image via Unsplash
by Saoirse Anton
As we drag ourselves through the fug of Christmas cake withdrawal, the festive season turns to January and resolutions replace Celebrations. With the Grand Stretch still a distant hope, it can be hard to muster the motivation for jogging on a cold morning, or replacing cosy festive evenings with night classes, so I’m here to liven things up and add a theatrical spin to your resolutions.
Getting Active
I’ve never been much of a one for gyms and running, but there’s a sport or exercise to suit everyone, and the best way to find yours is to give some a go! It can be daunting trying something new, but fortunately First Fortnight Festival has a selection of active events on offer within their programme for you to try in a supportive and creative atmosphere. If you’re feeling brave enough for a dip in the sea, head along to Coastal Eco-Therapy, where you will gather on Whiterock Beach, Killiney, to do a litter pick along the beach before a yoga class and a dip in the sea, finishing off with a cuppa and a chance to chat with your fellow participants. Or if you would prefer to stay warm indoors, book yourself a place at Prose & Pose. In a time of upheaval and change on both global and local scales, take some time to reflect in a guided restorative yoga session accompanied by the words of a surprise guest reader.
Coastal Eco-Therapy takes place on Whiterock Beach, Killiney on 13th Jan
Prose & Pose takes place at Breathing Space Yoga Studio on 14th Jan
Learning a new Language
Or practicing one you learned in school…as set I work on brushing up my slightly rusty Irish, and got back to learning Welsh, I was very excited to spot Taigh/Ty/Teach, a trilingual triptych of plays about Celtic language-speakers. Written in Irish, Welsh and Scots Gaelic, this trio of plays is produced by Fishamble and will be staged at Ionad na Dromoda, an Irish language community space in County Kerry.
Taigh/Ty/Teach runs from 9th-14th February at Ionad na Dromoda
Eating Well
I could use this paragraph to grumble about the hypocrisy of magazine headlines switching from Christmas recipes and enthusiastic indulgence to diets, restriction and shame, but instead I am going to suggest you eat well. Make an evening of it and take yourself to the Bestseller Café on Dawson Street for a night of food and theatre. Over the coming months there’s plenty on offer with the season opening on Country Music, a twenty-year tale of crime and redemption from acclaimed playwright Simon Stephens, then a tense family drama with Mother and Child in March and a romantic thriller as Celebrity takes to the stage in April. With the option of a pre-show meal from the Bestseller Theatre menu, a trip to the theatre is bound to brighten a dark wintry evening!
Country Music runs from 6th February to 2nd March
Mother and Child runs from 19th March to 7th April
Celebrity runs from 23rd April to 18th May
Learning a new skill
Whether it’s taking acting classes, learning to sew, writing a poem or getting your paintbrushes and easel out, your local arts centre likely has a selection of classes and workshops in their programme for you to enjoy. Turn your hand to a new creative skill this January and see what comes of it. Remember the words of Kurt Vonnegut “Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow.”
Meeting new people
Theatre, at its heart, is about connection. Connection between people, thoughts places and times. As you sit shoulder to shoulder with fellow audience members while an actor stands in front of you and delivers a monologue you find yourself transported together to fair Verona, to the bogs of Offaly, to stately dining tables in Russia, to the trenches of World War One. Whatever theatre you go to this year, whatever workshops you do, whatever festivals you attend, make time for the people around you. Have a conversation with someone new, share your thoughts on something you saw recently, pass on a new skill. Connect with the people at the heart of the art.
