Culture | Books, Music, Theatre, Film & The Arts

Artist Amanda Coogan: Irish Sign Language is my first language

Performance artist Amanda Coogan has collaborated with the Dublin Theatre of the Deaf, for a show in this year's Dublin Fringe Festival entitled Talk Real Fine, Just Like a Lady. Amanda joined Seán Rocks on RTÉ Arena to explain where it all began.

Theatre • 20 Sep 23

John Fogerty's clear-eyed revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty brings his Bad Moon Rising Celebration Tour to the 3Arena on 23 May and the rock `n' roll warhorse has a lot to celebrate.

Music • 25 Apr 23

Nas, Jungle & The Killers - RTÉ Arena on the latest albums

RTÉ Arena • 18 Aug 21

Where Do I Begin with . . . Agatha Christie

Coming up to Christmas time there is nothing like sitting down to a choice of Agatha Christie mysteries on the TV. But if we were to dust off our selection of Christie paperbacks for a good Yuletide read, where would we begin?

Agatha Christie • 14 Dec 20

Tiny Plays for Ireland to go online this Friday

Over the past few months, Fishamble Theatre Company in Dublin have been challenging people in Ireland – and further afield – to write 600-word plays.

Little Plays for Ireland • 23 Jul 20

Where do I begin? - RTÉ Arena's guide to Elton John

In this installment of our series, we feature Elton John - a (rocket) man whose 50-year career has produced some of the greatest pop songs of all time.

Arena • 15 May 20

Beach Comber - RTÉ Arena talks to Rory Friers

Beach Comber is a solo musical project from Belfast-based musician, Rory Friers, better known as a member of rock instrumentalists And So I Watch You From Afar.

Arena • 15 May 20

Review: Mark Lanegan's Sing Backwards and Weep

In the annals of music history, grunge will be remembered for the early demises of many of its leading protagonists, just as much as the distorted power chords and thrift-shop aesthetic.

Culture • 06 May 20

Listen: Christos Tsiolkas discusses new novel Damascus

RTÉ Arena speaks to award-winning author Christos Tsiolkas on his new novel Damascus published by Atlantic Books. - listen above.

Culture • 05 May 20

(L-R) Arena's Sean Rocks with Genevieve Hulme-Beaman and Dan Colley

Collapsing Horse on their new show - and calling it a day

The award-winning Collapsing Horse theatre company are bringing their acclaimed production A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings comes to the Abbey's Peacock Stage for the Christmas season. It's also the company's farewell production...

RTÉ Arena • 05 Dec 19

You don't know Jack - composer Danny Elfman talks to Arena

Danny Elfman is one of the most in-demand and acclaimed composers working in the film industry today having collaborated with the likes of Tim Burton for movies like Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands.

Music • 08 Nov 19

Maser: 'This is a passion project and it'll be one for a while'

Dublin street artist Maser is bringing his new project to Vue, the National Contemporary Art Fair at the Royal Hibernian Academy this week.

visual arts • 07 Nov 19

Join Arena for an audience with Marina Carr

On Monday next, September 30th at 7pm in the Project Arts Centre, Marina Carr will be in conversation with Arena's Sean Rocks, discussing on her new work Hecuba, and her formidable career to date - the event is free, but ticketed...

Theatre • 27 Sep 19

Listen: Fontaines DC live in session on RTÉ Arena

The New York Times says they channel the spirit of James Joyce and punk, their debut album Doggerel just got shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and they're playing their biggest Irish show to date at this weekend's All Together Now festival

Music • 02 Aug 19

For folk's sake: Richard Thompson talks to RTÉ Arena

Folk-rock legend Richard Thompson, who will be appearing at the upcoming Kilkenny Arts Festival as part of his Irish tour, spoke to Sean Rocks on RTÉ Arena - listen to their interview.

RTÉ Radio 1 • 30 Jul 19

Doris Day remembered - RTÉ Arena pays tribute

Ruth Barton, Associate Professor in Film Studies at Trinity College Dublin, spoke to Arena on RTÉ Radio 1 about the career of screen legend Doris Day, whose death was announced earlier this week.

Film • 14 May 19

In The Picture: Eva Rothschild at the Venice Biennale

Following strong showings in recent years at the Bienalle from the likes of Jesse Jones and Richard Mosse, Irish artist Eva Rothschild has created an ambitious and immersive exhibition for the Irish Pavilion at the 58th Venice Bienalle.

visual arts • 16 May 19

Being Various - inside the new Irish anthology

Listen: Arena on RTÉ Radio 1 showcases Being Various, the acclaimed Faber anthology of new Irish short fiction.

Books • 08 May 19

Fiona Shaw (left) with Fionnuala Flaherty in 'Out Of Innocence'

Out Of Innocence: Fiona Shaw talks to Arena

On Arena, presenter Sean Rocks took a look back in time, to 35 years ago, in 1984, when an infamous case involving the deaths of two babies unfolded in County Kerry...

Film • 15 Apr 19

Ayelet Gundar-Goshen on lies, #MeToo and the state of Israel

Israeli author Ayelet Gundar-Goshen has written a novel which, she acknowledges, might provoke some to question her feminist credentials in the #MeToo era.

Books • 09 Apr 19

Game Of Thrones - watch the RTÉ Arena special

Exploring the phenomenon that is Game of Thrones, ahead of the final-ever season of the most watched television series in history, RTÉ Radio 1's Arena is joined by guests including Arlene Hunt, Dave Rudden, Maura McHugh, Daragh Downes.

RTÉ Radio 1 • 08 Apr 19

GoT stars Kit Harrington, Lena Headey and Emilia Clarke

Why Game Of Thrones became a global TV phenomenon

Ahead of the RTÉ Arena special celebrating the beginning of the final season of Game Of Thrones, Daragh Downes writes for Culture about the phenomenal success of the most popular TV show of the 21st century.

Culture • 05 Apr 19

Listen: Emilie Pine, Sinead Gleeson and Ian Maleney on the essay

Emilie Pine, Sinead Gleeson and Ian Maleney, who will discuss the art of the essay at this year's Cúirt Festival, talked to Sean Rocks on RTÉ Radio 1's Arena about the medium

Books • 04 Apr 19

Kristen Roupenian - the 'Cat Person' author talks to Arena

Kristen Roupenian caused a sensation with her short story Cat Person, published in the New Yorker Magazine. The enigmatic tale of a toxic relationship struck a perfect chord with the #metoo movement, promptly went viral, and made Roupenian a star.

Books • 08 Feb 19

Watch - an interactive gaming piece for cellos

Spike, the Dublin Alternative Cello Festival, will take place this weekend in Dublin, across various venues. The festival will feature workshops, concerts in various genres of music, and something called 'yoga cello'.

Arena • 07 Feb 19