Theatre Nights: Folk Fest feast... and drama galore

Cork Folk Festival is with us once again, running through to Sunday next, October 5, with a packed programme - 35 events, over 200 artists, and 15 venues.

Jackie Daly is here, Flook, and a host more Irish and international performers. Get all the detail on www.corkfolkfestival.com.

David O’Doherty is at Everyman tonight, while tomorrow brings The 80s Icons Show, with all the hits of Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, and more.

On Saturday night, it’s Between Dog And Wolf, an evening of storytelling with Tommy Tiernan and Martin Shaw.

Sunday Songbook is back on the 5th with We’ll Meet Again: The Vera Lynn Story at 3pm. Sing along to all those so-familiar and much-loved classics!

Dont miss the chance to catch Conor McPherson's The Weir at Everyman next Tuesday. October 7. Staged by Kilmeen Drama Group, frequent winner of the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Award, and directed by Nora Scannell, it’s a thought-provoking tale set in the peaceful atmosphere of a country pub... but is it that peaceful?

And more powerful theatre the following two nights, October 8 & 9, with Brian Friel’s Faith Healer, directed by Geoff Gould for Blood in the Alley. Held by many to be Friel's greatest play, it relates a dark journey into a psychic landscape. Unmissable. 021 4501673 or www.everymancork.com.

At the Opera House tonight, it’s the Hold My Drink podcast with Charleen Murphy and Ellie Kelly. All the laughs, chaos, frank confessions, and brutally honest advice but this time actually live.

Tomorrow night, Cash Returns is back, with JP Mac as Johnny and Karen Martin as June Carter, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the hit film, Walk The Line.

Qween are here Saturday night with It’s A Kinda Queen. And The Rock Orchestra on Sunday night is already sold out!

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

Mary’s Hopes And Dreams is a riot at the Cork Arts Theatre until Saturday; next week it’s Trad by Mark Doherty, the story of an ageing son, his more aged father, and a secret that has never been revealed till now. 021 4505624 or www.corkartstheatre.com.

Fiona Kennedy is at the Briery Gap in Macroom this Saturday night, October 4, with Natural Woman, blending music, readings, projections and poignant true stories. 8pm start. Booking on www.brierygap.ie.

Pat Shortt and daughter Faye are at the Glen Theatre in Banteer, also on Saturday night, with their new show, Shortt Stuff. Should be lively! Book on www.patshortt.com.

And at St Catherine’s Cultural Centre in Kinsale, Nollaig Casey, Niall McCabe, and Mike McGoldrick play their Irish Traditional music show the same night, Saturday October 4, 7.30pm.

Tickets from eventbrite.ietarget="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> or check out the detail on sccc.ie.

Finally, advance news of a magical weekend coming up at Bantry House over the Halloween bank holiday weekend, October 24-26. That’s when West Cork Music celebrates the work of Dmitri Shostakovich with the Carducci Quartet playing the complete cycle of the great composer’s 15 overwhelming quartets through five concerts in the candlelit library.

For over a decade, the Carducci have been playing these 15 quartets, composed over 35 years from the Stalinist purges of the 1930s, through the Nazi invasion and the siege of Leningrad, the post-war crushing of artistic independence, the death of Stalin and the brief thaw, to the Cold War decades and the stifling bureaucratic rule whose sole aim was to crush dissent.

Apparently, Shostakovich loved chandeliers with real candles, like those in the Bantry House library. Surely, then, he would approve of this wonderful celebration of his 15 quartets as part of West Cork Music’s first autumn festival?

Get your tickets quick! www.westcorkmusic.ie.