Theatre Nights: Bright lights galore at Harbour festival

Things are getting busy on Leeside! Sounds From A Safe Harbour opens today, in a milestone 10th edition with the most packed programme yet.

Running until Sunday, it will bring world-class music, compelling conversations, film premieres, striking visual art, and - new this year - a food trail, all in the streets, stages, and secret corners of Cork.

Well, with planners like festival director Mary Hickson, actor Cillian Murphy, Bryce Dessner (The National), writer Max Porter, and folklorist Billy MagFhloinn, it’s what you’d expect really.

The Opening Ritual at Elizabeth Fort tonight is sold out, as are several other events, but there is plenty more on offer.

The Pav on Carey’s Lane is the venue later tonight for Bantum + Arveene, 11pm-2am. At the Firkin Crane tomorrow, 6.30pm, Your Voice, a co-production with the Abbey Theatre, with Simon Stephens, Imogen Knight, Donal Finn and High Contrast, with dance students from MTU and the voice of Jessie Buckley. And of course the Festival Club!

Fullest information on https://soundsfromasafeharbour.com/.

At the Opera House tonight, Remembering Talos is sold out, but you can perhaps console yourself with video on https://www.corkoperahouse.ie/whats-on/sfsh-remembering-talos/.

There might still be seats for Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi on Saturday, and the Festival Finale with Efterklang on Sunday.

After all that, there is the ELO Tribute Show on Tuesday, and John Lydon on Wednesday, with I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right. An eclectic range of programming at the Opera House!

Booking on 021 427 0022 or www.corkoperahouse.ie.

At the Everyman tomorrow, The Villagers Acoustic Show, featuring songwriter Conor O’Brien, is sold out. Ye Vagabonds are here on Saturday at 6pm, and on Sunday at 4pm, there is a rare opportunity to hear DakhaBrakha, a music quartet from Kyiv in Ukraine, coming to Sounds From A Safe Harbour, a truly welcomingly safe harbour here in Cork. Described as troubadours, activists and educators, their name means ‘Give/Take’ in the old language.

This Saturday at Cork Arts Theatre, LiY, the noted musical group consisting of Christian Lapointe from Quebec, Simon Stephens from London, and Laurence Dauphinais in Montreal, present A Work In Progress at 12pm.

Next week, drama lovers can see No Exit: After Sartre, from the Death by Cues company from Wednesday to Saturday. 021 4505624 or www.corkartstheatre.com.

Sounds From A Safe Harbour is closely followed by the 20th edition of Culture Night, taking place on Friday, September 19.

It celebrates culture, creativity, and the arts, and seeks to actively promote the belief our rich and varied culture is alive, treasured, and nurtured in people’s lives, on the day and every day.

Doors will open late with a vibrant programme of special events and one-of-a-kind experiences - all completely free.

Special mention should be made of My First Confession, when pupils of Scoil Oilibhéir, Dublin Hill, perform a specially written musical adaptation of Frank O’Connor’s famous short story, that was initially created for the school’s 40th anniversary celebrations.

Taking place in the very setting where My First Confession was written, St Patrick’s Church, the performance will be introduced with a short talk on O’Connor’s life and his connections to the church and surrounding area.

See https://www.corkcity.ie/en/culture-night/target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> and https://culturenightcorkcounty.ie/ for everything going on all over the county for Culture Night.

It’s a yearly opportunity to see inside otherwise closed doors, discover things you never knew, and experience totally different views on life!