Arts & Living Tastemaker: Theatre-maker Anna Newell – ‘Regrets are like heavy weights; I try to shake them off’The maker of theatre for young audiences tries to live in the moment, despite being an inveterate planner
Arts Sara Keating: Spectacular Shakespeare in Belfast reminds us of the bard’s popular rootsThe Lyric Theatre’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was a delight
Arts Becoming Brian Friel: The new book shedding light on the early life of ‘the Irish Chekhov’In Brian Friel: Beginnings, the American author Kelly Matthews provides a fascinating insight into the author’s early years
Culture Sara Keating: From House of the Dragon to the RHA exhibition, embroidery is being reclaimedLong dismissed as ‘women’s work’, the art of tapestry-making is seeing a resurgence
Culture Sara Keating: The legacy of The Wizard of Oz endures, even if it has been diluted To return to the original book, published in 1900, is to be reminded of just why its tale has remained so popular
Life Seven Days: The people, products and places on our radar this weekA new high-end beauty store, pizza through the post, and a vibrant pop-up all caught our eye this week
Culture ‘I had written for years, but never shown anyone’: How playwright Ciara Smyth found her voiceAs her award-winning play Lie Low moves to the Royal Court in London, the writer reflects on her career to date
Comment Eithne Shortall: We shouldn’t be triggered by sensible trigger warningsThey’ve been described as ludicrous by some, but trigger warnings can be appropriate in certain circumstances
Culture Sara Keating on Culture: The reimagined Renaissance fresco writing women back into historyThe project from art collective Na Cailleacha takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to subverting the patriarchal canon
Arts Arts analysis: Why book clubs are making a come backA recent RTÉ series showed that reading is becoming a social activity again, long may it last
Dublin Council moves to revamp Dublin’s Ambassador Theatre into 900-seat concert venueLocal authority has begun initial engagement with operators of historic building on Parnell Square
Theatre 100-year-old family drama with echoes of today’s referendumsIrish artists have a long tradition of questioning the sanctified position of the family in Irish life
Tastemaker Tastemaker: Musician Steve Wickham on his dream dinner party guests and most prized possessionMulti-talented musician on work, ambition, banana sandwiches and his favourite blue socks
Arts Musician, activist, actor: The many lives of Ricky TomlinsonAs he prepares to tour Ireland with a new show, the Royle Family star talks politics, prison and what will be written on his gravestone
Tastemaker Tastemaker: Ambition, influential authors and an imaginary perfect day with Felicia Olusanya
Diary My Week: Glass Mask theatre’s Rex Ryan on not giving a f**k about reviews – except his daughter’sThe only review that an artistic director should concern themselves with is that of the most influential and important critic in the house - my nine year old daughter
Theatre ‘The poor can wait, as always:’ playwright Emmet Kirwan on art, activism and the price of political comment Dublin actor and writer sets out his views on art, theatre and homelessness
Theatre Kate Gilmore, actress: ‘Whatever you’re meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible’ The Dubliner, known for her work on Fair City, has always wanted to pursue a career in acting
Culture A Cultured Christmas: what to gift the arts lover in your life, by Sara Keating These present ideas are imaginative, fun and easy on the budget – and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’re funding the arts as well
Theatre Getting to write Charlie musical was like ‘getting that golden ticket’, says Scottish playwrightFor David Greig, already an accomplished writer for children, working on the musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Charlie was still a steep learning curve