Theatre Nights: Everyman treats, and Gobnait play

First off, well done indeed to our own John Spillane whose wonderful album, The Legend Of The Lough, won Best Folk Album at the RTÉ Folk Awards.

A truly visionary piece of work, encapsulating John’s deep knowledge and love of Irish legend, this is his magnum opus, and we are so glad it received due recognition.

Des Kennedy, Everyman’s new artistic director, has just launched his first season at the great Victorian theatre. He said: “Soon after arriving last September, I was clearing out a desk and in the bottom drawer found an old programme for Brian Friel’s Translations, from when The Everyman Playhouse was at the Father Mathew Hall.

“It was part of a season of big productions of seminal 20th century plays and I was inspired by the boldness and ambition of the programming.

“I have come to recognise that there is a hunger for the big plays and dramas to sit alongside our wonderful touring work, and that has guided the programming for my inaugural season where we launch EVERYMAN MADE - world-class theatre made by The Everyman for Cork and beyond.

“That begins with Making History by Brian Friel, a fascinating and rarely seen drama about Hugh O’Neill and events before and after the Battle of Kinsale, followed by the Cork premiere of Irish writer Nancy Harris’s family thriller The Beacon.

“International theatre and opera director Daniel Kramer will create a naughty, moving and subversive late night political cabaret Happy Hour, presented as part of Cork Midsummer Festival in June.

“We will also be partnering with Annabelle Comyn, who directed Landmark and The Everyman’s hugely successful Asking For It, and her company Hatch on a co-production of Caryl Churchill’s Escaped Alone.”

Well. There are some shows to look out for.

In the meantime, this Saturday at Everyman, Let’s Rock This Country With Shania And Friends, a fast-paced tribute to the queen of country pop. And don’t forget Three Short Comedies by Séan O’Casey from March 19-22 – a real treat from this energetic and innovative theatre.

For more, see www.everymancork.com or call 021 450 1673.

There may still be a few tickets for Giovanni – The Last Dance tonight at the Opera House. Pat and Faye Shortt are here tomorrow with Knuckle Down, and on Saturday night, presented as part of Seachtain na Gaelige, you have just one chance to see Gobnait, the story of a girl and saint who is part of Muskerry legend and culture. This play has been shown in a few West Cork venues and has sold out at every one of them. Tickets for this Opera House performance are selling pretty fast too, so hurry.

Chris de Burgh on Tuesday is already sold out, but there are a few tickets left for the Blindboy Podcast next Thursday, March 13.

Call 021 427 0022 or see www.corkoperahouse.ie.

Attention dance-lovers! Croí Glan are back at the Firkin Crane on Friday/Saturday, March 14/15, with the premiere of a new production, Change, a hope-filled reimagining of the world in these unprecedented times, involving, in the true Croí Glan way, diverse bodies from diverse lands.

Created in collaboration with scientists from the Environmental Research Institute at UCC, Change features Yves Lorrhan (Brazil), Andrea Williams (Cape Verde), Oran Leong (Ireland/Malaysia), Tanya Turner (Czech Republic/Ireland), and Bobbi Byrne (Ireland/Spain), and is choreographed by Tara Brandel (Ireland), Croí Glan’s visionary artistic director.

An invocation, a call to climate action. Tickets from dancecorkfirkincrane.ie.

Gifted Japanese pianist Yukine Kuroki is at the School of Music this Saturday, March 8, and in the lovely setting of St Brendan’s Church in Bantry on Sunday.

More details and the concert programme on https://www.musicnetwork.ie/whats-on/yukine-kuroki.