Theatre Nights: Pied Piper of Blackpool, Keith Barry, Joanne McNally, and more 

A searingly truthful piece is coming up this Saturday at the Everyman, as Hunters Moon Theatre presents Never Going Back There, from Philip O’Byrne.

Based on the true story of a powerful Irish woman who would not allow religion, nor the Magdalene laundries, to define her, it unflinchingly exposes the stranglehold religion had on our country in the ’60s and ’70s, but also shows the determination and resilience of one young woman to break that hold and set out on her own path of success and independence in another country.

That’s followed by a must-see, Piobaire na Linne Duibhe (The Pied Piper of Blackpool) on Monday night, presented by Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers. This bilingual musical, based on the classic story of the Pied Piper, moves the whole drama to Cork’s Northside.

Will the Lord Mayor and his family find the Pied Piper of Blackpool and save the children who are banished to Cnoc na hAoine! 7pm start for that. Only one performance though, so don’t delay!

The bilingual musical Piobaire na Linne Duibhe (The Pied Piper of Blackpool) is at the Everyman on Monday .

Tonight, Norma Sheehan is irrepressibly declaring that 50 is the new 30 in It’s Wine O’Clock at the Opera House. A few seats still left. Tomorrow, Keith Barry’s Unhinged is fully sold out, as is Reeling In The Showband Years on Saturday and Sunday. Well, we did warn you about that one last week!

Joanne McNally is here all next week with Pinotphile, but there are only tickets left for Monday and Tuesday. 021 427 0022 or www.corkoperahouse.ie.

The delightful Lovesong, by Abi Morgan, is currently at Cork Arts Theatre. Presented by RednBlue Theatre Company, it’s the story of one couple, told from two different points in their lives: as lovers in their thirties and as worldly companions looking back. Until Saturday, 8pm nightly. 021 450 5624 or www.corkartstheatre.com.

There is a live performance by Vanbrugh & Friends at the Briery Gap in Macroom tomorrow night, and we have just heard that contemporary Irish instrumental ensemble Notify will be there the following Saturday. Their most recent album, Arineán, you will recall, was named Folk Album Of The Year by the Irish Times. All shows start 8pm. 083 143 6884 or boxoffice@brierygap.ie.

There are exciting times for young musicians coming up, with the 30th Festival of Youth Orchestra on Saturday, February 7 at the National Concert Hall in Dublin.

Marking three decades of celebrating Ireland’s vibrant youth-orchestra community, it showcases hundreds of young musicians from across the country in uplifting concerts at 1pm and 7.30pm in a programme featuring excerpts from West Side Story, Fellowship of the Ring, Man of Steel, plus traditional Irish music and original compositions by Irish composers. Tickets from https://www.nch.ie/all-events-listing/iayo-30th-festival-of-youth-orchestras-feb26/.

Advance notice now of the 11th Ortús Chamber Music Festival, from February 21 to March 1, with events across city and county. Co-founders violinist Mairéad Hickey and cellist Sinéad O’Halloran have assembled a world class and wide-ranging programme with trios and sonatas by Beethoven and Mozart, Schubert’s Trout Quintet, a Baroque recital, and works by Cork-born Linda Buckley and other living composers.

The festival ends on a flourish with Strauss’ Metamorphosen for String Septet. Concerts in the city at the Aula Max in UCC, the School of Music, St Peter’s, and Cork City Library, with outreach events in Bantry, Tracton, and Dripsey.

Tickets at Pro Musica if you’re in the city, otherwise on ortusfestival.ie.