn directs, on the 20th anniversary of the previous production by Square One. Written by American playwright Arthur Miller. It is widely considered to be one of the greatest plays of the 20th century having won The Pulitzer Prize and various Tony Awards. Equally relevant today, it concerns Willy Loman's sensitivity to domestic and internal conflicts and pressures. He struggles to maintain his job, at the end of his career, because of his inability to contend with change and the demands of "different ways of doing things". Haunted by an unfaithful affair in the past, compounds his despair. A must see, early booking is advisable.

FILM

PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE (CERT: TBC) MONDAY 27 April | 8pm €9/7 | Duration: 119mins | Language: French, Italian

Brittany, 1770. Marianne, a painter, is commissioned to do the wedding portrait of Héloïse, a young woman who has just left the convent. Héloïse is a reluctant bride to be and Marianne must paint her without her knowing. She observes her by day, to paint her secretly. Winner - Best Screenplay, Cannes Film Festival, 2019.

THEATRE

PAN PAN PRESENTS

ELIZA'S ADVENTURES IN THE UNCANNY VALLEY WEDNESDAY 29 & THURSDAY 30 April | 8pm €18/16 | Friends Selected Show

ELIZA’s Adventures in the Uncanny Valley explores what it is to be human, how artificial intelligence modifies human characteristics resulting in the scrutiny of what is real and what is illusion. In the early 1960s, MIT developed artificial intelligence software called ELIZA, its title a reference to Shaw’s Pygmalion. ELIZA made certain kinds of conversations between humans and computers possible. Our ELIZA is sent into an anonymous motel, where she interacts with four characters mysteriously booked into the same room. “A theatrical delight, seriously smart ….” - The Arts Review “More than any other theater troupe I can think of, Pan Pan finds the soul-muddling angst in the Internet age, when computers with cameras and microphones instantly serve up private lives for public consumption.” - Ben Brantley, New York Times

BECOME A MERMAID FRIEND

Become a Friend of Mermaid and help us to support artists and projects in our community. All income from donations to Mermaid Arts Centre is allocated for the creation of new work and the support of artists. Mermaid Arts Centre is a charity and your friendship makes a huge difference. Benefits include complimentary tickets to friends selected shows each season and 10% off in Betelnut Café at Mermaid.

FRIENDS SELECTED SHOWS - SHAUN DUNNE PRESENTS RESTORATION | PG 22

- JUNK ENSEMBLE IN COLLABORATION WITH ALICE MAHER PRESENTS THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF MYRRHA | PG 28 - FRANCESCO TURRISI PRESENTS NORTHERN MIGRATIONS | PG 32 - PAN PAN PRESENTS ELIZA’S ADVENTURE IN THE UNCANNY VALLEY | PG 47

MERMAID FRIEND LEVELS MERMAID FRIEND LEVEL 1: €60

- 1 free ticket per season to a friends selected show - 10% off at Betelnut Café - Invitations/Special Offers

MERMAID FRIEND LEVEL 2: €120

- 2 free tickets per season to a friends selected show - Concession rate on all film screenings - 10% off at Betelnut Café - Invitations/Special Offers

MERMAID FRIEND LEVEL 3: €350

- 4 free tickets per season to a friends selected show - 10% off at Betelnut Café - Unlimited concession rates for all film screenings & shows, if available - Invitations/Special Offers

MERMAID FRIEND LEVEL 4: €1000

All of the above perks along with tailor-made promotion and partnership opportunities to meet your needs. 48

OUR MERMAID FRIENDS

Alpha CC

Margaret Jameson

Key Plastics

Sally & Sean Clifford

Craft Picture Framing Jean & Ian MacGreevy

Alan & Marie Downes

Frank Duff’s Lounge Jean Gibson Cllr&Mrs George & Joan Jones Ian & Christine Scott Carolyn MacDonnell Peggy Masterson Beatrice Lasserre Philip & Noella O’Reilly Martin & Patricia Davidson Derek Pullen John McCormick Yvonne & Jim Kidd Mary Doyle Pat Ralph Bernie Chambers Marie Ryan Helen McAllister Finola Murphy Kathleen Connolly

Annick Smith Brendan & Jane Newsome Jane Kierans Sean Leahy John Kelly Daphne Millar Nanette O’Connell Don Bagley Rick Caldicott Joan Davis Shireen Fisher Catherine Kelly Raymond Comyn Claire Maguire Lee Donnelly Des & Ita McGarry Teresa Kehoe Maureen Concannon Marie & Martin O’Brien 49

MERMAID INFORMATION BOOKING YOUR TICKETS

We have no booking fees - at all, so book how you wish!

- PHONE: 01 272 4030 - ONLINE: www.mermaidartscentre.ie - IN PERSON: Pop in to us at box office during our opening hours. - Please note, once purchased, tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded. - Group discount available for groups of 10 or more for selected shows, please contact box office for further details. - Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the performance. - For the comfort of patrons and performers, latecomers will only be admitted at the interval. Please note visiting companies may have differing policies in this regard.

OPENING HOURS - BOX OFFICE

We are open Monday - Saturday, 10am - 6pm and up until 7.30pm on performance evenings. For Sunday and Bank Holidays performances we are open 1 hour before the performance time.

- GALLERY

Mermaid gallery is open Monday - Saturday, 10am – 6pm and until 8pm on performance nights.

- BETELNUT CAFÉ

The Betelnut Café serves breakfast, lunch, snacks and baked goods from 8am – 6pm Monday to Saturday. The theatre bar is open for pre-show and interval drinks.

GIFT VOUCHERS

Gift vouchers can be purchased online at www.mermaidartscentre. ie and printed at home or alternatively drop into us or call our box office team on 01 272 4030 to purchase a voucher. They can be made up for any amount and are valid for 2 years. They can be used to enjoy any performance at Mermaid from cinema to theatre and everything in between!

KEEP IN TOUCH

To join our mailing or email list, please contact the box office or join online at www.mermaidartscentre.ie. For any other queries please phone us on 01 272 4030 or email info@mermaidartscentre.ie.

ACCESS

Mermaid is a fully accessible venue. If you are planning on visiting Mermaid and have special requirements please contact the box office. Our wheelchair accessible spaces are located in the front row on the ground floor. Please note, it is not possible to book specific wheelchair seating online. Please contact the box office on 01 272 4030 to arrange. The paper used in this brochure can be recycled and comes from a FSC certified sustainable source. 50

MERMAID INFORMATION HOW TO FIND US

Mermaid Arts Centre, Main Street, Bray, Co. Wicklow, A98 N5P1. We are located in the civic offices complex just off the Main Street, left, before the Bank Of Ireland if you are coming up the town.

PARKING

Mermaid has FREE underground parking for all evening and weekend performances. There is also parking available in the overground car park but this is pay and display and is not associated with Mermaid.

OUR FUNDERS

Brochure Design by Rachel Sweeney.

Tel: 01-2724030 WWW.MERMAIDARTSCENTRE.IE