Irish Times Off Topic

Irish Times music critic Jim Carroll and Brian Spollen of MCD join Hugh to look at the tremendous body of work left behind by Prince, who died yesterday at the untimely age of 57. In part two Laurence Mackin and guests mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. Actors Derbhle Crotty and Aaron Monaghan of the award-winning DruidShakespeare project and Irish Times theatre critic Peter Crawley are in studio to discuss the Bard's enduring legacy.

Is technology enhancing or diluting the live music experience? To discuss this and a variety of other music-related topics Laurence Mackin is joined in studio by musician Daniel Anderson, Sorca McGrath of the band Ships and Irish Times writer and some time musician Patrick Freyne. Will we ever see a new film? In part two Laurence asks film critic Tara Brady and Patrick Freyne about the now accepted trend of retreading and remaking an almost endless list of films and television shows.

Enda Walsh, one of Ireland's best-loved contemporary playwrights, pops in to talk about the unexpected new form his contemporary opera, The Last Hotel, has taken: the critically acclaimed dark drama has been filmed and will be televised next week on Sky Arts. Also in studio is Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts, talking about the challenges of commercial arts television programming. In part two: for most a nightmare in glass and concrete, Hawkins House, familiar to anyone familiar with Dublin city centre, won't be missed when it is demolished. But what about the other brutal 'concrete monstrosities' between Pearse Street and the Liffey's south bank? Hugh takes a stroll with architectural historian Dr Ellen Rowley to see if they can be rehabilitated.

Virtual reality has always been about to arrive, and today is no different. But with the release of the futuristic-sounding Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR systems (and the not so futuristic Google Cardboard) you might be forgiven for believing that VR's time has finally come. Although it is apparently impossible to explain to someone what it's like to use these systems until they try for themselves, early adopters Eoghan Kidney and Kenneth Killeen are in studio to give it a try, and to explain how it's genuinely about to change all our lives. In part two Laura Slattery and Jim Carroll perform an autopsy on the lifeless corpse of radio station TXFM, formerly Phantom, whose owners decided not to bother extending their licence this week. What went wrong?

Who fears to speak of rebel songs, who blushes at the name? We certainly don't on this special installment of Off Topic, joining Ronan McGreevy to discuss the appeal and poetry of the Irish rebel song are Irish traditional singer Jerry O'Reilly, noted historian Catriona Crowe and musician and scholar Mick Moloney. Fintan O'Toole also joins us on the line to talk about the enduring appeal of Bryan MacMahon's ballad The Valley of Knockanure.

First up Jim Carroll joins us on the line from Austin, Texas to give his take on the sights and sounds of this year's SxSW and what the Irish contingent have contributed to the festival this time around. In part two Laurence Mackin interviews celebrated sound recordist Chris Watson, best known for his work on David Attenborough's beloved nature documentaries. From getting into trouble trying to capture the howls of hyenas, recording animals on the edge of extinction, creating the imagined sounds of mythical island Hy Brasil with all its imaginary flora and fauna, to more mundane subjects like the house sparrows in his own back garden, Chris's fascination with the natural world is truly contagious. Chris was on town for a performance of Hy Brasil as one of the Santa Rita concerts at The Little Museum of Dublin.

Once director John Carney is in studio to discuss his new musical film Sing Street, an homage to his youth growing up in the 1980's Dublin. He is joined by Angela Dorgan of the Hard Working Class Heroes music festival. They discuss the role of music both in movies and in the day to day lives of young people, and how the pop of the 1980s helped cut through the occasional dreariness of life in Ireland. Sing Street is released on March 17th. Off Topic is a weekly arts and culture podcast from The Irish Times.

House of Cards, Yes Minister, The Thick of It - we love TV shows that draw back the curtain on political life, from the shady and malevolent to the ridiculous and downright incompetent. But how realistic is any of it? Two people with experience of the power game, former MP and 'A Very British Coup' author Chis Mullin and former Fianna Fáil political advisor Richard Moore, join Patrick Freyne and Laurence Mackin to give their insider perspective. In part two Patrick pays tribute to Coronation Street and its creator Tony Warren, who died this week aged 79.

Moratorium Day-dodging satirist Oliver Callan sits down with Laurence Mackin to talk about the election campaign, his controversial Sun column and the changing personas of our politicians. In part two, Donald Clarke is on the line from LA where he is covering the Oscars for The Irish Times.

Donald Clarke is joined in studio by co-founder of Element Pictures and producer of four time Oscar nominee Room, Ed Guiney, Director of Mammal, Rebecca Daly, Director of Viva, Paddy Breathnach and James Hickey from the Irish Film Board to discuss the recent upsurge in fortunes of Irish films abroad, culminating in an unprecedented seven Oscar nominations. What are we doing right? Where do we go from here? And why are there so few women in Irish film production posts?

Leaving politics aside, how enjoyable was the leaders debate last night and are such debates worthwhile? Should points be awarded for zingers, and should the overall loser be slimed? To discuss Laurence Mackin is joined in studio by Hugh Linehan and Patrick Freyne. In part two Laurence speaks with music producer Ian Brennan about his new project I Have No Everything Here, a Grammy-nominated album recorded by inmates of a maximum security prison in Malawi.

TCD student's union president Lynn Ruane talks with host Laurence Mackin about formative experiences that led her to support mandatory sexual consent classes. And journalists Laura Slattery and Louise Bruton discuss the challenges facing the new Director General of RTE and how it can compete with the vast array of content available to it viewers. They also talk about the potential of new cable channel Viceland, borne out of the success of Vice's diverse and prolific documentary output. The channel promises restricted air-time for advertisement and a host of celebrated contributors.

25 years after the establishment of Temple Bar Properties for the regeneration of area, a leaked report suggests it is "besieged by anti-social behaviour" and that it's culture may be "barely apparent". Is there a problem in Temple Bar, or has its purpose just changed? Meanwhile in Smithfield, the imminent closure of Ireland's "Largest Independent Cultural Space", Block T, raises questions about the sustainability of cultural initiatives in the post-crash city. What kind of city do Dubliners want? On today's panel: Willie White of Dublin Theatre Festival, Laura Dovn of Block T, Irish Times Arts Editor Laurence Mackin. The show is hosted by Fionn Davenport.

Is writing about the lives of others a morally dubious enterprise? Novelist and essayist Andrew O'Hagan's subjects have included missing persons and deceased children long forgotten to all but their parents. In discussion with Hugh Linehan and Fionn Davenport he says that life stories belongs to everyone, not just the people who live them - or their loved ones. Andrew O'Hagan spoke at The Theatre of Change Symposium which is running today and tomorrow at the Abbey Theatre. The schedule is available here: https://www.abbeytheatre.ie/images/uploads/user/resources/The_Theatre_of_Change_Symposium_Schedule_2016.pdf

Lenny Abrahamson discusses his Oscar nomination for Room, the Irish film industry, that letter he sent to Emma Donoghue and David Bowie's death with Irish Times film critic Tara Brady, Culture Editor Hugh Linehan and host Fionn Davenport.

Fintan O'Toole and Una Mullally join Hugh Linehan to look back at the life of David Bowie in this special edition of Off Topic.

'Rebellion' creator Colin Teevan talks to Fionn, Laurence and Ruth Barton of Trinity College about bringing the women and men of 1916 to life on screen, and the perils of producing period drama. But first Fionn and Laurence have a spoiler free chat about hit Netflix documentary Making a Murderer.

Fionn Davenport, Laurence Mackin and Hugh Linehan host the second special review of highlights from the inaugural year of Off Topic. Featuring the dark days of the Graham Dwyer trial, the dark corners of the internet, debate over how we remember our past and a glorious interview with the legendary Van Morrison.

Fionn, Hugh and Laurence relive some highlights of the podcast in 2015, from the bizarre story of the fake memoir to the deciphering of the meaning hidden in Don Draper's wardrobe.

What would it be like to learn to sing if you can't already do so? Or write a memoir or a song? Or paint a portrait? In January The Irish Times will run a series of articles which giving readers a detailed guide on how to master one artistic skill within the next year. Journalists Gemma Tipton and Catherine Conroy contributed to the series and they discuss it with Fionn and Laurence on today's podcast. After that, Hugh, Fionn and Laurence look at the multitude of end of year lists - music, movies, and books - and identify some interesting patterns.