Arts Notes – Sessions will help fund access to music

THE talented participants at Access Music Project this year are set to launch the AMP sessions this Wednesday, January 26 in a much loved Galway pub, The Crane. The session is the first in a series of gigs to raise funds for the Galway music course, Access Music Project. Collectors will be asking for a small donation to go towards the annual €25,000 shortfall in funding. In exchange, listeners will be treated to an eclectic mix of music by guitar players, percussionist and singers. Initially developed by the Galway City Partnership, AMP has become an integral part of Galway's music scene. Operating now for over ten years, AMP is a charitable organisation which provides training opportunities for unemployed musicians to obtain the skills and knowledge required to find work in the music industry or access to further education. AMP is partially funded through FÃÂS along with their own patronage scheme CHAMPs, but despite this, there is still a large financial shortfall in funding for the course. Eilish O'Connor, director of AMP said 'In a city of culture like Galway, Access Music Project is training a new group of musicians each year. AMP truly aims to provide a path for those with musical talent as well as sharing this talent with the people of Galway.' A show which runs and runs ... NEXT Monday January 31 and Tuesday February 1, the Town Hall Theatre presents a show which literally runs and runs ... Marathon by Edoardo Erba, translated by Colin Teevan, is an amazing drama which captures the challenges of the long distance runner and the unique pressures it puts not only on the mind but on friendship. The two actors, played by Brian Hutton and Matthew Ralli, are literally running thoughtout the entire play â€â€ it brings new meaning to the concept of a theatrical workout! The play is set at night-time on a country road. Mark and Steve are training for the event of their lives. They find themselves running into their past and into their future. Funny, energetic and brave, Marathon is a beautifully simple exploration of what it means to be alive and has a twist in its tail that will stay with you long into the night. Hurricane Theatre Company and director Niall Cleary present a production that stretches both the limits of physical endurance and the possibilities of the theatre itself: sometimes hilarious and always heartfelt, the story sprints to its unexpected conclusion. Niall Cleary's recent work includes Citizenship by Mark Ravenhill at Nuns Island Theatre for GYT at the Galway Arts Festival 2010 and he also worked with Andrew Flynn on Tarry Flynn for the Town Hall theatre. In preparation for the production Niall also ran the New York City Marathon so that he can sit guilt free in the rehearsal room as the actors literally run for hours! Modern dance at THT ONE of Ireland's most exciting dance companies, Irish Modern Dance Theatre, pay a rare visit to Galway at the Town Hall Theatre on Saturday January 29. Their new show, Actions, choreographed and directed by John Scott with music by Meredith Monk, is a dance piece first staged in September 2009 and has turned out to be their biggest international hit show to date. Scott is considered Ireland's most radical choreographer, known for pushing dance to its limits with humour, athletic dancing, technical brilliance and emotion. Druid in Roscommon DRUID bring Martin McDonagh's The Cripple of Inishmaan to Roscommon Arts Centre for three performance from Thursday January 27 to Saturday 29. There are a very limited of seats left for what is one of the highlights of the theatrical season. These three performances mark the beginning of a major 21-week tour and Roscommon Arts Centre is delighted to welcome Druid to the town for their first performance there. The Cripple of Inishmaan is McDonagh's most accessible play infused with his trademark humour and eccentric characters.