The theme for this year’s Culture Night is ‘Come Together Again’ and whether you can make it out in person to see a show or get together at home to watch online we hope you can find time to enjoy some of this year’s events.
At An Grianán we’ll be presenting a blended programme of live and on demand events. Our youth theatre will present their new show The Gentleman Pirate in front of a live audience and we will be making a number of previously recorded shows available to watch on demand for free.
The Gentleman Pirate
While our youth theatre has been largely on hiatus over lockdown (with the exception of our Monologues project) we did manage to get a small Covid safe group together to work on a new show called The Gentleman Pirate. Written by senior youth theatre member Niamh Langan, this comic caper is suitable for family audiences and tells the not quite true story of Stede Bonnet, a member of the landed gentry who ran away to become a not very competent pirate and sometime shipmate to the legendary Blackbeard. It’s a little bit Blackadder, a little bit Monty Python and all round good fun!
We’re so pleased with how the show is coming together that we are going to be developing it as a full cast performance for next year’s Cruinniú na nÓg so this will be your chance to see it before anyone else does.
NB: We will be keeping the audience to a max of 50 for this show and maintaining social distancing. Book here while tickets are still available,
Watch online
We are making three of our past shows available to watch on demand for free:
To watch any of these shows for free simply use the code CultureNight
Sister Black by Maggie Hannon
Catherine Black (1878-1949) MBE, was born in Ramelton. She trained as a nurse in England and worked in the slums of Whitechapel, at the Somme in World war 1, and as King George V’s private nurse in the last 7 years of his life. Her memoir ‘King’s nurse Beggar’s nurse’ was published in 1939 and there’s a copy in the library at Buckingham Palace. This one-woman play is based on that memoir and is written and performed by local performer Maggie Hannon.
The Morrigan by Louise Conaghan
The Ancient Irish Gods and Goddesses have been roused from their slumber! This clown…ahem…goddess must find a way back to the Otherworld but before she does, she wants to know what on earth has been happening since she last walked it.
First presented for Culture Night 2020, The Morrigan is a high energy show with slapstick comedy suitable for all the family, written and performed by Louise Conaghan.
Manny Man Does the History of Ireland by John D Ruddy
Based on his series of books and YouTube videos, John D Ruddy brings Manny Man and the History of Ireland to the stage. Watch Syn and Oppy as they race through Irish history with illustrated cut-outs and craziness!
From the Ice Age all the way to Ireland today and all in less than 90 minutes, with the same tongue-in-cheek humour Manny Man is known for. When it comes to fun history, Manny Man is your only man! Suitable for family audiences ages 8+.
When is Culture Night?
Fri 17th September 2021
About Culture Night
Culture Night is an annual all-island public event that celebrates culture, creativity and the arts. On Culture Night, arts and cultural organisations and venues of all shapes and sizes, including the National Cultural Institutions, extend their opening hours to allow for increased access to the public. Special and unique events and workshops are specifically programmed at participating locations and everything is available free of charge.
Culture Night has grown from a relatively small scale cultural event staged only in Dublin in 2006 to the significant national cultural event it now is. The initiative has captured both the public imagination and the enthusiasm of artists and cultural organisations.
Culture Night Donegal is brought to you by the Arts Council, in partnership with Donegal County Council.
Download the official programme here.
