‘Strings in the earth and air…’ with Nicole Rourke and Benjamin Dwyer

🌟 Join Us for an Enchanting Evening!
🗓 Date: 02 February 2026
🕖 Doors Open: 19:00
🕠 Show Starts: 19:30
💷 Tickets: £15 / £13

In celebration of St. Brigid’s Week and to honor James Joyce's Birthday, we proudly present ‘Strings in the Earth and Air…’ featuring the talents of Nicole Rourke (actor-writer) and Benjamin Dwyer (guitarist-composer). This powerful fusion of music, voice, and literature beautifully evokes Joyce’s deep affection for Nora Barnacle, offering a stirring glimpse into their relationship through literary and musical lenses.

🎶 Program Highlights:

• Enjoy selections from Joyce’s poetry collection, Chamber Music, and traditional Irish classics such as Down by the Sally Gardens and The Last Rose of Summer arranged by Dwyer.
• Experience tales from Dubliners, the intricate layers of Ulysses, and an improvised piece from Finnegans Wake.
• A centerpiece of the evening is Dwyer’s remarkable guitar arrangement of Joyce’s Bid Adieu, paired with Rourke’s reading of Molly’s iconic soliloquy from Ulysses, showcasing one of the most feminist passages in European literature.
• Engaging readings from Nuala O’Connor’s acclaimed book Nora: A Love Story will underscore themes of sensuality and connection. Rourke's humorous piece, The Lingerie Queen of Dublin, will also delight, weaving together the stories of Nora, Molly, and the essence of Bloomsday.

⭐ What Critics Are Saying:

“Raucous, soul-searching, raunchy, confessional, but above all, insightfully intimate—a Joycean-inspired fusion of the spiritual and the profane.”
— Dr. Caroline Elbay, Joycean Scholar
“The Bloomsday 2024 sell-out performance was an exquisite celebration of Joyce’s fascination with music, adored by the audience.”
— Darina Gallagher, Director, Joyce Centre, Dublin

📍 Location:
12 Blacks Road, London, W6 9EU, United Kingdom

👉 For more details, and to secure your tickets, visit: Irish Cultural Centre