Originally published in print December 2020.

 

December 2020, what a year for the arts sector…

 

Theatre-makers and drama students and professors had to adapt to the digital forms of performance making; final year debuts were held as online events as well. 

 

Let’s skip to the good news and events that were announced for this season and early 2021! The Abbey Theatre recently shared that 50 actors will be making more than 2000+ phone calls to spectators who sign up for it, ‘actors will read a poem, perform a speech, or perhaps sing a song, the choice is yours’ as they advertised it. You can choose a date, performance piece, time, and the call will last a max of 30 minutes. It marks an exciting divergence from radio pieces, making the experience much more intimate and unique. I almost forgot to mention: it’s completely free, so give it a shot! 

 

Next, Livindred will be live streaming A Christmas Carol featuring Aaron Monaghan (who “recently” and astonishingly performed in Richard III, Abbey Theatre, 2018) and Bryan Burroughs who also trained in Trinity College. Both of them are extraordinary physical theatre performers; Burroughs has also taught movement at The Lir. 

 

If you are into musicals, The Phantom of the Opera is scheduled for June 2021 in London’s West End, and eventually in Dublin, assuming that the restrictions for England and Ireland will be lifted by then. For this tour, the Phantom is an Irish actor from Meath, Killian Donnelly. 

 

The Gaiety Theatre with the Irish National Opera announced that they will present 20 new short operas by different composers, all filmed in the Gaiety. All performances will be streamed for free from December 17th. The Gaiety also shared that Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks will be running from 8th—12th September next year, all the other performances before this were either cancelled or postponed. If by any means you or someone you know likes pantomimes, The Gaiety Panto has been postponed for the end of November 2021 early January 2022. Also on pantomimes, The Civic Theatre did not postpone their Panto but came with a swift solution: Rob Murphy & The Civic Panto Team are spreading some virtual Christmas cheer for you and the young ones this year. They have worked with cinematic devices and special effects to offer the young audience some joy in this troubling time. If you purchase the ticket online you will receive a link available for 20 hours and the first 100 bookers will receive a personalized shoutout. 

 

The Smock Alley will be live-streaming A Christmas Baroque Concert, RTE Concert Orchestra on December 20th. All other performances seem to be postponed after that for the moment. 

 

The Abbey Theatre also informed the public about its upcoming production of Dracula, Bram Stoker’s ‘timeless and terrifying classic’ adapted for the stage by Sarah Hanly which runs from February 15th to March 28th next year. This will be the first live performance on the Abbey Stage since March 2020. This event is said to be socially distanced. The entire run is already sold out, but you could still go for the free first preview—and if people want refunds there might be some available last minute tickets. 

 

Last but not least, The Gate Theatre has been going through some serious financial troubles due to Covid-19, so if you or someone you know have any means to donate, you can do so on their website and support this theatre house. 

 

                Here’s to a better 2021 for all arts sectors!