Arena
781 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 4 ratingsIrish podcast exploring what's happening in the world of arts, culture and entertainment. Listen live every weeknight on RTÉ Radio 1 from 7-8pm. Listen to individual clips at rte.ie/arena. Presented by Sean Rocks.
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Episodes
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh - The Hamilton Gallery - Brian McGilloway - Stevie G
August 09, 2021 12:00 - 49 minutesThe Irish Chamber Orchestra premieres Róisín Reimagined with Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh at the Kilkenny Arts Fest, Brian McGilloway’s 'The Last Crossing' received special recognition at The Theakston Crime Writing Festival, Meditations in Time of Civil War at the Hamilton Gallery, Stevie G Presents, Magic Nights by the Lee on Aug 28th.
The Echo Chamber - Mr. Corman - Album reviews
August 06, 2021 12:00 - 46 minutesMary McGill reviews 'The Echo Chamber', John Boyne’s new novel, BBC TV presenter George Cleverly has it all, Then the chat show host sends out a well-meant, ill-worded tweet, Chris Wasser previews Mr. Corman on Apple TV, Nadine O'Regan & Alan Corr review new albums from Will Young, Paddy Casey & American folk-rock singer Willy Mason.
Film reviews - Bernard MacLaverty
August 05, 2021 12:00 - 44 minutesPaul Whitington & Cara O’Doherty review films, Stillwater with Matt Damon, The Boys from County Hell, a Northern Irish Vampire film, Bernard MacLaverty's last novel was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, Blank Pages is his new short story collection with his trademark attention to detail, ease of language & sympathetic exploration of lonely lives.
Tonic - Jack Butler Yeats - Daisy Lafarge
August 04, 2021 12:00 - 47 minutesTonic debuts this weekend from actor & playwright, Fionn Foley, directed by Ronan Phelan, kilkennyarts.ie , Emer McGarry, Director of the Model discusses, Jack Butler Yeats Assembled Memories, treadsoftly.ie/festival-ts21, Paul is the debut novel of Daisy Lafarge, a tale of power & passivity between student Frances & Paul, an enigmatic older man.
Damon Galgut - Kilkenny Arts Festival - New Music
August 03, 2021 12:00 - 47 minutes'The Promise' - longlisted for this year’s Booker Prize, following the fortunes of the Swarts of South Africa, over four decades, Invitation to a Journey, a film installation, filmmaker Eoin Heaney with a score by Crash Ensemble, it’s an exploration of the work of one of Ireland’s greatest designers, Eileen Gray & new albums, Billie Eilish
The Dead - Colin Hassard - Erykah Badu
August 03, 2021 12:00 - 48 minutesThe Dead, An Opera is based on the beloved short story by James Joyce at the Gaiety Theatre, Colin Hassard debut poetry collection Age of the Microwave Dinner at the Eastside Arts Festival, eastsidearts.net/ , Erykah Badu burst onto the global music scene in 1997 with her multiplatinum debut album, Baduizm, Jess Kavanagh on where to begin
Film reviews - Elektra - Queer Mind, Body and Soul
July 29, 2021 12:00 - 51 minutesMichael Pope & Roe McDermott review films incl. The Sparks Brothers documentary, Irish National Opera’s show at Kilkenny Arts Festival is Richard Strauss’ Elektra, Queer Mind, Body and Soul is an exhibition at the National Gallery of Ireland, the first LGBTQIA+ exhibition, Ger Brady, project lead with Gáisce & spoken word artist, Sarah Hannigan
Sparks - Ray McBride Tribute - Joe Caslin - Dede Allen Films
July 28, 2021 12:00 - 48 minutesThe eccentric, unclassifiable music duo of Sparks that have lasted more than 50 years, remembering Ray McBride, Joe Caslin is best known for his towering pieces of street art, Joe will take part in a panel discussion on LGBT+ media representation, no editor got it right more often than Dede Allen, Steven Benedict discusses.
Druid - Watch the Sound - James Cagney
July 27, 2021 12:00 - 45 minutesDruid Theatre Company stages 'The Seagull' at Coole Park, Eileen Walsh plays fading actress Isobel Desmond, & Jack Gleeson – best known as the villainous Joffrey in Game of Thrones – is her lonely son, Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson, Kate Brennan Harding previews, Tony Tracy recommends where to begin with the films of James Cagney.
Karan Casey - The Office - Of A Mind
July 26, 2021 12:00 - 43 minutesKaran Casey has worked with director Sophie Motley to create a show that is part song-poem, part music performance. I Walked Into My Head at kilkennyarts.ie , Alan Corr revisits The Office at 20, producer Hugh Farrell & sound designer, Tyler Kieffer on Of a Mind, produced by Listen & Breathe, a unique audio experience mermaidartscentre.ie
Irish National Opera - Isabel Nolan - Albums
July 23, 2021 12:00 - 43 minutesA Thing I Cannot Name is an opera film from Irish National Opera, three very different women are connected only by the intensity of their wildly dissimilar desires, the artist Isabel Nolan’s new exhibition is entitled A delicate bond which is also a gap, solsticeartscentre.ie , Louise Bruton & Simon Maher review new albums incl. Clairo
Amy Winehouse - Film reviews - Pure Grit
July 22, 2021 12:00 - 48 minutesKelly Anne Byrne marks the tenth anniversary of the death of Amy Winehouse, Amy's mother has narrated a new documentary on BBC Two, John Maguire & Ruth Barton review films, Riders of Justice & World to Come, Bareback horse racing is a tradition central to Native American culture, Kim Bartley’s documentary Pure Grit, galwayfilmfleadh.com/
Eímear Noone - Ted Lasso - Gerald Dawe
July 22, 2021 12:00 - 47 minutesEímear Noone is one of the world’s most accomplished composers of scores for videogames, this Friday Eímear will conduct the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Eímear Noone’s ‘Electric Arcade’, Lisa Fallon on American comedy series Ted Lasso, Gerald Dawe's new book 'Imagined City: Belfast Soulscapes' the third in his acclaimed Northern Chronicles.
Andrea Riseborough - Bicycle Thieves - Wes Anderson
July 20, 2021 12:00 - 49 minutesHere Before is a psychological thriller starring Andrea Riseborough, Bicycle Thieves: Pumped Up, with Roxanna Nic Liam & directed by Connor O'Toole, galwayfilmfleadh.com, Wes Anderson, the American director is known for the distinctive visual aesthetic of his quirky comedies, Rory Cashin on where to begin with his work.
Sparks! - West Cork Fit Up Festival - Schmigadoon
July 19, 2021 12:00 - 44 minutesJenn Gannon on musical duo Sparks! - ahead of Edgar Wright’s documentary The Sparks Brothers, & Annette, for which they wrote the music & the screenplay, Artistic Director, Geoff Gould and Seamus O Rourke on The West Cork Fit Up Festival, fit-uptheatrefestival.com , Chris Wasser on the new musical comedy series Schmigadoon, on Apple TV Plus
In MiddleTown, Mikel Murfi - John Fitzgerald - Album reviews
July 16, 2021 12:00 - 46 minutesIn MiddleTown is the tale of a furniture removals man, who one day packs up his own belongings, actor, writer & director Mikel Murfi takes to the road in a truck, gate-theatre.ie, 'The Time Being' is a poetry collection from John FitzGerald, Brian Boyd & Kate Brennan Harding review albums incl. Ra Gerra (MuRli & producer Kobina), Stephen Fretwell
Cannes Film Festival - Film reviews - Georges Simenon
July 15, 2021 12:00 - 49 minutesTara Brady reports from Cannes Film Festival, Paul Whitington & Gemma Creagh review films incl. Summer of Soul, a found footage documentary about a pivotal 1969 New York soul music festival, John Self on Georges Simenon, Betty is a traumatised, hard-drinking 28-year-old, alone in Paris, whose past threatens to engulf her, re-issued by Penguin
Subterranean Sessions - Lemoncello - Christy Lefteri - Breandán De Gallaí
July 14, 2021 12:00 - 47 minutesSubterranean Sessions will be on RTÉ 2 Thursday night, Róisín O, presents & performs, Christy Lefteri's 'Songbirds' is about the too-frequent exploitation of migrant workers, War Dance of the Fairy Folk is a live performance by Na Mic Ua gCorra, created by Irish dancer & choreographer, Breandán de Gallaí, Lemoncello play at SoFFT Nights Festival
The Olympics on Film - John Connolly - All of This Unreal Time
July 14, 2021 12:00 - 51 minutesOur man in RTÉ Sport, Damien O'Meara looks at artistic representations of the Olympics on film, a blend of private eye, horror & speculative fiction, ‘The Nameless Ones’ is the 20th novel from John Connolly featuring Charlie Parker, All of This Unreal Time, is a short film directed Aoife McArdle & starring Cillian Murphy.
Waiting for Poirot - Festival in a Van - Dani Larkin
July 12, 2021 12:00 - 41 minutesWaiting for Poirot is an ensemble piece from playwright, Mike Finn, staged in the People's Park, Limerick, limetreetheatre.ie , Festival in a Van & Poetry Ireland bring Words Move to venues across Ireland, award-winning poet Rachael Hegarty is one of the performers, Dani Larkin is a rising star, her debut album is Notes for a Maiden Warrior
Alannah Hopkin - Print REbels - Album reviews
July 09, 2021 12:00 - 46 minutesIn a new memoir, 'A Very Strange Man', writer Alannah Hopkin recounts her twenty- nine-year relationship with novelist Aidan Higgins, Edward Twohig presents 'Print REbels' an exhibition of 140 historical and contemporary original prints, igs.ie, Pat Carty and Andrea Cleary review the latest albums, Soda Blonde, Inhaler and The WallFlowers.
Film reviews - Colm Mac Iomaire - Henry Girls
July 08, 2021 12:00 - 43 minutesFilm reviews with Tara Brady & Darryl Jones from Marvel's Black Widow to Martin Eden & Tove, a studio 8 session with Colm Mac Con Iomaire, ahead of his gig at The Cáirde Sligo Arts Festival, Home (from Home) with The Henry Girls is online July 12-16 as part of The Earagail Arts Festival. More details on eaf.ie
Lux Alma - Intimate City - Donnie Darko - Ciaran Lavery
July 07, 2021 12:00 - 46 minutesSinger, composer, producer, sound designer Lux Alma has taken inspiration from the coastline of Kerry, To the Sea - the single & audio-visual celebration is out now, Peter Sirr’s 'Intimate City' is a about Dublin’s architectural & literary history, Chris Wasser revisits cult classic Donnie Darko at 20, Award-winning singer-songwriter, Ciaran Lavery
The 32: An anthology of Irish Working-Class Voices - Roxy Music - Drone Bone Jetty
July 06, 2021 12:00 - 51 minutesThe 32: An anthology of Irish Working-Class Voices, editor Paul McVeigh, Kit de Waal, June Caldwell & Erin Lindsay discuss, Paul McLoone recommends where to begin with Roxy Music, a film & stage collaboration between Laura Sheeran & Little John Nee, Drone Bone Jetty is set in a not-too-distant dystopian future, Earagail Arts Festival, eaf.ie
Druid Bursary - Irish National Opera - Tove Jansson - Nidhi Zak/ Aria Eipe
July 06, 2021 12:00 - 53 minutesDruid Theatre’s Marie Mullen bursary is open for applications, the 2020 recipients Emily Foran & Sarah Baxter, The Lighthouse opens July 8, baritone, John Molloy, Irish National Opera Director, Diego Fascati, Anna Carey on the legacy of Tove Jansson, creator of The Moomins, Auguries of a Minor God, the debut poetry collection of Nidhi Zakaria Eipe
Shadow of the Glen - Look! It’s A Woman Writer Anthology - Album reviews
July 02, 2021 12:00 - 46 minutesBlue Raincoat theatre company have produced Synge’s play In the Shadow of the Glen to celebrate its 30th anniversary, Chris Morash reviews, Look! It’s A Woman Writer Anthology, editor Éilís Ní Dhuibhne & poet Moya Cannon, Nadine O’Regan & Eamon Sweeney review albums, Laura Mvula, Bobby Gillespie & Jehnny Beth, Brendan Tallon.
Film reviews - Lisa Taddeo - Irish Modern Dance Theatre
July 02, 2021 12:00 - 51 minutesDonald Clarke & Ruth Barton review the latest film releases including Thomas Vinterberg's Another Round, & Lady Boss: The Jackie Collins story, Lisa Taddeo’s debut book 'Three Women' became a cultural sensation, 'Animal' is her debut novel, Dancer from the Dance Festival runs July 5-9th. Irishmoderndancetheatre.com
Kojaque - Martin Parr - Rough Magic
June 30, 2021 12:00 - 47 minutesKojaque on his much-anticipated full album, Town’s Dead, Martin Parr is one of the great social photographers, The Gallery of Photography presents his Irish photography 1979-2019, galleryofphotography.ie/martin-parr, Compass is a programme for emerging & established playwrights, Artistic director Lynne Parker & writers Iseult Deane & Ankur Vikal.
Thomas Vinterberg - Deirdre Sullivan - Dublin Book Festival - Departures - Where to begin - Scott Walker
June 29, 2021 12:00 - 48 minutesThomas Vinterberg’s Another Round won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film, Deirdre Sullivan’s 'I want to Know That I Will Be Okay' is a new short story collection, Departures is a three-part series dublinbookfestival.com , poet Jane Clarke & writer Billy O'Callaghan feature, Zara Hedderman on where to begin with the music of Scott Walker.
Yeats - Hemingway - Get Shorty - Audrey Molloy
June 28, 2021 12:00 - 54 minutesAmbassador Dan Mulhall is the honorary President of Yeats Society Sligo, discusses Yeat's legacy, YeatsSociety.com, Ernest Hemingway is the subject of a six-part series, Declan Hughes previews, Declan Burke on Get Shorty, from classic book to film, 'The Important Things' is the debut collection of poems by Irish poet Audrey Molloy.
Indiana Jones at 40 - Exhibition: Edo in Colour - Album reviews
June 25, 2021 12:00 - 45 minutesIt’s 40 years since we first met archeologist Indiana Jones in the Oscar-winning Raiders of the Lost Ark. Edo in Colour exhibition of prints covering the early days of Japan. And album reviews this week are: Town's Dead by Kojaque, Where I should end by Saint Sister, and Life in Colour by Picture This
One Good Turn at the Abbey - Saint Sister - They Come Then, The Birds by Amanda Coogan - Irish Chamber Orchestra at Limerick’s UCH
June 23, 2021 12:00 - 41 minutesThe Abbey Theatre reopens for One Good Turn by Una McKevitt, Saint Sister join Seán in studio ahead of their new album 'Where I Should End'. Amanda Coogan presents ‘They Come Then, The Birds’, commissioned by Rua Red gallery, and Irish Chamber Orchestra leader Katherine Hunka chats about the return of live audiences to UCH Limerick.
The evolution of the comedy special - In the Middle of the Field - Frida Kahlo and My Left Leg, reviewed by Sinéad Gleeson - Shared Ground
June 23, 2021 12:00 - 50 minutesJenn Gannon looks at the evolution of the comedy special. Director Joan Sheehy, and actress Kathy Rose O'Brien talk to Seán about In the Middle of the Fields. Sinéad Gleeson reviews Frida Kahlo and My Left Leg, a book by Emily Rapp Black, and Bernie Sherlock, guest conductor for the Chamber Choir Ireland, talks about Shared Ground.
Murder at the Cottage - The Saviour - Joni Mitchell's Blue
June 22, 2021 12:00 - 43 minutesPhilip Boucher-Hayes looks at Jim Sheridan's Murder at the Cottage, about the 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Helen Meany reviews the play The Saviour, starring Marie Mullen and Brian Gleeson. We also mark the 50th anniversary of Joni Mitchell's album Blue, with Rachel Breslin.
Film Reviews - CoisCéim Dance Theatre - Tradition Now at NCH
June 18, 2021 12:00 - 52 minutesJustin McGregor and Roe McDermott are on the line for this week's film reviews. David Bolger of CoisCéim Dance Theatre discusses "In The Magic Hour" and Lucie Azconaga and Consuelo Breschi of Varo chat about this years Tradition Now at the NCH.
The Reason I Jump - Mespil In The Dark - Together - The Great Mistake
June 17, 2021 12:00 - 51 minutesDirector Jerry Rothwell talks to Sean about his new film "The Reason I Jump", Eugene O Brien and Gavin Quinn discuss their latest project "Mespil In The Dark", Mary McGill is reviews the film "Together" and Jonathan Lee to talk about his latest novel "The Great Mistake".
Guests of The Nation - Black Alley Podcast - Album Reviews
June 14, 2021 12:00 - 55 minutesPat Kiernan, Mel Mercier and Kevin Barry talk about what we can expect from Corcadorca's adaptation of "Guests of the Nation" . Sean talks to the cast of Black Alley podcast and Louise Bruton and Simon Maher were in studio to review this week's albums.
Arts update - Film reviews - Keith Ridgway - National Gallery
June 10, 2021 12:00 - 54 minutesSinead Crowley, RTÉ's Arts and Media correspondent, reports from the first live concert in over a year, film reviews with Aingeala Flanner & John Maguire, the award-winning author Keith Ridgway on 'A Shock' his latest novel, Art historian Jessica Fahy brings us to the 'Glamour and Governance' exhibition at the National Gallery.
A City and a Garden - Bád Shiobhán - Carlow Arts Festival - RTÉ National Symphony Live
June 09, 2021 12:00 - 52 minutesacityandagarden.ie short stories by writers like Lisa McInerney, narrated by actor Hilary Rose, choreographer Siobhán Ní Dhuinnín & her father Pádraig, built a West Kerry Naomhóg, corkmidsummer.com Bád Shiobhán, CEO Jo Mangan on Woman in the Machine, carlowartsfestival.com , RTÉ NSO Live with the focus on composers Jane O' Leary & Gráinne Mulvey
Lucy Caldwell - Sweet Tooth - The Dock
June 08, 2021 12:00 - 45 minutesLucy Caldwell's new collection, 'Intimacies', features stories about pregnancy and parenthood. Chris Wasser reviews the Netflix series Sweet Tooth, which is based on the best-selling DC comic book, The Dock is celebrating reopening with an exhibition entitled 'Second Summer', produced by six Irish artists and curated by Director Sarah Searson.
After Love - Genius: Aretha, Respect - Album reviews
June 04, 2021 12:00 - 48 minutes'After Love' is a new film starring the Joanna Scanlan and will be released in Ireland at the IFI on June 10th, National Geographic’s Genius anthology series returns focusing on Aretha Franklin's musical genius, Aidan Kelly reviews, Kate Brennan Harding and Pat Carty review new albums from Crowded House, Wolf Alice and Japanese Breakfast.
Film reviews - Marina Carr - DH Lawrence
June 03, 2021 12:00 - 51 minutesGemma Creagh and Michael Pope review new films incl. A Quiet Place 2, playwright Marina Carr has adapted Virginia Woolf’s 'To the Lighthouse' corkmidsummer.com/whats-on/to-the-lighthouse ,‘Burning Man’ a new biography by Frances Wilson on DH Lawrence
Hollie McNish - Richard Mosse - Tobi Omoteso - Small World
June 02, 2021 12:00 - 51 minutes'Slug' is a hybrid of poetry, prose & memoir by Hollie McNish, Richard Mosse’s installations Home - Butler Gallery, Tobi Omoteso is an acclaimed Nigerian-Irish dancer, A Midsummer Celebration Cork Midsummer Festival 14 - 27 June 2021 , the late Seamus Deane’s 'Small World' looks at the most important writers in Irish literary history.
Sinéad O'Connor - Maud Cotter - Killaloe Music Festival
June 01, 2021 12:00 - 51 minutes'Rememberings' is Sinéad O'Connor's new memoir, Lise Hand previews one of the most anticipated books of the year, Land is the directorial debut of actress, Robin Wright, Maud Cotter's new exhibition hughlane.ie/forthcoming/2731-exhibitions-mcotter , killaloemusicfestival.com the festival’s artistic director, Katherine Hunka.
Thelma and Louise at 30 - Patrick McGrath - West Wicklow Festival
May 31, 2021 12:00 - 43 minutesThelma and Louise became one of the most talked-about films of 1991, Ruth Barton revisits the film at 30, Patrick McGrath's new novel 'Last Days in Cleaver Square' follows a celebrated ageing poet and veteran of the Spanish Civil War, Festival founder Fiachra Garvey and celebrated mezzo-soprano, Rachel Kelly discuss The West Wicklow Festival.
Arts update - Richard Barnett- Barry Douglas - Album reviews
May 28, 2021 12:00 - 46 minutesSinéad Crowley, RTÉ’s Arts and Media Correspondent discusses the reopening of cinemas and theatres, the internationally acclaimed pianist, Barry Douglas’ Limerick concert, uch.ie, 'Wherever We Are When We Come to the End', new poetry by Richard Barnett, exploring the work of the great philosopher Wittgenstein, album reviews from Kele to Black Midi.
Film reviews - Friends Reunion - Moby
May 27, 2021 12:00 - 50 minutesTara Brady & Darryl Jones review films including Cruella & Drunk Bus, Friends: The Reunion, Chris Wasser takes a look at how one of the most popular television shows of all time, took over the world, Alan Corr on Moby, his album Reprise reimagines some of his best-known songs, along with a brutally honest documentary about his life, Moby Doc.
Riverdance - Breeders -Trouble
May 26, 2021 12:00 - 47 minutesRiverdance will come to Sky Cinema & Now TV on May 28, Riverdance has been one of the most successful Irish cultural exports, composer Bill Whelan & son Brian discuss a new score created for the animated feature film, Chris Addison on season two of Breeders, Trouble is the third short story collection by Philip Ó Ceallaigh.
Bob Dylan turns 80
May 25, 2021 12:00 - 18 minuteséan spoke to Sean Latham, Director, Institute of Bob Dylan Studies, songwriter Mick Flannery and Music Journalist John Meagher, about the life and music of the great music artist. Kay Sheehy, visited the US ambassadors house to check on how rehearsals were going for the live stream Dignity concert. organised by the embassy to celebrate his work.
RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra - Robyn - What Artists Wear
May 25, 2021 12:00 - 45 minutesChief Conductor Jaime Martín & the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra perform Mahler, Mendelssohn & Korngold on Friday with mezzo-soprano, Tara Erraught performing Korngold, livestream on rte.ie/culture , 2FM presenter Louise McSharry on where to begin with Swedish artist Robyn, Vaari Claffey reviews What Artists Wear by fashion writer Charlie Porter.