What's on Cork's stages this week?

THERE will be big excitement at the Opera House from tomorrow (Friday) to Sunday, as the Montfort College of Performing Arts presents Applause 2024 - a song and dance extravaganza featuring more than 1,500 students from all over Cork city and county.

A range of dance styles, from jazz through ballet and hip hop to tap, will be on show, plus the College’s musical theatre students perform some of the biggest hits from Broadway and Disney, including Phantom Of The Opera, Miss Saigon, Legally Blonde, The Little Mermaid, Oliver, Mary Poppins, and Annie.

That’s 6pm tomorrow (May 24), noon and 5pm both Saturday and Sunday. But be warned - tickets are selling very fast for this one!

From Wednesday to Friday next week, Irish National Opera are in with that wonderfully tragic Verdi romance, La Traviata. First performed in 1853, it’s more popular than ever. Not surprisingly, only a few tickets left for that too.

Call 021 427 0022 or see www.corkoperahouse.ie for Opera House information.

An end of year show at the Everyman also this Saturday and Sunday, May 25/26, when the students of Super Stars Cork perform The School Of Good And Evil, directed by Kate Gaffney and Maria O’Callaghan.

See all your favourite villains and heroes/heroines in one place as the students take you through an epic battle of goodies and baddies! Perfect for a family audience.

Students from all over Cork city and county, aged 3-21, take part. Performances at 1.30pm and 6.30pm both days, and, as is to be expected with so many proud parents, grandparents, and friends attending, tickets will be in demand. 021 450 1673 or www.everymancork.com.

Irene Kelleher’s fifth play, the critically acclaimed A Safe Passage, opened at Cork Arts Theatre on Tuesday, and will continue until this Saturday, May 25.

Irene has spent almost two years working on this version which, while it explores dark topics, does so with a sense of play. “I think this gives us two characters that the audience will care about and I am excited to see them come to life at Cork Arts Theatre,” says writer and actor Irene.

“After almost 30 years working in theatre, I think Irene is one of the most exciting and powerful voices writing and performing in Irish today,” says director Geoff Gould. “While short (less than an hour’s length), it is magical, funny, bewildering, beguiling, compelling and always intriguing.”

New Year’s Eve, 1979. Two strangers are thrown together at Inish Dúbh Lighthouse: Christy the Keeper, shining a ceaseless vigil for all at sea, and the young woman who does not want to be saved. As the storm rages and the tower door shuts, they must decide - to weather the storm together or take a leap of faith?

Well-known Leitrim actor, writer and director Seamus O’Rourke (Trad, Indigestion, From Under The Beds) plays Christy to Kelleher’s desperate girl. Until Saturday at 8pm nightly. Call 021 450 5624 or see www.corkartstheatre.com.

At Midleton Arts Festival, running from today until Sunday, you can step into the fascinating world of the Honourable Violet Albina Gibson in The Woman Who Shot Mussolini, written and performed by Alice Barry.

A privileged Dublin aristocrat, Violet’s life took a dramatic turn when she attempted to assassinate Italy’s fascist leader in 1926. How did she manage that?

Find out tonight in the My Place Community Centre at 8pm.

Lots more at the Festival too - exhibitions, walks, the Cork Light Orchestra at the Farmers’ Market on Saturday morning, plus workshops and literary readings. Check it all out on https://midletonartsfestival.com/.

Don’t forget the Lee Sessions Trad Trail at the Corner House this evening and every Thursday. This extensive series of free traditional Irish music events features masters of traditional music. 6pm start. www.theleesessions.com