Theatre Nights: Celebrate Opera House’s heritage, comedy, and more 

That most romantic of ballets, Swan Lake, is opening tonight at the Opera House, with full ensemble, glorious costumes, splendid sets, and of course guest superstars in the personages of Katerina Petrova and Tsetso Ivanov from the Sofia National Ballet who flew in to join Cork City Ballet last Monday.

Performances run until Saturday at 8pm nightly, with an extra matinee on Saturday afternoon, and already there has been a huge demand for tickets, so hurry up if you want to be part of this wonderful dream world for an evening at least. 021 427 0022 or www.corkoperahouse.ie.

Last Friday, the Opera House and Cork City Library launched a new exhibition of memorabilia entitled Send It Home. This was part of a special commemorative event celebrating 60 years since the reopening of the Opera House in 1965, after the devastating fire of 1955, and another significant milestone in its 170th anniversary year.

Earlier this year, the theatre launched a campaign inviting the public to share their artefacts, personal stories and treasured memories of their beloved venue.

The response was overwhelming, with more than 1,300 individual pieces contributed, forming the foundation of the new Cork Opera House Archive. Among these are programmes dating as far back as 1909, a plaque pulled from the rubble after the fire, panto scripts, and photos from various eras of the theatre‘s dynamic history. This you have got to go and see. Send It Home runs until the end of November at Cork City Library, Grand Parade.

And today also sees the opening of the 70th Cork Film Festival which runs right through to November 16. All the huge international hits, the new ventures, the creative and the inventive, to be seen here in our city often before any other city or country has had that chance. Gala presentations, special events, the best of new European cinema, short films, children’s films, Irish Voices and the Best New Irish Feature award, even culinary cinema to whet your appetite. Plus, Super Cine Saturday, which will see films going out to Cinemax Bantry, Regal Cinema Youghal, and Briery Gap Macroom for a rich programme that celebrates Cork on screen and showcases international titles, including the Palme d’Or winner at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Want more? Well, you can view several greats online as well! Download the app, get all the info, have yourself a great time in the friendliest, happiest film festival going! www.corkfilmfestival.org.

The unmatchable Ardal O’Hanlon is at the Everyman next Wednesday night, November 12, with his new show, Not Himself. Ardal fearlessly diagnoses the various pathologies and neuroses that are currently ravaging humanity. 8pm.

Coming up on November 18 at Everyman, The Mirror Stage, written and directed by Feidlim Cannon and Gary Keegan for Brokentalkers, a powerful new work created with and inspired by people who have lived through psychosis. Post-show talk afterwards.

And, believe it or not, we are almost into panto time! Yes, the first performance of Cinderella unfolds on Saturday, November 29. It will run through to January, but early booking for any date is advised, especially matinees. 021 450 1673 or www.everymancork.com for all bookings.

The One Act Drama Festival is in full swing at Cork Arts Theatre, running to Saturday, with three groups competing each night.

Tonight, Thursday, sees Coachford Players with A Safe Passage; Kilmeen Drama Group with From Eden, and Carrig na bhFear Drama Society with Daddy’s Gone a-Hunting. Tomorrow brings Doonbeg, Anglesboro, and Carlow, while Saturday has Conna, the Bradan Players, and Sandyford Little Theatre on stage.

Who will come out top? Be there and find out! www.corkartstheatre.com, or 021 450 5624.