TV: SHOGUN
Based on James Clavell's novel (previously filmed for the 1980 miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain) Shōgun follows the collision of two ambitious men from different worlds and a mysterious female samurai; John Blackthorne, a risk-taking English sailor who ends up shipwrecked in Japan, a land whose unfamiliar culture will ultimately redefine him; Lord Toranaga, a shrewd, powerful daimyo, at odds with his own dangerous, political rivals; and Lady Mariko, a woman with invaluable skills but dishonorable family ties, who must prove her value and allegiance. The formidable cast includes Cosmo Jarvis, Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai, from Apple's Pachinko (Disney Plus, new episodes weekly)
FILM: WICKED LITTLE LETTERS
Based on a true scandal that stunned 1920s England, this gleefully profane romp unites a pair of modern acting greats - Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley, as neighbours Edith Swan and Rose Gooding. One day, a series of obscene letters begin to target Edith (Coleman) and others, with suspicion falling upon Rose (Buckley). As the outrageous letters continue to escalate, Rose risks losing both her freedom and custody of her daughter. Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan) is determined to find the real culprit, and along with a group of other women, seeks to solve this perplexing mystery... (Cinemas nationwide)
THEATRE: LIFE OF PI
After an epic storm in the Pacific Ocean, Pi is stranded on a lifeboat with four other survivors – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Royal Bengal tiger... Based on the global phenomenon and winner of the Man Booker Prize (not to mention an Oscar-winning screen adaptation) this epic journey of endurance and hope; the dazzling Olivier Award-winning stage adaption of Yann Martel's best-selling novel features puppetry from the same team behind War Horse and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (Bord Gais Energy Theatre Dublin, Tuesday 27 February to Saturday 02 March 2024)
BOOK: YOU SPIN ME ROUND
This illuminating collection of essays offers an essential literary mixtape that takes elements of music – songs, performances, albums, gigs – as points of departure, with writers reflecting on what music has meant to them at different moments in their lives. The talented list of contributors include Ciaran Carson, Wendy Erskine, Peter Geoghegan, Declan Long, Jayne A. Quan, Brian Dillon and Aingeala Flannery - the last two talk to RTÉ Arena below (PVA books, in bookshops now)
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MUSIC: LIAM GALLAGHER/JOHN SQUIRE
Their best work since Oasis and the Stone Roses? Take the vocalist from one iconic Manchester band and add the guitar player from another, and the the duo's eponymous debut album sounds pretty much exactly like you'd imagine, to highly entertaining effect. The fans will love it, and the singles Just Another Rainbow and Mars To Liverpool will give you an idea what you're in store for (Warners, out now)
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