Theatre Nights: Great drama, and Imelda is in town

At Cork Arts Theatre this week, Must I Cry, from Theatre du Pif of Hong Kong, weaves storytelling, live music, and video projections into a dynamic fusion.

Lunchtime shows at 1pm today and tomorrow, otherwise until Saturday at 8pm nightly.

Next week, from Wednesday to Saturday, it’s The Good Crank, by Alan McMonagle, starring Rose Henderson as Kitty Clog, an ageing woman very determined not to ‘go gently into that good night’.

All bookings on 021 450 5624 or www.corkartstheatre.com.

There just might still be a few tickets left for Sweet & Sour, the tribute to Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo at the Opera House tomorrow night but they were going fast when we checked.

For younger theatregoers, the delightful Dear Zoo is on from Saturday to Monday, at various times to suit juvenile attendees; and Taylor Fever, running from Wednesday next week to Sunday, and billed as the ultimate tribute show, is almost sold out, so get moving. Call 021 427 0022 or see www.corkoperahouse.ie.

As predicted, Stones In His Pockets is proving an enormous hit at the Everyman, but unfortunately it has to end this Sunday, making way for the amazing Imelda May in The Mother Of All The Behans from Tuesday of next week.

Both shows 7.30pm start, and both with a Saturday matinee at 2pm.

And don’t forget The Girl On The Train, with Laura Whitmore, from August 19. Now that is going to be a sell-out.

Great summer viewing across the whole Everyman programme. Call 021 450 1673 or see www.everymancork.com for all bookings.

The Best of Cork August Summer Series continues at City Limits - The Comedy Club tomorrow and Saturday. Headlining this weekend is Micheal Roche, aka The B. Kerry-born Micheal effortlessly owns the stage from the moment he steps on to it, and the characters he creates are hysterically funny.

Doors 8pm - Show 8.45pm. Booking on 085 257 3480, tickets@thecomedyclub.ie, or at the door on the night.

The West Cork Fit Up Festival has alas finished its lively tour of our rural communities, bringing fun and laughter, drama and tragedy to places that don’t see theatre too often. It was a great season, and they are to be acclaimed for the hard work they put into it.

However, the Sing in Harmony Workshops continue around our beautiful West Cork islands. This Friday evening and again on Friday, August 15, Harmony In Blue will be presented by Susan McManamon and Ger Wolfe on the North Shore of Sherkin Island from 5 to 7pm. Go along and experience the joy of it.

A reminder that National Heritage Week 2025 will run from August 16- 24, and there will be events and exhibitions all over Cork city and county.

This year’s theme - Exploring Our Foundations - invites us to delve into the building blocks of our heritage; not just the structures, but the landscapes and cultural activities that have shaped us.

On August 16, to take just one example, at the Global Hub on Nano Nagle Place, you can join award-winning curator and artist Taryn de Vere as she discusses her acclaimed exhibition Selling The Past – originally staged in a charity shop in Donegal.

And at Bantry Bookshop on August 20, at 5pm, there will be a reading by Karen Minihan of her play, Little Beauties, tracing the life, work and spirit of Ellen Hutchins, botanist, who explored the coast of Bantry Bay in the early 1800s.

So many other events on, all over the place. Check out heritageweek.ie.

Abbaesque are at the INEC centre in Killarney this Saturday night, with the show starting at 8.30pm. Enjoy all those unforgettable hits one more time. 064 667 1555 or gleneaglearena.ie.

And finally, don’t forget the great Masters of Tradition Festival coming up later this month in Bantry, celebrating all that is finest about our own native music.

All the info is on www.westcorkmusic.ie.