Daytrippers

Seven things to do this week

TODAY There's nothing like a good old-fashioned panto to kick off the new year. Coolmine Panto Group returns to Draiocht theatre at the Blanchardstown Centre in Dublin with Jack and the Beanstalk, their 25th annual production. Park your winter blues at the door and enjoy the music, dance, corny jokes and other surprises. Tickets (€18/€13) from 01-8852622, www.draiocht.ie.

TOMORROW John Colleary from Naked Camera has been giving us a laugh on the telly for a while; now let him entertain you in the flesh when he takes to the small but hallowed stage of the Ha'Penny Bridge Inn in Dublin. Laughing along with Colleary will be his colleague Maeve Higgins and American comic Brian Joyce. 9pm. €7/€5.

MONDAY More comedy to chase away those winter blues as Pat Shortt begins a six-night run at Vicar Street in Dublin. The Killanaskully star is sure to dust down all those weird and wonderful characters, including that king of cute hoorism, Maurice Hickey (above). Tickets (¤27.50) from 0818-719390, www.vicarstreet.com.

TUESDAY Get your skates on for Snow White on Ice which is performed by the Russian Ice Stars at The Helix, Dublin, tonight. Expect all the characters from the fairytale, and some thrilling skating. Tickets (€22 and 437) from 01-7007000, www.thehelix.ie. Continues until the 13th. 1.30pm and 7.30pm.

WEDNESDAY Just over a year after the world watched events in Asia in horror, a tsunami anniversary exhibition entitled Aceh – Tsunami – Looking Back/Looking Forward provides a space for reflection. The exhibition features original artwork by residents of the Indonesian province of Aceh, and schoolchildren affected by the tsunami. View it in Dublin's Omni Park Shopping Centre on the Swords Road, Santry, Dublin 9. Continues until January 27th. Call 01-8421262 for more details.

THURSDAY Keep that seasonal spirit alive tonight and tomorrow night with a celebration of gospel and soul by the Dublin Gospel Choir. This is a two-hour concert featuring contemporary soul and spiritual music which aims to spread the word of the gospel in a "new and vibrant way". The Mermaid Arts Centre, Main Street, Bray, Co Wicklow. Tickets €22/€18), from 01-2724030, 8pm.

FRIDAY The artist's use of the colour white is the subject of a new exhibition at Triskel Arts Centre in Cork. It features a white and glass chandelier by Madeline Boulesteix from France, an installation of more than 100 white porcelain domestic objects by Des Farrell from Ireland, and an installation of folding sheets and moving images by Patricia Hurl and Therry Rudin. Even more intriguing is Migration, Lucile Bertrand's installation of suspended winged works which will look as though they are flying through the building. White continues until February 3rd. www.triskelartscentre.com.

daytrippers@irish-times.ie