Arts News - Big Maggie in rehearsal at Druid

AFTER some time in a Dublin studio, the 11 members of the cast of John B Keane's Big Maggie started rehearsals in the Druid Theatre in Galway on Monday. The first Keane play staged by Druid was Sive in 2002, with Sharon's Grave the next year, and The Year of the Hiker in 2006. Now Garry Hynes directs her fourth exploration of the Kerry master, aided by Aisling O'Sullivan (Raw, The Clinic) in the title role, along with John Olohan (The Tudors and Druid's The Silver Tassie) and Keith Duffy (Coronation Street, Boyzone), Paul Connaughton, Nancy E Carroll, Joan Sheehy, Sarah Greene, Amy Molloy, Charlie Murphy, Des Nealon, and Stephen Mullan. Set in 1960s rural Ireland, Big Maggie is a compelling portrait of a woman who is determined to take control of her life. Maggie, widowed mother of four, is now ready to take power into her own hands â€â€ but at what cost? Money, land and secret sex make for a riveting story. Shocking for its time â€â€ the play premiered in 1969 â€â€ the portrait that Keane painted of the dark side of Irish family life seems now to be eerily prescient. Following its opening run in the Town Hall Theatre (November 11 to 19), the production will return to many of the venues Druid has continued to tour to on a regular basis â€â€ Dublin, Ennis, Cork, Castlebar, Tralee, Portlaoise, Roscommon, Longford and Sligo. In January, Druid's visit to the Hawk's Well Theatre in Sligo will mark the venue's 30th birthday. In 1982 it was a Druid production of Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare that officially opened the venue. Big Maggie will also return to Galway and Dublin in 2012.   Art from Cong THE latest exhibition at the Town Hall Theatre is titled A shadow turned and took flight and opens on October 28. Daire Lynch is  from Dublin but now lives in Cong, Co Mayo. He is a self taught artist who explores the human emotions through pose and gestures. This show is a mix of his figurative work and what has become his  signature  Rook paintings. Daire doesn't feel an artist should be pigeon holed or made feel they must paint only one style or subject matter. 'This exhibition is of the latest works focusing on how mood can be projected through expression and by simple pose and gesture. From a wry smile, to just a tilt of the head to how a person reclines, all convey such strong moods, which I hope to capture. Alongside these my rooks, which have become my signature, sit proudly, as guardians of the show.'   Varied lineup for Junior Film Fleadh YOUNG FILM FANS and wannabe film makers are looking forward to the 17th Junior Film Fleadh November 16 to 19 in the Town Hall Theatre, Huston Film School and City Museum. A varied and exciting lineup is on offer for young people from the ages of 4 - 18 years which will include a mix of features, documentaries and workshops to support the curriculum, develop the imagination and stimulate both discussion and creativity. As ever the Shorts highlights budding filmmaking talents from schools and local groups. Alongside these runs Gearrscannáin, a series of thought-provoking shorts which take Irish beyond the classroom. Workshops which aim to stimulate creativity and imagination include especially for Leaving Certificate 2012 Hamlet Workshop. Booking now open on 091 562 200 for schools, groups and individuals or email junior@ galway filmfleadh.com or download a booking form from our website www.galwayfilmfleadh.com.   Wild and Wonderful at Kennys AN artist whose images were used in the 2005 and 2006 Galway Arts Festival posters shows new work at the Kenny Gallery, Liosbán, from Friday October 28. Éadaín Hunter (née Ní Mhadagáin) who is known to many in the art world and further afield simply by her first name, was born in Dublin where she now works as an artist and illustrator. She studied art in Galway, Dublin and Italy. Her evocative images of Galway's famous Druid Lane and Shop Street proved to be enormously popular, with both GAF posters very quickly going out of print. This exhibition is inspired by a time spent working in a scenic part of North West Donegal.