Opera House vows to get vibrant year off on right note

The Cork Opera House has revealed its new spring and summer programme, which will see a return of the Abbey Theatre to Cork.

Interim CEO Ashley Keating says they will build on the broken records of 2018 and create their own productions, as well as bringing national and international acts to the city.

“Cork is a city with a thriving arts and culture scene and we’re delighted to be part of that great community,” Mr Keating said.

February will be a mostly musical opening to the schedule with almost 10 tribute performances of such popular and varied artists as Queen, Johnny Cash, and Luke Kelly. There will also be a performance of On Blueberry Hill by Olivier Award-winning play company Fishamble.

Tribute acts will continue into March as well as performances by John Grant, Gavin James, Finbar Furey, Stephanie Rainey, Paul Young and Jake Carter.

The Opera House’s own opera concert productions will also be opening in March with Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.

Shane Casey, known for his role as Billy Murphy in The Young Offenders, will be performing his own play Wet Paint in the same month. The Royal Moscow Ballet will be performing Swan Lake, which will be performed again in November by the Cork City Ballet.

In April, the Irish National Opera will perform Madama Butterfly in the Opera House. April will also see Edna O’Brien revisit her popular novel Country Girls in a new stage adaptation by The Abbey Theatre, and the two-hour music and dance show Rhythm of Dance will celebrate its 20th anniversary with 22 award-winning global and Irish dance champions.

The BAFTA award-winning children’s TV series Ben & Holly will return to the stage on a live animated show on May 1 and 2.

The summer show begins on June 2 with a concert performance of The Pirates of Penzance following on from Gilbert and Sullivan’s sold out success The Mikado last year. The final part of The House opera trilogy The Stalls, the first part of which was nominated for an Irish Times Theatre Award, will be presented with the Ulysses Theatre Company. June will also see the on-stage discussion between Laura Nirider and Steven Drizin in Making a Murderer 2.

Bill Kenwright’s multi-award winning production of Blood Brothers will be presented in August as the Summer Show. The 2019 Opera Concert Series will end on November 3 with Puccini’s Tosca. Cork Opera House has revealed the return of Mary Black at the end of September and Sounds from a Safe Harbour festival as parts of their autumn schedule.

There will be famous comedians performing all throughout the year, including such popular names as: Foil, Arms and Hog in early February and March, Pat Shortt on March 8 and 9, Brendan Grace on February 27 and 28, and Ross O’Carroll-Kelly’s act Postcards from the Ledge every day between February 19-23.

Full listings are available on the Cork Opera House website.