Theatre Nights: Improv fun, and a classic ballet story

It’s Halloween tomorrow! Or, more correctly, Samhain, the end of the old Celtic year and the start of the new one.

The Dragon of Shandon will be emerging from his lair tomorrow at 7pm, to thrill and terrify all who see him in his majestic splendour.

Then there is the Improvised Halloween Murder Mystery at the Cork Arts Theatre, mixing everything that you, the audience, can devise with the wit and skills of the cast, to provide a whodunnit like never before, with a classic witching theme! Until Saturday at 8pm nightly.

Next Tuesday, November 4, there is more creativity from The Bold Ensemble who return with their Improv Thingimabob, a hilarious night of comedy sketches based on audience suggestions. One night only though, 8pm start.

And then, from Wednesday to Saturday next week, the Cork One Act Drama Festival 2025, with the best of local and national groups competing for a place in the All-Ireland Finals in December. Three groups each night, starting at 7.30pm. All the details and booking facilities on www.corkartstheatre.com or 021 450 5624.

The big show all ballet fans are eagerly anticipating next week at the Opera House is the splendidly romantic Swan Lake from Thursday, November 6 to Saturday, November 8, presented by Cork City Ballet, with full ensemble, glittering costumes, atmospheric sets, and of course those amazing guest stars Katerina Petrova and Tsetso Ivanov from the Sofia National Ballet in the leading roles.

Who doesn’t love Swan Lake with Tchaikovsky’s haunting music, the beautiful princess, her wicked rival, the terrifying magician Rothbart, and that gripping tale of love against all odds?

But happily, director Alan Foley has chosen not to go for the tragic ending, considering – and probably rightly – that we have quite enough of that on the news these days. “Chief choreographer Yuri Demakov and I have re-produced the original Petipa/Ivanov version where the prince destroys the evil sorcerer Rothbart and is joyfully reunited with his swan queen.” Good on the two of you, Alan!

Tickets are already much in demand for this wonderfully seasonal show, so don’t delay in getting yours. 8pm nightly with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. 021 427 0022 or www.corkoperahouse.ie.

A lively show is coming up at the Everyman this Saturday. Gold In The Water is a delightfully funny and heartfelt new Irish musical by Shane O’Reilly with Paul Curley, composed by Denis Clohessy, directed by Ronan Phelan, and choreographed by Philip Connaughton.

Bart and Harvey have never been happier, and just celebrated their first wedding anniversary with all their friends. When a mysterious goldfish lands on their doorstep, leading them to meet an angry and righteous pet shelter owner, their perfect lives are upended, and their world is changed forever.

With a tap-dancing rabbit, a singing terrapin, and a magical goldfish, how can you miss this? Just two performances on Saturday, 2pm and 7pm.

On Sunday night, BAFTA and Perrier award-winning comedian Dylan Moran is here with his new stand-up show Dolla Ho, and next Wednesday, The Mersey Beatles, who have been described as the next-best thing to actually meeting the boys themselves!

Gosh, would you believe it’s 60 years since Help!, Rubber Soul, and that Shea Stadium concert? Where did the time go? 021 450 1673 or www.everymancork.com.

Finally, at the City Limits - Cork Comedy Club this Saturday, November 1, one of the rising stars of Irish comedy, Brian Gallagher.

A regular in some of Ireland’s top comedy venues, he has appeared at Forbidden Fruit and The Vodafone Comedy Carnival among others. Doors 8pm, show 8.45pm.

Tickets at www.thecomedyclub.ie, www.tickets.ie, call 085 257 3480, or on the door if there are any left.