by Saoirse Anton

It’s January, it’s cold, it’s dark, we’re back to work, the Christmas lights are back in their boxes, only the worst Roses are left in the tub, and every second social media post seems determined to make us feel terrible about the rest of the good Roses we ate in the past few weeks. It’s a bit of a drag.

I find it essential to pepper little treats throughout the start of the year, to coax myself through to “the grand stretch.” And what better treat than a trip to the theatre? One of the first things I did when I got paid in December was treat myself to a ticket for a show a few weeks into January, so that I had something to look forward to when the festive season was over.

If you want to treat yourself to a ticket to something to brighten up these chilly January days, read on for my suggestions of some of the shows on our stages this month.

First Fortnight

Kicking off the year with a whole host of events is First Fortnight Festival, a nationwide festival supporting mental health through the arts. The programme is jam-packed with fantastic events, but some that particularly caught my attention were The Tightrope Walker at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin and Other Worlds at Riverbank Theatre, Newbridge. The Tightrope Walker is a one-woman show from Jenny McDonald exploring the grief, chaos and care that can follow a serious diagnosis, while Other Worlds promises to be an exciting and celebratory immersive dance show for teenagers with additional needs. Final mention in my First Fortnight selections has to go to their collection of poetry events, which I will always have a soft spot for given my first professional poetry performance was at the Therapy Sessions several festivals ago. With the inimitable Tongue Fu at The Workmans Club in Dublin, So Say So in Wexford, Therapy Sessions in Dublin and Belfast, Ó Bhéal open mic in Cork and an LGBTQI+ Traveller Spoken Word event in Smock Alley Theatre, the programme is awash with options for any poetry lovers.

The Mountaintop

In what promises to be a moving evening’s theatre, Verdant Productions are celebrating the birth date of Martin Luther King Jr with a rehearsed reading of Katori Hall’s Olivier Award-winning play The Mountaintop at The New Theatre in Dublin.

New Writing Week at the new theatre

Also at The New Theatre this month is a host of new plays to get your teeth into. In the last week of January four new plays will be staged as part of The New Theatre’s New Play Writing Development Month. Whether you fancy a dark comedy set at a wake, a heartfelt play about the complexities of love, or an intriguing tale of a pair of ships that vanished along with their crew, you’ll find something to peak your interest at the New Theatre’s New Writing Week.

Fledermaus

From new plays to old favourites, Irish National Opera is staging Johann Strauss’ most popular opera, Fledermaus. A hilarious tale of disguises, double crosses, flirtation, confusion and rivers of champagne, Fledermaus is sure to brighten up any dreary January evening as it takes to stages across Ireland on its current national tour.

Tiny Fusion Folk Tunes

Looking for something the whole family can enjoy? Join Bojan and Barja, two members of the acclaimed Slovenian folk band Terrafolk, as they blend their classical roots with their love of folk music, taking their audience on a musical journey that bends genres, pushes boundaries, and delivers a memorable musical experience. From Balkan traditions, to familiar Irish tunes and beyond, Tiny Fusion Folk Tunes: A Musical Journey for Little Ones looks set to be a delight for children and their adults alike.

Workshops

Or perhaps you would rather start of your new year by getting involved in the action, instead of just watching it on stage? Theatres and arts centres across the country offer creative classes and workshops for adults. Whether you want to Jig yourself fit at Síamsa Tíre, follow The Artist’s Way at Dunamaise Arts Centre, fill some hours writing with Alice Kinsella at the Linenhall Arts Centre, or something completely different, check out your local venue’s programme to find something to suit you.

The days are getting longer, snowdrops are not far from the surface, and Spring is getting closer day by day. In the meantime, brighten up your January days with a trip to the theatre!