Theatre – Dublin

Bord Gáis Energy Theatre Irish National Opera: Carmen

An upright soldier on duty far from home, the femme fatale from the wrong side of the tracks, love at first sight, a walk on the wild side, criminality, a handsome rival and a breaking point that leads to tragedy in the scorching Spanish sun - the colourful arias and choruses of Bizet’s Carmen tell it all with irresistible, unforgettable musical panache.

Dates: Mar 22 - 28 Tel: 01 677 7999 or visit www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

Also at the Bord Gais this month: An Evening with Whitney: The Whitney Houston Hologram Tour Mar 3, Sasha Velour: Smoke and Mirrors Mar 11

The Abbey Theatre Faith Healer Travelling through remote and isolated areas in Scotland and Wales, Frank Hardy offers his unique cure to the most desperate and hopeless of people. Does he actually possess a gift? Or are these rare and miracle healings only tricks of the mind? 40 years since directing the Irish premiere of Faith Healer at the Abbey Theatre, Joe Dowling returns with a new production of Brian Friel’s masterpiece starring Game of Thrones and Peaky Blinders’ Aidan Gillen. For more information, see page 10.

Dates: Mar 30 – May 16 Tel: 01 887 2200 or visit www.abbeytheatre.ie

Also at the Abbey this month: The Fall of the Second Republic Feb 24 – Mar 14, Opera Briefs Mar 24 – 28, Ireland’s Call Apr 1 – 11

The Olympia Theatre Gift Grub 2020 Featuring Mario Rosenstock Ireland’s most successful impressionist and satirist, Mario Rosenstock is celebrating 20 years of Gift Grub by taking a brand spanking new stage show on the road. Featuring the best sketches from the comedy series plus bang up-to-date topical material, Rosenstock’s latest promises to be unmissable. Touring until April, for the full list of dates and venues see www. mcd.ie/artists/the-very-best-of-gift-grub-live.

Dates: Mar 31 – Apr 4 Tel: 01 679 3323 or visit www.olympia.ie

Also at the Olympia this month: Rock Against Homelessness Mar 3, Keith Barry – Insanity Mar 5 – 7, Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever Mar 28 – 29.

The Gate Theatre Our New Girl

Irish writer Nancy Harris (The Red Shoes and The Beacon) returns to the Gate stage with the national premiere of her new startling psychological drama. Focusing on an upmarket London family, a plastic surgeon has embarked on his latest charitable mission, leaving his wife alone with their troubled 8-year-old son. An Irish nanny arrives on the scene with her own agenda, leading to a climactic ending where tensions boil over.

Dates: Feb 27 – Mar 21 Tel 01 874 4045 or visit www.gatetheatre.ie

Also at the Gate this month: The Little Foxes Mar 26 – May 9

The Gaiety Theatre The Mousetrap

When a group of people gathered in a country house cut off by the snow discover, to their horror, that there is a murderer in their midst, who can it be? One by one the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts until the last nerve-shredding moment where the identity and the motive are finally uncovered. The

8 TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE - MARCH 2020 longest running show of any kind in the history of theatre, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap comes to the Gaiety with an extra matinee show on Thursday, April 2 now added due to overwhelming demand.

Dates: Mar 30 – Apr 4 Tel: 0818 719 388 or visit www.gaietytheatre.ie

Also at the Gaiety this month: The Lieutenant of Inishmore Jan 27 – Mar 14, The Mai Mar 24 - 28

Smock Alley Theatre Catch of the Day

In Ireland 1966, Joe Welch, a skipper, sails into Dingle Bay with a very unusual catch. What follows is a ridiculous series of events, involving Eamon De Valera, Queen Elizabeth and a whole lot of nuns. A true story, Catch of the Day is a raucous and little-bit-political play with a lot of heart, laughs and live trad-inspired music, all set in a Dingle pub.

Dates: Mar 30 – Apr 4 Tel 01 677 0014 or visit www.smockalley.com

Also at Smock Alley this month: Masterpieces Mar 2 - 7, The Marxist in Heaven Mar 7, The King’s Dark Secret Mar 12 – 13, The Londsdale Project Mar 18 - 28

Dlr Mill Theatre Crowman Jon Kenny (d’Unbelievables, Father Ted) plays numerous characters but primarily Dan, a man in his 50s who is living alone. He feels himself an outsider looking in on the community. When he hears about the passing of a dear friend, he is forced to look back on his own troubled youth and face up to his demons.

Dates: Mar 27 Tel 01 296 9340 or visit www.milltheatre.ie

Also at the dlr Mill Theatre this month: Romeo and Juliet Mar 12, Chess - The Musical Mar 17 – 21, God Has No Country Mar 25, Letting Go Mar 28 Thoroughly Modern Millie Mar 31 – Apr 4