What’s On: December 10-25

Dublin Old School
December 10-13

Having scooped a joint Best Performance Award and a host of five-star reviews for its original run in the 2014 Dublin Fringe Festival’s Show In A Bag initiative, Dublin Oldschool is getting restaged and redesigned for an upcoming run at Project Arts Centre. Lauded for its authenticity in its representation of modern Dublin, Emmet Kirwan’s play infuses familiar characters with lyrical complexity to form a rapturous exploration of the city’s drug scene. Estranged brothers, Kirwan and Ian Lloyd Anderson — one a pillhead, the other a heroin addict — reconnect when one finds the other homeless. Both trip their way through their familial history on-stage, tension bubbling as the buzz wears off. – HK
Tickets €16 (€14 concession).

GUTS Magazine
December 11

GUTS is a magazine born out of the voyeurism and blurred lines between public and private life which have come to define contemporary relations and society in general. Each issue will see several young Dublin writers come together and respond to a specific theme by sharing secrets and stories, and ultimately self-expose for your pleasure. Issue 1, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, will feature personal essays and confessional accounts from Nialler9, Maeve Higgins and Neil Watkins amongst others, as well as artwork by Mick Minogue. Available from December 11, pick it up for €6 from the likes of Fallon & Byrne, The Library Project, Block T and The Little Museum of Dublin. – SM
Available from December 11, pick it up for €6 from the likes of Fallon & Byrne, The Library Project, Block T and The Little Museum of Dublin.

Block T Christmas Market
December 13-21

Running every weekend consecutively until December 21 the Weekend Christmas Market at Block T in the heart of Smithfield where you can trawl the plethora of stalls in search of unique and locally produced gifts. With a host of great food stalls to keep you fueled throughout your shopping session, the Market will feature artwork for sale from local Irish artists and designers, an unique alternative to your regular Christmas lists. The regular Smithfield flea-market fare can also be expected accompanied by a number of DJs and performers creating your very own holiday soundtrack. It’s set to be a great environment for both a festive family outing or a secretive last minute shopping mission. – LB
Block T, Smithfield. Fridays 5-9pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am-7pm.

Otaku Con
December 13-14

As the Christmas break approaches, some of us may be planning to spend a solid month indoors with the blinds closed staring dead-eyed at the computer screen. This weekend, why not instead pop down to Otaku Con to meet new, interesting people and hear about their plans to spend the following month indoors with the blinds closed staring dead-eyed at their computer screens. Taking place in the Red Stables over December 13 and 14, the event will host video game and card game tournaments, a cosplay competition, and a number of panels featuring voice actors from the Street Fighter, Tekken, and Diablo series. – Eoin Moore
The Red Stables. Day tickets €12.50, weekend passes €20.

Dubliners Christmas Book Market
December 14

Independent publishers and Joycean readings/Mulled wine and sweet treats and Christmas proceedings/Donations to Fighting Words are all you should bring – we’ll pause the song here, but these are definitely a few of our favourite things. All this and more shall all be on offer at the Dubliners Christmas Book Market, to be held on December 14 from 12 till 4.30pm at the James Joyce Centre. Those attending can avail of a fine selection of noteworthy books from prominent Irish publishing houses including Lilliput Press and The Stinging Fly, while listening to readings from performers such as David Norris. A veritable winter wonderland for literary enthusiasts, the market should doubtlessly stir enough irresistible goodwill for participants to offer donations to worthy organisation Fighting Words. – Elizabeth Mohen
The James Joyce Centre Dublin, 35 North Great George’s Street.

Naughty or Nice? Film Season
December 14-23

The Light House Cinema will once again be filled with holiday cheer for their Naughty or Nice season of festive favourites. Enjoy some dazzling Christmas magic with timeless classics It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle of 34th Street (not to be missed on the big screen), or indulge with mischievous caper Home Alone. Christmas is all around in Love Actually, or find Bruce Willis wreaking Yuletide mayhem on terrorists in Die Hard. Alternatively, you could join a roomful of little Elsas and Olafs screaming the lyrics to Let It Go at the Frozen sing-along, but perhaps best to stock up on mulled wine in the bar beforehand. The Light House will also be selling gorgeous film-themed Christmas cards by local designer Alan Dunne to coincide with the program, starring Buddy the Elf, John McClane and Kevin McAllister. – MM
Tickets €9 (€7.50 concession).

Downton Christmas Special
December 25

Having forgone the festive atmosphere in previous Christmas specials, this year’s two-hour Downton Abbey finale sees the Crawley clan spending the holidays with newly-weds Rose and Atticus at Lord Sinderby’s castle in Northumberland. Peace and goodwill are not on the agenda for Lord Sinderby’s butler Stowell who harbours an explosive secret that threatens to curtail the festivities. Downstairs, Bates takes drastic measures to clear Anna’s name following the murder charges she faces for Mr Green’s death. Guest appearances are to be expected from Matthew Goode, as an addition to the retinue of Lady Mary’s admirers, as well as Jane Lapotaire (as Princess Irina), whose rescue is much to the chagrin of the Dowager. – CF
The Downton Abbey Christmas Special can be seen on Christmas Day on ITV and on St Stephen’s Day on TV3 at 9pm.

Discotekken on Ice
December 20

“Like a roller disco, except on ice!” Brought to you by the always-stellar team Discotekken and introducing their new sister night, The RnB Club, this festive event looks set to be excellent.  With a groovy soundtrack of 70s and 80s disco, the promise of an after-party in Sugar Club, and the (optimistic) notion that maybe someone will be worse on the ice than you are, this is one of your best options for some fun, delightfully silly yuletide joy. Skates are included, there’s a €25 UBER code for all ticket buyers and, most importantly of all, there’ll be lots and lots of sweet, glittery disco balls. Sign us up (and pray that those visions of Bambi on ice don’t come to fruition). – TJ
Point Village. Tickets €5–16, group rates available on request. 

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