What's on: A hit musical, great drama, and festivals galore in Cork

THEATRE

Saturday

Violet Gibson: The Woman Who Shot Mussolini, Cork Arts Theatre, €18, 8pm: Alice Barry delivers a mesmerising performance as the woman who tried to assassinate the Italian dictator. Final showing.

Chicago Teen Edition, Firkin Crane, €18, 5pm: Teenage Stage International Summer School’s new show-stopping production. Chicago is a once in a lifetime musical wonder; a dangerous tango between the crime-fuelled darkness of 1920s suburbia and the razzle-dazzle, high-kicking glamour of the American Dream. Final show.

Catalpa, Lecture Theatre, Bere Island, €17.50, 8pm: The true story of a band of Fenians and their audacious jail break from the colonial prison in Freemantle, Australia, Part of the West Cork Fit-up Festivl. Catalpa will have its final showing in Ballydehob Community Hall on Sunday at 8pm.

Sunday

The Sound Of Music, Cork Opera House, from €37.50, 1pm & 6pm: The summer musical blockbuster opened on Thursday and runs until August 23. Tickets selling fast for both shows.

MUSIC

Saturday

Dr Strangely Strange, St James’ Church of Ireland, Mallow, €22.42, 8pm: Ireland’s original psychedelic folk group, who have recently returned to live performance after a 45-year break, perform as part of the Mallow Arts Festival.

Cork Ska And Reggae Festival, Crane Lane Theatre, free, from 4pm: A line up of acts for the festival, starting with The Bionic Rats, then The Service at 6.30pm, Wiggle at 9pm, and DJ Che-k at 11.30pm.

The Henry Girls, Camus Farm, Clonakilty, €30, 2pm: Three harmonies with instruments including harp, viola, mandolin, fiddle, piano, accordion and ukulele.

Karan Casey Trio Featuring Niall Vallely & Niwel Tsumbu with guests Luasca, Commodore Hotel, Cobh, €22.42, 8pm: Headline gig as part of this weekend’s Cobh Trad Fest. See www.cobhtradfest.ie

Sunday

Songs & Souls, St James’ Church of Ireland, Mallow, €22.42, 8pm: The Mallow Arts Festival closes in style, as this unique show brings together acclaimed playwright Deirdre Kinahan and legendary fiddler Steve Wickham for a moving, riotous celebration of character, music and storytelling, blending theatre, live music and memory to create something truly special.

Cork Ska And Reggae Festival, Crane Lane Theatre, free, from 4.30pm: A line up of acts for the final day of the festival, starting with DMac Burns, then Pontious Pilate & The Naildrivers at 7pm, and Reggae Sundays with live band Yes ‘I’ & Gwada Mike at 9pm.

OTHER EVENTS

Saturday

Heritage stroll with Peter Foynes, Maldron Hotel, Redmond Street, Shandon, Cork city: A guided walk through the Shandon Historic Quarter, one of the events on the final day of the The Spirit Of Mother Jones Festival. For more events, see https://motherjonescork.com/

Mockie Ah’s Summer Slay-lí, Levis, Ballydehob, €30, 4pm: Ireland’s biggest drag family hosts their very first Summer Slay-Lí — a gloriously camp mini festival.