Marina Carr's drama of death

MARINA Carr's Woman and Scarecrow plays at the Town Hall Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday next, Sept 26 and 27. It is a dreamy, if sometimes bitter, play about death and the perspective that it can throw upon the life which it is bringing to a close. On her deathbed a woman with eight children and a remorseful cheating husband surveys her life and imagines what else could have been. Full of bitter humor and brutal honesty this is a fierce, passionate, and beautiful lament probing one woman's attitudes to death and the life that came before it. 'Anyone can get through the first half. You start a life. You finish it. You don't bail out at the crossroads because you don't like the scenery.' Performers are Joan Sheehy, Noelle Browne, Geraldine Plunkett and Mark O' Regan. Director is Geoff Gould.   Traditional Showcase at ÃÂras na nGael TO celebrate Galway Culture Night 2012, ÃÂras na nGael brings an evening of traditional music and dance for young and old on Friday September 21. The evening kicks off at 6 pm in the Amharclann (ground floor at 45 Dominick Street), where All-Ireland winning Sean-Nós dancer Emma O'Sullivan will facilitate a fun children's workshop called â€ËœFiddles & Feet'. All children are welcome to come and learn the â€ËœCúpla Céim'. Emma will then take to the floor in Club ÃÂrus na nGael with Goitse at 7:30 pm. Goitse are a flourishing, highly talented five piece band. Their energetic playing and the distinctive quality of their sound lies in the arrangement of well-known traditional tunes. Free entry to both events.   Mosaic show in THT AN exhibition of mosaics entitled Within the Shawl by artist Barbara Derrane will run at the Town Hall Theatre from Friday September 21 to Wednesday October 17. This exhibition is a collection of unique mosaic work by Barbara, a native of Inis Mór. Her work is greatly influenced by the island's natural surroundings, culture and heritage. This current body of work, in her chosen medium of mosaic, recreates island life in times gone by and is a celebration and an exploration of the famous traditional shawls worn by the women of the Aran Islands. The shawls were not just a uniform garment worn to guard against the elements; they were also a statement of a woman's individuality, her status, and her stage of life. By drawing on inspiration from shawls belonging to the strong, often silent and heroic women in Barbara's own family, such as her Grandmother's wedding shawl, the exhibition takes a journey through a woman's life from girl to adulthood to mother to widow. Her work acknowledges an appreciation for the skill of shawl-making and a deep admiration for the intricate, colourful, personalised patterns and beautiful designs created through the centuries, even in times of limited colour palette. Barbara works as an artist and interior designer and is a former winner of RTÉ's Showhouse competition. She designs wall art, mirror and floor mosaics and also commissioned pieces for bathroom's, kitchen's and exteriors. She has previously had both solo and group exhibitions and her work has sold nationally and internationally. Barbara hopes that this exhibition will awaken a passion to revive the skill of shawl-making and arouse curiosity in people to explore more about the silent heroic women Within the Shawl.   Imeall Arts meets DruidMurphy THE first programme of the new season of Imeall on TG4 this Thursday Sept 20,features Tom Murphy and  Garry Hynes. Tristan Rosenstock and Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh travelled to the Galway Arts Festival to get a feel for Druid's celebration of Tom Murphy's plays. Tristan met up with Tom Murphy and Garry Hynes to discuss their work together, Tom's plays and their place in the heart, and the soul of the Irish people. Ailbhe attends the three plays to give an account of the unique DruidMurphy/Galway Arts Festival experience; she also meets some of the other theatregoers to hear reaction. The programme will be broadcast at 10.30 pm.   Limited spaces left in Irish Classes CONRADH na Gaeilge are accepting final enrollments for their 10 week adult Irish classes which start on Monday, September 24. Classes will focus on conversational Irish and there is a range of levels to choose from. For more information contact Conradh na Gaeilge on 091 567824 or visit www.arasnangael.ie