Theatre Nights: At last, it’s time for pantomimes!

It’s all festivity now, even though we haven’t got to December 8 yet, the traditional start of the Christmas season!

Aladdin opened at the Opera House last night, and we are certain it was a huge success with first night audiences.

Tonight is sold out, as is Sunday afternoon, and tickets are going like hot cakes for the other performances, so get your skates on!

A magical story with dance, music, and song, and of course Nanny Nellie to keep everyone in hysterics.

And the Improvised Panto opens in its late night slot of 10.30pm next Friday, December 5.

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

They’re putting the final touches to Cinderella over at the Everyman as we speak, stitching costumes into place, a quick button sew-on or zip to be replaced, a last run-through for the special effects and the sound experts....

The kids participating are so excited they can’t wait, and the adult performers are nearly as bad!

That opens this Saturday, November 29, and here also many performances are already almost full. Why are you delaying? 021 450 1673 or www.everymancork.com.

The Lord Mayor’s Gala Christmas Concert is only just over a week away! Yes, Saturday, December 6 at the City Hall, the great introductory celebration of the festive season, with our own Majella Cullagh joined by Lady Fi, Lottie O’Driscoll, Barry Tierney, the Cork Concert Orchestra, the Joan Denise Moriarty School of Dance, Montforts Youth Choir, and Cór Cois Abhann.

A big charity event, as you know, with this year’s proceeds going to Cork Alzheimer’s, Shine A Light, and Samaritans Cork.

Booking through the kind auspices of Everyman as above.

It’s all bells and glitter over at Nano Nagle Place too, with a wonderful programme of events opening from Thursday next week.

A highlight will be Dickens’ Christmas Carol in the Goldie Chapel, but there will also be festive markets, a book fair, a children’s decoration workshop, and much more. Late night opening some evenings too! Where better to get into the spirit?

Get all the details on www.nanonagleplace.ie.

Did you want more? Well, look all around our beloved city!

Corkmas 2025 is now fully active, with the Christmas Market on Emmet Place Thursdays to Sundays, plus Santa Claus there too Friday to Sunday until December 21 (you do need to pre-book for that), the wonderful Ferris Wheel from tomorrow on the Grand Parade, and a whole range of pop-up events on the revamped Bishop Lucey Park and the new plaza in front of the Counting House on South Main Street.

Circus and craft workshops, a kids’ disco, drumming, games – oh, and the Barrack-ah giving us festive music on Saturday. See corkmas.ie for all the details.

Still time to catch that great production of Macbeth at Cork Arts Theatre, presented by the Cork Shakespearean Company, which ends Saturday.

Next week is the eagerly awaited 10x10 Minute Play Event, with new works: the final ten, chosen from hundreds of entries, are: Bingo, by Joanne Geary; Chute by Guy Newsham; Tannenbaum by James McLindon; Best By Date by Scott Mullen; Me and the Mayfly by Alan O’Regan; Ready or Not by Cheryl Walsh; Debtless by David Kett; Frozen Tarts by Daniel Cremin; Open Coffin by Sean Gilley; and The Day of Judgement by Merryn Myatt.

You, the audience, get to vote for your favourite too, which adds to the excitement. See www.corkartstheatre.com or 021 450 5624.

Sean Keane is at the Briery Gap in Macroom on Friday, December 5, and Karen Underwood on the same stage the next night, with The Music of Nina Simone. On Sunday, December 7, a chance to see that beautiful Andre Rieu filmed concert, Merry Christmas. 083 143 6884 www.brierygap.ie.