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ST. JOHN'S THEATRE & ARTS CENTRE

St. John's Theatre & Arts Centre fosters creativity and community engagement through diverse arts programming. We celebrate local culture and history, providing a platform for artists and audiences to connect and inspire through performances and events.

Join local history group Dromcollogher 26 for the official launch of their new book in Co. Kerry, a definitive and poignant chronicle of the 1926 Dromcollogher cinema fire. One hundred years after the tragedy that claimed forty eight lives and devastated a community, this comprehensive work honours the victims, preserves the first-hand accounts, and explores the profound, lasting legacy left on the town and the nation. The evening will feature an introductory talk by historian Ger Greaney, a member of the Dromcollogher 26, who will provide insights into the research process, and an open discussion on the historical impact of the disaster. Books will be available for purchase and signing on the night. All are welcome to attend this important evening of remembrance and local history.

The Burning: The Dromcollogher Cinema Fire 100 Years Later

They say that history is found in the grand archives, but Vincent Carmody proved it lives in the everyday scraps of the past. From old receipts saved from a skip to decades of dedicated genealogy, Vincent has spent the last 50 years acting as the custodian of North Kerry&#39;s memory. We invite you to step back in time for an evening of warm reminiscence, reviewing a lifetime of research and publishing. Vincent will sit down to discuss the &quot;flesh on the bones&quot; of his celebrated books with Elizabeth Stack - weaving together the social history of Listowel, the legacy of local printers, and the extraordinary tales of the people who walked these streets before us. Enhancing this trip down memory lane, Karen Trench will lend her stunning voice to the evening, singing timeless ballads that mirror the local lore and landscapes explored in Vincent&#39;s work. Do not miss this rare opportunity to hear history sing.

Putting Flesh on the Bones of History: A Conversation with Vincent Carmody

Experience the Magic of a True Acadian Kitchen Party with La Famille LeBlanc! Hailing from their ancestral farm in New Brunswick, La Famille LeBlanc is a stunning musical powerhouse that has captured the hearts of millions on TikTok and global concert stages. This tight-knit family band breathes fresh life into rare, foot-stomping 19th-century Acadian and Celtic melodies &mdash; treasures of the francophone diaspora that are completely unique to their heritage. Driven by the explosive talent of three teenage sisters and their multi-instrumentalist parents, their live show is an unforgettable dialogue between old-world tradition and contemporary acoustic creation. Meet the family: The Sisters (Charlotte, Rosalie, &amp; M&eacute;lodie): Trading blistering leads on the fiddle, concertina, and tin whistle, paired with high-energy traditional step dancing. Rebecca (Mother): Delivering rich, haunting vocal harmonies and rhythmic bodhr&aacute;n percussion. Robin (Father): Driving the arrangement on piano and fiddle, blending traditional folk roots with subtle jazz and baroque textures. From poignant historic ballads to lightning-fast dance sets, La Famille LeBlanc delivers an authentic, soul-stirring celebration of culture, family, and joy.&nbsp; Do not miss your chance to witness this international folk phenomenon live!

La Famille LeBlanc

Our Land &nbsp;takes us to the heart of the &lsquo;Right to Roam&rsquo; movement as it embarks on a provocative trail of mass trespass, campaigning and education, while also exploring landowners&rsquo; concerns around environmental protection and the danger such widespread access could pose to a landscape already under threat.

Our Land: A Film by Orban Wallace

The Unseen Growth of Winter is a 16-date all-island tour of original piano music, presented in a 70-minute live performance by the composer Maccana.&nbsp; Caomh&aacute;n Maccana is a composer and producer from the Irish borderlands, working across drama, documentary and live performance. His music has drawn comparisons with composers such as Erik Satie, Hania Rani and Arvo P&auml;rt.&nbsp; Over the past two decades, Maccana has worked on productions with the BBC, RT&Eacute; and Newstalk, receiving his most recent award at the 2025 Celtic Media Festival in Cornwall. His work has taken him across Ireland, the UK, the USA, Estonia and Mexico, including an Arts Council-supported collaboration at the Conservatorio de las Rosas in Morelia, the oldest music institution in Latin America.&nbsp; The concert features all original works by the composer, including scores such as Tras el Invierno, Athr&uacute;, Ven a M&iacute; and Tonnta D&eacute;, alongside new music developed during a residency at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, including the title piece &lsquo;The Unseen Growth of Winter&rsquo; and &Eacute;an, written in memory of Moya Brennan of Clannad.&nbsp; His 2026 album, &lsquo;Maccana, Live in Lady Guthrie&rsquo;s Drawing Room&rsquo;, presents his scores and compositions in an intimate recital setting, performed on an early 20th- century grand piano.

Maccana: The Unseen Growth of Winter

A spanking new solo comedy show bursting with razor sharp impressions, sketches and absurd imaginings from the co-creator of Apr&egrave;s Match.&nbsp; Cooper&rsquo;s first live solo show takes on the heady subjects of the world around us now, then, and in the future, and draws no obvious conclusions!&nbsp; Covering topics like what&rsquo;s happening? Why is it happening? Where did it all go wrong? And who cares? Featuring skits from the world of TV, &ldquo;Journalism&rdquo;, Politics, The Arts, Entertainment and Sport. Expect a dizzying mix of various personalities in this unmissable show.

Risteárd Cooper: Out of His Head

Experience the Magic of Percy French with &quot;Sweep Down to the Sea&quot; Prepare to be swept away by the enchanting melodies, poignant poetry, and timeless humour of Percy French in &quot;Sweep Down to the Sea&quot;&mdash;a spectacular celebration of one of Ireland&#39;s most beloved cultural icons. This unmissable show brings together three extraordinary artists: Ultan Conlon, Eleanor Shanley, and Jimmy Higgins, each with a legacy of performing alongside legends. Meet the Performers Eleanor Shanley: One of Ireland&rsquo;s most cherished vocalists, Eleanor&rsquo;s career has seen her collaborate with legendary acts like Ronnie Drew and De Dannan. Her exquisite interpretations of Irish music and her connection to Percy French&rsquo;s poignant lyrics will leave you spellbound. Ultan Conlon: A masterful singer-songwriter, Ultan&rsquo;s unique voice and evocative performances have captivated audiences far and wide. Having shared the stage with iconic artists like Mary Coughlan and the legendary John Martyn, Ultan brings an unparalleled depth to Percy French&rsquo;s timeless songs. Jimmy Higgins: A dynamic and versatile musician, Jimmy has performed with some of Ireland&rsquo;s greatest acts, including The Stunning and Christy Moore. His rhythmic brilliance and energy add a vibrant pulse to this celebration of French&rsquo;s legacy. About the Show &quot;Sweep Down to the Sea&quot; is a heartfelt journey through the life and works of Percy French. From his humorous classics like &ldquo;Are Ye Right There Michael&rdquo; to the wistful beauty of &ldquo;The Mountains of Mourne,&rdquo; this show captures the wit, charm, and soul of his artistry. Combining rich harmonies, emotive storytelling, and spellbinding performances, Ultan, Eleanor, and Jimmy will breathe new life into French&rsquo;s songs, connecting his genius with contemporary audiences.

The Magic of Percy French

WhistleBlast returns with its unique multimedia performances, bringing a live concert suitable for all. The quartet performs its greatest hits, including Stravinsky&#39;s Petrushka, Gershwin&#39;s Rhapsody in Blue, Mussorgsky&#39;s Pictures at an Exhibition, Prokofiev&#39;s Peter and the Wolf and more, all accompanied by captivating visual images and video footage. The quartet will perform selections from these symphonic masterpieces alongside compelling imagery and video, including shadow-puppet animation, work from contemporary artists and images by the photographer Ernst Haas. WhistleBlast aims to inspire and encourage all ages to begin or continue their journey of exploring exciting live performance. Its mini-orchestral sound is a lively introduction to this world of wonderful music. The performance lasts one hour and is followed by a short Q&amp;A with the musicians. Suitable for schools, families and the general public. The WhistleBlast Quartet: Conor Linehan (piano), Ken Edge (sax and clarinet), Oonagh Keogh (violin) and Mary Curran (French horn) devise extensive outreach and performance programmes that bring high-quality live music to young people, communities and audiences of all backgrounds.

WhistleBlast’s Musical Voyages Visual Magic

An intimate, darkly comic essay-performance that reflects on the meanings and functions of fire in life and art. Moving between childhood experiments with homemade fireworks, family and national history, and the author&#39;s novel Deep Burn, Brendan Mac Evilly traces a lifelong fascination with flame. At its centre sits an elusive story about the burning of an inherited uniform, a moment that hovers between memory and invention, asking why we are drawn to fire and what it can transform. Combining live reading, ceramics, projected media and sound, the piece considers fire as a force of attraction, creation, remembrance and release. Written and performed: Brendan Mac Evilly Director and media design: David McGovern Music and sound design: Kevin Cleary Recorded readings: Aisling Flynn

A Personal History of Pyromania

An intimate evening with Bryan Murphy, featuring powerful vocals, heartfelt songs and a live performance full of energy and atmosphere.

An Evening with Bryan Murphy

Dark Side of The Silvery Moon&nbsp;is a lively three-person storytelling show featuring &nbsp;bardic storyteller, Aindrias de Staic alongside percussionist Brian Fleming and harpist Aisling Lyons.&nbsp; Blending folklore, myth, music and humour, the performance combines Aindrias&#39;s fast-paced, irreverent storytelling with a rich live soundscape.&nbsp; Inspired by Ireland&#39;s living traditions, it takes adult audiences on a magical and entertaining journey through stories both ancient and unexpected - this Samhain, venture briefly into the Dark Side of the Silvery Moon with a haunting new tale.

Dark Side of The Silvery Moon

Experience the power of family, memory, and survival as Shout Out Youth Theatre brings Brian Friel&rsquo;s masterpiece, Dancing at Lughnasa, to life.&nbsp; Set in rural Donegal during the summer of 1936, this deeply moving play follows the five Mundy sisters as they navigate poverty, love, and a changing world on the eve of the festival of Lughnasa.&nbsp; Through the sudden bursts of music from their old radio, they find moments of pure joy and defiance against hardship. Don&#39;t miss this beautiful, bittersweet celebration of the human spirit, book your tickets now for an unforgettable night of theatre.

Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel

Bernie Bourke and Liam Halligan Present The Bewley&rsquo;s Cafe Theatre Production of Happiness Then By Elizabeth Moynihan. A riveting comedy drama delving into the relationship between two sisters, Bridget and Frances, who meet for the first time after their Mother&rsquo;s death. Eternally at odds, they bicker as only sisters can over everything from the wine to the will! Exploring the fallout of being left behind, loves and losses are examined and re- examined with acerbic wit and delicious put downs. Can Bridget and Frances&rsquo; searching need for sisterly support help to mend their broken relationships, not only with each other but with their loved ones, before it&rsquo;s too late?&nbsp; &quot;Sharp and very sophisticated&hellip;it is as witty as it is full of acuity. Moynihan has her finger on the zeitgeist,&quot; Emer O&rsquo;Kelly, Sunday Independent. &quot;Two riveting performances&hellip;it is genuinely heartfelt,&quot; The Arts Review. &quot;Consummate skill,&quot; The Reviews Hub&nbsp;

Happiness Then

Get into the Hallowe&#39;en spirit with a special screening of Hocus Pocus &mdash; kids welcome in costume!

Hocus Pocus

Acclaimed Cork violinist Mair&eacute;ad Hickey brings together colleagues from Brazil, Ukraine and the USA for a third tour by the Pirosmani Quartet. They open with the second of the three vividly expressive string quartets that Schumann wrote in a frenzy of creativity in the early summer of 1842. The previous September, his wife Clara - apart from Liszt, the most famous pianist of their time - had given birth to their first child, and perhaps that is the inspiration behind the disarming lullaby themes of the first two movements and the mischievous scampering of the scherzo and finale. Galway-based composer Jane O&rsquo;Leary is writing a new quartet for the Pirosmani Quartet to present on this tour. Schubert&rsquo;s vast G major quartet D.887 is a work of symphonic scale and emotional extremity. Like much of Schubert&rsquo;s music in the last years of his short life it revolves around conflict between grief and joy, darkness and light, restless angst and sublime lyricism, often expressed through abrupt switching from major to minor or by the juxtaposition of music of near brutality with moments of great tenderness. This wonderful work is one of the greats, highly recommended! Pirosmani Quartet Mair&eacute;ad Hickey, violin William Hagen, violin Natanael Ferreira, viola Oleksey Shadrin, cello Schumann - String Quartet in F major Op.41 No.2 [1842] Jane O&rsquo;Leary - new work [2026] &dagger; Schubert - String Quartet in G major D.887 [2026]&nbsp; &dagger; First performances

Pirosmani Quartet

K&iacute;la founder R&oacute;n&aacute;n &Oacute; Snodaigh joins Myles O&#39;Reilly for an intimate, hypnotic gathering of rhythm, language and sound.

ST. JOHN'S THEATRE & ARTS CENTRE

Events

Events

The Burning: The Dromcollogher Cinema Fire 100 Years Later

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Putting Flesh on the Bones of History: A Conversation with Vincent Carmody

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La Famille LeBlanc

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Our Land: A Film by Orban Wallace

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Maccana: The Unseen Growth of Winter

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Risteárd Cooper: Out of His Head

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The Magic of Percy French

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WhistleBlast’s Musical Voyages Visual Magic

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A Personal History of Pyromania

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An Evening with Bryan Murphy

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Dark Side of The Silvery Moon

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Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel

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Happiness Then

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Hocus Pocus

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Pirosmani Quartet

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Rónán Ó Snodaigh and Myles O’Reilly

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