Theatre Nights: Rocking show, drama, and Dubliners’ encore

It’s your last chance to catch Vittorio Angelone at the Everyman tonight with You Can’t Say Nothing Any More.

Tomorrow night, that wildly popular Rock Icons Show is back, featuring the music of Deep Purple, Free, Bon Jovi, Toto, Rainbow, Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy, Kiss, Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd, Status Quo, Van Halen and more. Expect strobe lighting, smoke effects and, naturally enough, loud music!

Call 021 450 1673 or see www.everymancork.com.

Get ready for fun at the Firkin Crane next week, when CADA Performing Arts present Matilda Jr, The Musical. Roald Dahl’s much-loved story about a gifted girl with a horrible family has been enjoyed by children all over the world since 1988, but it wasn’t until Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin paired up to adapt the book into a musical that it became the phenomenon it is today.

Now, CADA’s cast of talented kids turn those witty lyrics and touching story into a heart-warming show packed full of wonder, magic, rebellion and laughter.

Four young CADA actresses, Grace O’Halloran, Kerrie McGinley, Lily-May Sorensen, and Jessica O’Donoghue, join Christopher McSweeney playing the hideous, disciplinarian Ms Trunchbull (a cross between a weapon and an attack dog) and a lively support cast.

Directors: Catherine Mahon-Buckley/Kelly-Ann Healy; choreographers: Jessica O’Shea/Kelly-Ann Healy; musical directors: Siomha Marron/Andrew Lane. Suitable for all ages, including the young at heart.

That runs Thursday and Friday, Apr 9/10, at 7pm, Saturday, April 11 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Booking on 021 450 7487 or www.dancecorkfirkincrane.ie.

The Opera House is fully out for Happy Campers tonight, but we think there are still some for Gina And The Champions on Easter Sunday night, April 5. The showband era will never die!

And if you’re really quick, you just might get one of the few left for The Dubliners Encore on Monday, created by The Dubliners’ own John Sheahan with the band’s original record producer Phil Coulter as musical director.

Paul Harrington is here next Wednesday with The Lyric’s The Thing, based on the popular Newstalk radio series on the Pat Kenny Show. Plus, Garth Marenghi next Thursday with This Busted Earth, Mack Fleetwood on Friday (selling fast) and Studio Wolfe on Saturday and Sunday with Battle of the Pop Bands. What variety! 021 427 0022 or www.corkoperahouse.ie.

Shakespeare’s Macbeth (Adapted) and Romero bring a lively modern approach to the classics from tonight at Cork Arts Theatre, the first taking a distinctly feminist angle (those three witches were treated most unfairly!), the second setting the old love story in 1970s El Salvador against a turbulent political background. Presented by Lorca Theatre Company, these are directed by Bill Sullivan and Niamh Fanning. 021 450 5624 or www.corkartstheatre.com.

Or why not travel a little further this Easter weekend for live theatre in a great location? Down in Lehanmore at the very end of the Beara Peninsula, Mikel Murfi’s unique trilogy of plays following the life of small-town Sligo cobbler Pat Farnon is staged Friday to Sunday.

Starting with The Man in the Woman’s Shoes on Friday, Saturday continues with I Hear You And Rejoice, before Sunday finishes the trilogy with The Mysterious Case of Kitsy Rainey. 8pm each day.

Bookings on 087 1724452 or 086 8798802. More info on https://lehanmore.com/theatre-at-lehanmore-mikel-murfi-trilogy/.

And advance notice of a particularly charming play coming up at Ballymaloe Grainstore on April 15. Bumbled is a fastpaced, hilarious, and unexpectedly touching story following Pascal, an earnest Irish honeybee on a mission to save the world — and maybe fall in love.

Tickets on 021 465 2531 or www.eventbrite.ie.