THEATRE: EMMA
Ripping the bodice of tradition, the Christmas show at the Abbey promises a hot take on Jane Austin's classic comedy of manners for the Brat generation, with a cool young ensemble (led by Toni O'Rourke), a contemporary soundtrack and a period-but-playful retelling of a much-loved tale (Abbey Theatre, Dublin, 22 Nov 2024 – 24 Jan 2025)
STREAMING: SAY NOTHING
Based on the bestseller by Patrick Radden Keefe, this gripping miniseries is a true tale of murder and memory in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, featuring a peerless cast led by stars-in-the-making Lola Pettigrew, Hazel Doupe and Anthony Boyle. Spanning four decades, it opens with the shocking disappearance of Jean McConville, a single mother of ten who was abducted from her Belfast home in 1972 - and never seen alive again (Disney+, all episodes streaming now)
CINEMAS: HOUSEWIFE OF THE YEAR
This fascinating documentary tells the story of the surreal live TV extraganza, an RTÉ staple for many years, the women who participated in the show, and the Ireland they lived in. Former contestants share tales of marriage bars, lack of contraception and Magdalene laundries, of financial vulnerability, boredom and shame and resilience. In their own quiet fashion, these unsung domestic heroines changed the country forever (Selected cinemas nationwide)
EVENT: QUIET LIGHTS
The beloved winter festival returns to Cork for its fifth edition, bringing a dazzling array of performances to venues across the city and shining a spotlight on the best in contemporary folk, traditional, and experimental music. And what a bill: Fionn Regan, Lisa Hannigan, Muireann Bradley, Lemoncello, Aoife Ní Bhríain & Catrin Finch, a large-scale double-header from Elaine Howley and Rachael Lavelle, the mighty Cormac Begley and much more (Various venues, Cork city, until November 24th)
MUSIC: NOBODY LOVES YOU MORE
Formerly of the Pixies and currently of the Breeders, Kim Deal has been an indie music icon for decades; now, aged, 63 she's releasing her first solo album, and it's a thing of beauty indeed, a sweeping emotional epic that mixes romantic lullabies, electronic dance beats, and good old rock n' roll, all delivered with her signature brand of cool (4AD, out now)
Hear the Culture 5 every Friday on Aedín in the Afternoon on RTÉ lyric fm, from 1 pm - listen back here.
