Ballet takes a  bow on Cork stage... and film festival time too

The Sleeping Beauty opens at the Opera House tonight, Thursday, November 7, heralding the festive season in a sparkling manner.

Who doesn’t love the old fairy- tale with its beautiful princess, wicked witch, and rescuing hero?

“It’s the most traditional of ballets,” agrees Cork City Ballet’s artistic director, Alan Foley. “It has been staged continuously all over the world since that first performance back in 1890, and it has never lost its appeal.”

Guest stars Katerina Petrova and Tsetso Ivanov from the Sofia State Ballet in Bulgaria have already flown in to join the soloists and corps de ballet of the company and will shortly be awaiting that heartstopping moment of curtain up.

The Sleeping Beauty runs from tonight until Saturday at 8pm, matinee also on Saturday at 2.30pm (if there are seats left!). Call 021 427 0022 or see www.corkoperahouse.ie

Also opening tonight is the 69th Cork Film Festival, with all the newest and most innovative productions to be seen before those unfortunate cinema fans who don’t have the great good luck to live on Leeside!

Ireland’s first and largest event of its kind, it runs to Sunday, November 17, and will show over 200 Irish and world film premieres across features, documentaries and shorts.

The festival presents 12 awards, including the CIFF Best New Irish Feature Award, Gradam Spiorad na Féile / Spirit of the Festival Award, Gradam na Féile do Scannáin Faisnéise / Award for Best Documentary and two Audience Awards (for features and shorts).

Its awards for Grand Prix Irish Short, Grand Prix International Short and Grand Prix Documentary Short are Academy Award qualifying, ensuring that the winners in Cork automatically join the Oscars’ long-list.

Check out what’s showing where and when and book tickets at corkfilmfest.org or via the myCIFF app (available on Apple iOS and Android).

The Everyman hosts many of the screenings of the Festival, but keeps a packed programme of other interesting events as well. Next Monday, for example, Manchán Magan presents Rewilding the Mind: Reconnecting to the Spirit of the Land, a celebration of the extraordinary heritage our ancestors have passed down to us.

Next Wednesday, November 13, The Mersey Beatles will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the release of A Hard Day’s Night (is it really as long ago as that?) in their acclaimed tribute show. Call 021 450 1673 or www.everymancork.com

The Cork One-Act Theatre Festival is in full swing at the Cork Arts Theatre, continuing until Saturday. Tonight, Kilmeen Drama Group, Carraig Na BhFear Drama Society, and Coachford Players. Tomorrow (Friday), Camross Drama Group, Brideview Drama Group, and Skibbereen Theatre Society; and on Saturday, Borrisokane Players, Enniscorthy Theatre Company, and Torch Players, followed by that nail-biting adjudication.

From Wednesday to Saturday next week, Linc Drama presents Portal-Ooh, a romp through time with Olly, the mad inventor, and her extraordinary machine which unveils seven pivotal moments in time. Sounds different!

Booking on www.corkartstheatre.com or call 021 450 5624.

Tralee Musical Society are at Siamsa Tire with That’s Entertainment until Saturday at 7.30pm each night and an additional matinee on Saturday at 2pm. Last year’s show was a sell-out, and this year’s looks to be no exception, with excerpts from Wicked, Hairspray, The Sound of Music, Dear Evan Hansen, Wonka, Billy Elliot, and more. Booking on siamsatire.com or 066 712 3055.

Finally, Nano Nagle Place will be spreading the holiday cheer in December with outdoor Christmas Markets (including an antiquarian book market) and A Christmas Carol staged in The Goldie Chapel. Visit https://nanonagleplace.ie/ for updates and information.