Pantos continue... but there's more on Cork stages too in run up to Christmas

THE Opera House held its special Relaxed Performance of this year’s panto, Jack And The Beanstalk, yesterday afternoon, for families.

This is a wonderful idea and means so many more can enjoy to the full the delight that the centuries-old tradition brings to our festive season.

There will be another Relaxed Performance, this time for schools, on Tuesday, January 11 at 11am, so if your school would really benefit from this special way of presenting the pantomime, then get in touch quickly.

The box office staff will be very helpful in ensuring all goes well and you get the seats you need - but don’t leave it too late.

That goes for the general performances too, where tickets are selling like hot cakes. Whether you prefer your panto before the big day or afterwards, when the kids want something different, it’s your choice, but remember that the most popular performances tend to go very quickly. The Saturday and Sunday matinees this week, for example, are already sold out.

Meanwhile, the more adult version of our annual tradition, the late-night Improvised Panto, will be creating mayhem at the Opera House tomorrow and Saturday, December 15 & 16, and again from Thursday-Saturday next week, bringing us up to December 23.

Enormous fun and ideal for office parties and groups - especially those who have come home to Cork for Christmas, and want to mingle with their friends and share the laughter. 

Group rates are available, by the way, and the Improvised Panto starts at 10.30pm each night.

And the Opera House Christmas Concert is being held on two nights this year, Monday and Tuesday of next week, to enable everyone to get tickets. Only a few seats left though!

Rising stars of Irish opera will be singing all those well-loved seasonal classics, accompanied by the Opera House Concert Orchestra and jazz artist-in-residence, Laoise Leahy. Booking for all Opera House shows on 021 427 0022 or www.corkoperahouse.ie.

And in case you were wondering, yes, a fair bit of tight scheduling goes on there, with panto morning and matinee shows fitting in around concerts and indeed late night performances.

Must be buzzing like a hive backstage, from morning to midnight! More power to your elbow, Opera House!

The same energy is driving the team at the Everyman, where they have somehow managed to fit in by popular demand a concert with John Spillane and Friends on Sunday night, December 17, while still keeping up a demanding schedule of matinees and evening shows.

Directed by Catherine Mahon-Buckley, Beauty And The Beast is proving a huge hit with audiences who cheer the performers to the echo at each and every show.

This, by the way, is Terrific Thursday, with special prices, and there will be another Terrific Thursday on January 11.

And they have special performances here too - an audio-described one with touch tour on January 5 at 1.30pm, an ISL-interpreted show on Jan 6, and a relaxed performance on January 14.

Really, our theatres here in Cork are to be congratulated on the way they think of everyone in the community, and reach out to include all. Booking for Everyman on 021 450 1673 or www.everymancork.com.

There is still a chance to take the little ones to see the enchanting Gilín Sneachta agus an Seachtar Ealaí at the Cork Arts Theatre. It runs until Sunday, with an 11am performance today, 11am and 6.30pm tomorrow, Friday, 1pm and 6.30pm on Saturday, and the same on Sunday.

Kids will love it (and gain more knowledge of their native language). Head for the Cork Arts Theatre on Carroll’s Quay and find out! Call 021 450 5624 or see www.corkartstheatre.com for tickets.