Monster/Clock: A Play On Time runs in Dublin’s Smock Alley until April 7. This puppet-comedy-musical (yep, you read that right) stars Game Of Thrones actor Jack Gleeson. The 19-year-old is Toby, a monster and apprentice watchmaker, who finds his world blown apart by a raid on his workshop, and the kidnapping of his mentor and guardian.

The young actor (who plays evil Joffrey Baratheon in GOT) tells Hot Press: “Originally all the characters were going to be puppets, but the director, Dan Colley, made the choice for Toby to be human. He’s castigated by society because he’s a monster, so we’re kind of playing with that, the human Vs puppet thing. I’ve had no trouble with the puppets but it certainly is a very, very difficult thing to master!” Definitely one to check out.
In Belfast meanwhile, Northern Irish comedian Patrick Kielty takes to the stage for a one-off show. The Down native and under-age footballer first dabbled in stand-up as a student at Queens University. He has since gone on to find fame as a presenter on UK shows like Fame Academy, Love Island and Last Chance Lottery. Kielty returns to his stand-up roots with a performance on April 19 in Belfast’s Mandela Hall.
Back to Dublin, where Tommy Tiernan’s continues his run of latest show Poot. Catch him in Vicar St. on April 5, 7, 12 - 14. David McSavage is in Bray’s Mermaid Arts Centre on April 5, while Aidan Bishop takes Misspelled to the Workman’s Club (12). Limerick man and one half of D’Unbelievables Pat Shortt is in the Village Arts Centre, Cork (14), while Neil Delamere is in the Cork Opera House (13). Milton Jones visits these shores for an Olympia date (13), while Mario Rosenstock’s Gift Grub runs for two nights in the Wexford Opera House (13, 14).