Endgame
February 11th-March 26th, Gate Theatre, Dublin, gatetheatre.ie
It could be a dream team or a nightmare pair: controversial Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle and adventurous Irish actor Robert Sheehan have come together for this new production of one of Samuel Beckett's most enduring works, with Broadway director Danya Taymor (niece of Julie) bringing her own vision to the staging and design of this monolithic work. Boyle makes his stage debut as the crotchety, wheelchair-bound Hamm, with Sheehan as his assistant Clov, and Sean McGinley and Gina Moxley completing the quirky quartet as Hamm's dustbin-dwelling parents Nagg and Nell.
Echo & the Bunnymen
February 9th, 3Olympia, Dublin, 7pm from €45.50, ticketmaster.ie
Time to dig out that old raincoat from the back of the wardrobe, turn up the collar and stand around looking pale and interesting. Echo & the Bunnymen are back on tour, celebrating 40 years of moody, magical music with a rescheduled date at the 3Olympia. The band have been through many ups and downs and break-ups over the years, not to mention the death of drummer Pete De Frietas in a motorcycle accident. That handsome ol' devil Ian McCullough still heads up the band along with original guitarist Will Sergeant, and they'll be delivering many of their greatest hits, including The Cutter, Never Stop, Seven Seas, Bring on the Dancing Horses and The Killing Moon.
Texas
February 9th, Cork Opera House, 7pm, from €39.95; February 10th and 11th, 3Olympia 7pm from €58.50; February 13th and 14th, Waterfront, Belfast from €39.90
The Scottish pop-rockers are on a short tour of Ireland with dates in Cork, Dublin and Belfast, a delayed 30th anniversary celebration of their debut album Southside. Driven by the distinctive rock-soul voice of frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri, the band have gracefully cruised through the years, culminating in their biggest album, 1997's White on Blonde, which yielded such hits as Black-Eyed Boy and Halo. More recently, the band scored their highest-charting album since 1999 with the 2021 album Hi, so they're not planning to say bye anytime soon. These dates are rescheduled from last September, and all original tickets are valid.
Portia Coughlan
February 9th-Mar 19, Abbey Theatre, Dublin Mon-Sat 7.30pm (Sat matinee 2pm) €15 – €45, abbeytheatre.ie
Olivier Award winning actor Denise Gough stars in this revival of Marina Carr's haunting and harrowing 1996 play about a housewife on the verge, directed by the Abbey's associate director Caroline Byrne and featuring a cast that includes Derbhle Crotty (who originally starred in the title role in 1996). Portia Coughlan is "celebrating" her 30th birthday, but what's to celebrate? This is also the anniversary of the death of her beloved twin brother Gabriel, who drowned 15 years ago. What's to stop Portia following Gabriel into the river and ending all the pain? Or can she break free from the stranglehold of the past?
David Kitt
February 10th, the Sugar Club, Dublin, 8pm, €18.50, thesugarclub.com
Last year, Kittser celebrated the 20th anniversary of his debut album Small Moments by picking some of his most resonant tunes from the past two decades, re-recording and reimagining them for a new album simply entitled 20. He also created Cornaleena with writer Kevin Barry as part of Musictown Dublin. On Thursday, he's lending his considerable talents to the Sugar Club's reopening celebrations, with this special solo gig that will feature songs from Small Moments, along with ever-popular albums The Big Romance and The Nightsaver, plus a few new tunes. Mmurphyy will be spinning soul 45s before and after the show just to keep the mood mellow in the run-up to Valentine's Day.
Foil, Arms and Hog
February 10th and 11th, Vicar St, Dublin, 8.30pm, €30
They've kept us from going insane during lockdown with their hilarious YouTube videos, posted online every Thursday and tackling such topics as why they called it Omicron, what happens when fruits throw a party and the problem of post-pandemic stress syndrome. Now it's time for us to return the favour by piling into Vicar St for the comedy trio's new live shows, as they finally get to finish off their Swines tour (more dates in Vicar St from February 24th-27th and Cork Opera House March 9th-11th). Join Sean Finegan, Conor McKenna and Sean Flanagan for what promises to be a hilarious night of sketchy comedy.
Spike Cello Festival
February 11th-13th, various venues, Dublin and online, spikecellofest.com
A celebration of the big instrument with the deep, resonant sound, Spike takes place around Dublin and online, with some events happening in the outdoors (they're hardy instrument's those cellos). Among the highlights will be an online concert by Patrick Dexter from his cottage in the west of Ireland (February 11th, 1pm); two live concerts by Ayanna Witter-Johnson at the Pepper Canister church (February 11th and 12th, 8pm); Cellovision for kids at the Ark featuring Adrian Mantu (February 12th, 2pm and 4pm) and a virtuoso online display of Indian cello by Dutch cellist Saskia Rao de Haas broadcast from New Delhi (February 13th, 4.30pm).
Golda Schultz
February 13th , National Concert Hall, 7.30pm, €29.50/€23.50/€17.50
South African soprano Golda Schultz brings her "distinctly thrilling" voice to the National Concert Hall for a very special concert celebrating the works of often-overlooked female composers. This versatile virtuosic young artist has been hailed for her dazzling stage presence and gorgeous singing tone, and she'll be bringing both to bear on her new show, This Be Her Verse, featuring readings of works by Clara Schumann, Emilie Mayer, Rebecca Clarke, Nadia Boulanger and Schultz's fellow South African Kathleen Tagg. This is Schultz's first visit to Ireland, and she'll be joined by her regular pianist partner Jonathan Ware, with whom she devised this unique programme of women's music.
