Two great shows at Longford's Backstage Theatre
Jazz and Drama for Backstage
The Determinator
The Determinator – A hilarious story of one young man’s epic trek from Dowra, Co. Leitrim, to New York City in a last ditch attempt to win back his ex-girlfriend’s heart.
Herbie Hoctor (Charlie McGuinness) has just been trying to keep his head above water like any other halfway civilised human being but it’s difficult to keep going when your landlord is kicking you out. When your nemesis and neighbour is threatening you with the Guards. When you’ve been fired from your job for refusing to sing the Happy Birthday song… and when there’s a dead body lying under your bedroom floor…
And – worst of all – when you’ve just discovered that your ex-girlfriend, the love of your life, your soulmate, your sweet little heart’s desire, your pretty little nasturtium… is getting married… tomorrow… in New York City beyond in America country…
No money, no passport, no visa: no problem..!
Tickets for The Determinator at Backstage Theatre Longford on Thursday, April 11 at 8pm are available on 043 33 47888 or backstage.ie
A Thousand Kisses Deep
Having been an integral part of both the New York City and London scenes for many years, singer songwriter Christine Tobin and partner guitarist Phil Robson are now based in Northwest Roscommon. Her unique, rich sound was described by The Guardian as ‘Tobin’s 24 carat voice’.
A Thousand Kisses Deep is a beautiful re-working of ten Leonard Cohen songs alongside originals. In her own songs, Tobin draws together the earthiness of folk with a sophisticated, romantic sensibility and a jazz singer’s precision. The combination has made her one of the most highly-regarded vocalists on the international scene. She can be junkyard blues philosopher, snappy beat seductress, a conduit for exquisite zen-like harmonies, or reflective Americana.
The songs she’s chosen are from Cohen’s early 1960s albums through to his 2001 release ‘Ten New Songs’. ‘A Thousand Kisses Deep’ won a Herald Angel Award at the Edinburgh Fringe and their album of the same name received rave reviews. She won a ‘British Composer Award’ for her settings of WB Yeats poems, ‘Sailing ‘To Byzantium in 2012 and earlier in her career ‘Best Vocalist’ at the BBC Jazz Awards. Phil Robson is a renowned UK jazz guitarist and has worked with a diverse array of artists including Barbra Streisand, Jean Toussaint, Maceo Parker & Kurt Elling.
Tickets for A Thousand Kisses Deep at Backstage Theatre Longford on Friday, April 12 at 8pm are available on 043 33 47888 or backstage.ie