Theatre Nights: Shows galore, plus two Cork festivals

There just might be a ticket or two left for K-Pop Forever at the Opera House tonight, featuring all-live performances of smash-hits including: Blackpink, BTS, Twice, Soda Pop, Golden, and many more.

Then the ultimate non-stop party! Footwork 2026 from the Stage School is already fully sold out for Saturday and Sunday, not surprisingly, with all that great young talent.

Something very different is up next Tuesday, May 19, with The Makings Of A Murderer – The Undercover Detective, featuring Peter Bleksley, a founding member of Scotland Yard’s undercover unit, and former star of Channel 4’s Hunted.

And Montfort College’s Applause 2026 the following weekend is selling fast too.

Call 021 427 0022 or www.corkoperahouse.ie for all shows.

There is still time to catch The House Must Win, at the Everyman, described as one of the best new musicals of recent years, but it must end Saturday. 7.30pm start, plus matinee on Saturday at 2pm.

Sunday next brings A Tribute To Leonard Cohen by Stewart D’Arrietta and his band, while on Wednesday next Jenny Keane both entertains and educates with The Orgasm Tour. And on Thursday, May 21, JD Steps Dance School take to the stage with their End of Year Showcase. Plenty of variety there!

021 450 1673 or www.everymancork.com for tickets.

The Cork International Poetry Festival, Ireland’s biggest annual such event, is in full swing at the Arts Theatre, celebrating our city as a vibrant poetry scene with international connections.

Tonight features Cathy Galvin and Greg Rappleye at 7pm, followed by John F. Deane and Martha Sprackland at 8.30pm, with Christina Henneman and Audrey Molloy finishing the evening off at 10pm. For all the details of the rest of the festival, log on to https://corkartstheatre.com/event/cork-international-poetry-festival-2026/ Booking also on 021 450 5624.

Shard, by Stewart Roche, is being staged by Noggin Theatre Company at My Place Community Centre in Midleton on May 20, as part of the Midleton Arts Festival, and also at Aghada Hall on May 23.

Find all the info on this and other festival events on midletonartsfestival.com.

The White Horse in Ballincollig has long been known as a great live music venue. Every gig by Jimmy McCarthy in May and June is already sold out, as is the Chris Kent/Andrew Ryan show, but there are still tickets for The Songs Of Dolores Keane on Friday, June 12 and Reggie’s Farm on Saturday, June 13. Before that, though (this Friday night in fact), there is the launch of a new album by a long-established electric blues group, combined with that group’s disbandment!

Floating Opera formed in the early 1990s, and performed with success ever since (including as support to Rory Gallagher on his final visit to Cork), but somehow never got round to releasing their first, self-titled album, despite having recorded most of the numbers over the years.

They decided this was the best time to launch success and wave farewell at the same time. Should be a most entertaining evening!

Be there to hear Aine Whelan, Johnny Campbell, Paul Seymour, Jerry Fehily, Hal O’Neill, John O’Connor say ‘Goodbye and good night…’ 9pm-11pm. https://whitehorse.ie/thefloatingopera/

At City Limits, the Cork Comedy Club, this Saturday, Tom O’Mahony and guests guarantee a lively evening. Tom has to be one of the busiest acts in the country: resident warm-up for The Late Late Show; regular at every major festival; star of both Damo & Ivor, and Bridget & Eamon, and much more. Doors 8pm, show 8.45pm.

More info on www.thecomedyclub.ie. Tickets on www.tickets.ie, or 085 257 3480.

Coming soon at the Comedy Club, Mike Rice, Chris Kent, and Catherine Bohart.