Stunning new show to be staged in Ballina

Wed, 05 Feb, 2025 - 09:14

Blue raincoat, one of Ireland's most innovative theatre companies, bring their latest production, entitled The Last Pearl, to Ballina Arts Centre on Wednesday, February 19th.

Described by the Project Arts Centre as "a visual feast that will charm and beguile" and by The Irish Times as "Blue Raincoat's greatest voyage yet", the piece tells the story of pearl diver M, as she seeks ways to survive in an ever-changing and increasingly challenging world.

Using bunraku and shadow puppetry, along with an inventive use of sound and light, the show underscores the importance of collaborative effort in maintaining life’s delicate balance. This is seen through M and her daughter’s interaction with their environment and is also reflected in the meticulous precision of the cast’s performance, as they manipulate the puppets, moving seamlessly as a unified entity. The Last Pearl is the fourth in a series of devised works since 2016 that include Shackleton, The School Days of Thaddeus K, and Hunting Darwin.

The ensemble for this production are John Carty, Sandra O'Malley, Brian F Devaney, Áine Ní Laoghaire and Aisling Mannion, with set design by Jamie Vartan and set construction by Alan Clarke. Sound is by Joe Hunt and lighting by Barry McKinney. The show is produced by Maurice Power.

The Last Pearl is something quite unique in Irish theatre and audiences are urged not to miss this opportunity to see it. Tickets, priced at only €18, are available via the Ballina Arts Centre website or at the box office on 096-73593.

Comedy Nights

Top-class comedy will take centre stage at Ballina Arts Centre in the coming weeks too.

Anne Gildea, the woman who taught us ‘How to Get the Menopause and Enjoy It’ arrives with her new show ‘Further Adventures in Womaning’ on Saturday, February 22.

David McSavage is back on Friday, March 7 with his irreverent take on how to live with integrity, ‘McSavage Rules’. The controversial comedian describes his latest show as ‘An unhelpful masterpiece for regaining personal power.’