Theatre Nights: Dickens classic... and pantos galore
A Christmas Carol runs at Nano Nagle Place to Sunday.
The traditional joys of the festive season are now up and running.
Charles Dickens’ timeless and heartwarming tale, A Christmas Carol, opens tonight at Nano Nagle Place and runs to Sunday, Kieran O’Leary is Scrooge, while Nicole McDonagh will enhance the atmosphere with her beautiful renditions of traditional Early Celtic, medieval, and Victorian carols.
Tickets via Nano Nagle Place website ( www.nanonagleplace.ie) or Eventbrite. 7pm nightly, plus matinees Saturday/Sunday at 3pm.
Red Riding Hood at the Everyman is delighting audiences young and old. It was a touch of genius to make the Big Bad Wolf a Dub who can’t be understood in Cork and who in turn requires a translation of Corkonian phraseology.
It was jammed to the doors at the performance we attended, so make sure you book well ahead and arrive with plenty of time to spare! Audio-described performance and touch tour on January 3, 1.30pm; ISL-interpreted performance, January 4, 1.30pm; Relaxed show, Sunday, January 12, 11am.
This weekend, the Sunday Songbook team will be at Everyman with The Ultimate Christmas Show.
See www.everymancork.com or call 021 450 1673.
For Cinderella at the Opera House, co-writers Trevor Ryan and Frank Mackey have brought all the glitter and spectacle we have come to expect from them. Mackey, of course, plays Nanny Nellie, that beloved Dame, while Megan Pottinger takes the role of Cinderella. Alison McCormack and Julie Maguire make a wonderful pair of all-singing, all-dancing Wicked Stepsisters, and we have another quasi-dame in the person of Michael Grennell as the Stepmother. Paul Wilkins is a charming Prince, and Brian Ó’Muirí an instantly lovable Buttons.
A full cast of excellent professional dancers and musicians of course, but special mention ought to go to the younger talent from Cork stage schools, who have given of their time and energy for the entire season while gaining that priceless early experience on the boards. Running to January 19 with shows at different times of the day and evening. Don’t forget the special relaxed performance on December 11 at 4pm, but you do have to book for that at the box office or by phone, not online.
And the Improvised Panto opens tomorrow night at 10.30pm. It’s all go at the Opera House! See www.corkoperahouse.ie or call 021 427 0022.
Whatever you do, don’t forget the Lord Mayor’s Gala Christmas Concert in the great old City Hall this Saturday night. This year a rich blend of traditional festive favourites is promised, plus a showcasing of Cork’s vibrant multicultural community, all in support of local charities. Majella Cullagh will be there, also Stephanie Rainey, Lady Fi and Kevin Walsh; the Cork Concert Orchestra, Pakie O’Callaghan, the Montfort Youth Choir, Choral Con Fusion, Kylana Choir, Citadel and the Joan Denise Moriarty School of Dance. Tickets (they’re going fast) through Everyman on 021 450 1673 or www.everymancork.com.
The Suzanne Jones Drama Studio is at the Cork Arts Theatre this Sunday, December 8, when senior students will perform lively scenes of comedy, tragedy and all that lies between. 12.30pm start.
Then, from next Wednesday right through to December 21, Cú Chulainn agus an Chocolate Factory, Cork city’s only Irish language bilingual panto, from Cois Laoi Productions.
What better way to introduce the kids to our native tongue and brush up your own knowledge at the same time, while enjoying yourself! Morning, afternoon, evening shows, you choose. Call 021 450 5624 or see www.corkartstheatre.com.
Finally, the Glen Theatre in Banteer welcomes Fiona Kennedy this Saturday, December 7, while on Sunday evening they reprise popular comedy Grandad Don’t Like The British. All shows 8pm start - booking on 029 56239.
