The Four-Faced Liar
2026-03-03 - 2026-03-07 | Cork Arts Theatre, Carroll's Quay, Cork, T23 X72D, Ireland
Tuesday 3rd to Saturday 7th March @ 8pm
Theatre Makers Limited presents
The Four-Faced Liar
Written by Ger FitzGibbon
Directed by Ger FitzGibbon & Ensemble
The Four-Faced Liar is an epic ensemble piece, a play for voices, written for performance before a live audience. First produced during Covid as a live podcast from the Everyman Stage, later broadcast in a shortened version by RTE Radio Drama, it is now having its first full production, courtesy of Theatre Makers and Cork Arts Theatre.
From all over Cork City, one can see and hear Shandon steeple. But what if Shandon could see and hear us, the inhabitants, past and present, waking or sleeping, dreaming or drinking, falling in love or falling down the stairs? Theatre Makers Ltd has brought together a brilliant ensemble cast of actors to bring to life over sixty characters: Gussy Barret, former Lord Mayor, now fallen on hard times; Patsy Dunne, whose home is a Zanussi freezer box; Micha, the Polish cashier in a builder’s supply shop; Bertie Murphy, the shy carpenter who loves Micha from afar; Afric McGlinchy, who is sixteen and knows everything; or Emer Foley, 98, who sleeps under her bed for fear of intruders and wages single-handed war on the government.
The four faces of Shandon see it all, from the Elysian tower to the snug depths of Douglas, from the heights of the Northside to the hidden streams that run under the city centre. Through the sounds of the city and its people, their ghosts and their dreams, their triumphs and disappointments, we hear the heartbeat of the place itself and the pulse of the river that runs through it.
The Four-Faced Liar brings its audience on a night journey through the landscape of Cork city and its inhabitants. Moving freely through time and space, the play involves over sixty characters in all – as richly varied in their language as in their situations. But the core of the piece is the city itself, with the diverse music of its sounds and voices old and new, and the variety of life to be found within it.
Creative Team:
Producer: Jack Healy
Design: Ger FitzGibbon & Jack Healy
Lighting Design: Ger FitzGibbon & Jack Healy
Sound: Performance ensemble
Cast: Maxine Acton, Trish Burke, Cormac Costelloe, Jack Healy, Michael Ryan, Niamh Santry.

Running Time: 85 minutes
Age recommendation: 16+
Trigger warnings: Some strong language
Ticket Prices: €18
*Booking fees apply.
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Mary's Hopes and Dreams
2026-03-10 - 2026-03-14
Tuesday 10th to Saturday 14th March @ 8pm

Hubcap Theatre presents

Mary’s Hopes and Dreams

Written and performed by Michael Ryan and Seán Kelleher

The Hubcap boys are back!
After a sellout run in 2025, the Hubcap boys bring their hilarious comedy back to the Cork Arts Theatre.
Mary’s Hopes and Dreams is a fun filled comedy exploring life in contempary rural Ireland.
Hubcap’s unique brand of physical comedy and absurd characterisations has been delighting audiences with madcap moments of slapstick, rap, mime, song, dance, martial arts and swimming!
Audience Reactions to Mary’s Hopes and Dreams…
“Fantastic show… haven’t laughed like it in years.”
“What a show! Loved every minute of it!”
“Laugh out loud comedy gold!”
“Great show! Ye had them rolling in the aisles.”
Running time: 80 minutes.
No Interval
Trigger warnings: Mild swearing
Age recommendation: 12+.
Tickets: €18
*Booking fees apply.
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The Periodicals
2026-03-17 - 2026-03-18
Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th March @ 7.30pm
Montfort College of Performing Arts presents
The Periodicals

by Siân Owen
Performed by the Montfort College Intermediate Drama Company
In September 2022 the Montfort College of Performing Arts established a senior company drama class under the direction of Sinéad Crowley. The work of the students culminates in a fully staged play which allows them to put to use all the skills developed over the course of the year. The students have appeared in three acclaimed pieces to date; ‘The Boy Preference’(2023) and ‘Old Times’ (2024), ‘Heavy Weather’ (2025) and this April ‘Replica’.
Intermediate Drama Company
Founded in 2024, our Intermediate Drama Company quickly made its mark with their inaugural production ‘Remote’, which was met with standing ovations and great acclaim.
We are delighted to welcome them back to the stage this year with another superb piece of theatre, showcasing the exceptional talent, creativity, and dedication of the company students
About the play :
Set in the near future, a group of young people live as a feral group of techno-savvy fugitives, living off the land – which is a rubbish dump. They stay out of sight of the authorities, particularly the education authorities, who are desperate to get them back into school because it doesn’t look good for them. However, school has lost its allure. When the young people are in school they are overlooked and underestimated – seen as being more trouble than they are worth. So now, for this group, school’s out forever.
Director: Sinéad Crowley
Tickets: €15, €12 concession for students
*Booking fees apply.
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A Grand Night for Singing
2026-03-19 - 2026-03-21
Thursday 19th to Saturday 21st March @ 7.30pm
plus Matinee on Saturday 21st @ 2.30pm

Montfort College of Performing Arts presents
A Grand Night for Singing
Join us for a glorious evening of song as the talented vocal students of the Montfort College of Performing Arts take to the stage in ‘A Grand Night for Singing’.
From the bright lights of Broadway to the magic of the West End, audiences will be treated to a wide and varied repertoire of musical theatre favourites. Under the expert guidance of Emma Nash, Naomi Ryan, Sarah Barry and Luke Condon, our singers will perform everything from the golden age of Broadway right through to modern-day classics and much, much more.
It promises to be a fantastic evening filled with wonderful music, outstanding performances and plenty of theatrical magic.
We would be delighted if you could join us for this special night of song.
Accompanist – Ronan Holohan
Tickets: €15
*Booking fees apply.
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Unmasked '26
2026-03-23 - 2026-03-28
Monday 23rd March to Friday 27th March @ 7.00pm
plus Saturday 28th March @ 2.30pm
CADA Performing Arts presents
Unmasked ’26

“All the World’s a Stage and all the men and women merely players”
Yes, players and that is what “Unmasked ’26” is all about. Taking off our own faces and having the ability to interpret other faces, characters and go on difficult journeys with them. This is an experience for all Performers / Actors and of course the audience. Unmasked ’26 is an experience, a journey of exploration but always fun.
CADA Performing Arts are the experts and leading light in the wonderful space of drama and performance. In Unmasked ’26 the audience will experience aspects of life, certainly be entertained with wonderful pieces like “Inside Out”, “Potion Communication”, “New Inventor Club”, and magical shows like “Toy Story”, “Elves on Strike” and “Snow White and the Mighty Men”, some written by our own pupils.
The actors range in age from 3½ years – yes, 3½ – to adulthood. Maybe the future Jessie Buckley or Paul Mescal will be discovered.
Unmasked ’26 is presented by Pupils and STARS of CADA Performing Arts
(Director Catherine Mahon-Buckley)
Directors of shows:
Fionula Linehan
Moyra O’Hare
Megan O’Mahony
And a host of teachers to make this wonderful presentation of drama be the food of love, play on.
Tickets: €22
*Booking fees apply.
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Shakespeare's Macbeth (adapted) and Romero
2026-04-02 - 2026-04-04
Thursday 2nd to Saturday 4th April @ 7.30pm

Lorca Theatre Company presents

Two One-Act plays

‘Shakespeare’s Macbeth’ (adapted) and ‘Romero’

by Bill Sullivan
Directed by Bill Sullivan and Niamh Fanning
Lorca Theatre Company, an inclusive and friendly theatre group that welcomes all comers whatever their level of acting experience, is bringing their annual production to Cork Arts Theatre this year. The Coláiste Éamann Rís-based Cork company is staging a two-hour show of two one act plays – Shakespeare’s Macbeth & Romero – which highlight the threats and pitfalls of authoritarian rule.
First on the bill is ‘Shakespeare’s Macbeth’: ‘A Macho ‘Macbeth!’ A Feminist ‘Macbeth!’ A ‘Macbeth Like No Other.’ This radical adaptation of the classic shines a new light on the great tragedy; featuring ambitious and power-hungry Macbeth, the driven Lady Macbeth, and the manipulative witches working behind the scenes, humanised and portrayed here as deeply wronged women seeking revenge on all ‘men of power’.
The second one act play ‘Romero’, written by Lorca’s artistic director Bill Sullivan, is set in El Salvador in the 1970s.Three young Salvadoran women are swept up in the bloody events surrounding the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero – Ana who has fallen in love with young priest Pedro Morales; Elena, married to a young and handsome army officer, Raul Ortega; and Rita whose husband Carolos Rodriguez works in military intelligence. As Ana fears losing her love to the Church, Elena grapples with the realisation of the persecution inflicted on the poor of El Salvador by the military junta, and Rita is ordered by her husband to cut all contact with supporters of Archbishop Romero. The personal conflicts play out against a turbulent political background as the play builds to a powerful climax in the Cathedral of San Salvador.
Adaptation of ‘Shakespeare’s Macbeth’- Bill Sullivan and Tom Abernethy.
Assistant, Deputy Director – Niamh Fanning.
Sound and Lighting – Ayomide Ajani and Jamie Morris.
Running time: 2 hours
Age recommendation: 12+, under 12’s accompanied
Trigger Warnings:  some violent action and language.
Tickets: €15
*Booking fees apply.
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The Scent of a Mock Orange
2026-04-08 - 2026-04-11
Wednesday 8th to Saturday 11th April @ 8pm
sassyCOW presents
The Scent of a Mock Orange
Written by Ciara Ní Tuathaigh
Directed by Sinéad Crowley
The Scent of a Mock Orange is a raw, intimate, and darkly humorous one-woman show that invites audiences into the fractured inner world of Mara, a young woman attempting to make sense of the emotional wreckage she has carried for over a decade. Haunted by the unresolved grief of her mother’s suicide, Mara has learned to survive by moving quickly, speaking sharply, and never pausing long enough for the truth to catch up with her. But when her chaotic life begins to crack, she is forced to confront the revelations and realities that she can no longer outrun.
Through a blend of sharp storytelling, confessional monologue, and moments of startling vulnerability, Mara retraces the chaos of her past — the relationships she has broken and the boundaries she has blurred. As she unpacks the tangled threads of grief and addiction, she begins to ask questions she has spent years avoiding: Where does longing end and self-destruction begin? What happens when the body becomes both refuge and battlefield? And who do we become when, or if, we finally allow ourselves to stop running?
Written and performed by Ciara Ní Tuathaigh and directed by Sinéad Crowley, The Scent of a Mock Orange premiered at Cork Fringe 2025, where its blend of grit, candour, and dark humour struck a deep chord with audiences. The debut production of sassyCOW Productions, this female-led company is committed to amplifying the complicated, unvarnished realities of contemporary womanhood. This is not a story of neat resolutions — Mara ends where she began, circling her own unrest. What remains is her mess — haunting, human, and impossible to shake.
“Sensational! A seamless blend of light and shade, heart and humour. You’ll find yourself thinking about Mara and her beautiful messiness long after the curtain falls, hoping she’ll be alright. An absolute must-see” – Rosie O’Byrne, La Vie en Rosie
A post-show discussion will take place after the Thursday night performance.
Running time: 1h 45min | 15 minute interval
Age recommendation: 18+
Trigger Warnings:  Partial nudity, sexual content, mentions or depictions of sexual violence/assault, suicide and depression, drug use and substance abuse, alcohol consumption and misuse, strong/explicit language.
Ticket Prices: €20, €15 conc.
*Booking fees apply.
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Broadway Kidz
2026-04-13 - 2026-04-15
Monday 13th to Wednesday 15th April @ 7.30pm

Montfort College of Performing Arts presents
Broadway Kidz

The Montfort College of Performing Arts is proud to present ‘Broadway Kidz’ – a musical revue celebrating its 64th year of showcasing the best of Cork talent. The students of the Montfort Youth Choir whose ages range from 9 – 18 years will transport you to the stages of Broadway and the West End as they beguile you with familiar standards from the world’s greatest musicals including My Fair Lady, Waitress, Into the Woods, Oklahoma, Sweet Charity, Beetlejuice, Peter Pan, Barnum and Guys and Dolls. A first class night of musical theatre for all the family is guaranteed.
Musical Director: Robbie Pender
Choreographers: Laurie O’ Driscoll & Karen Walsh
Tickets: €15
*Booking fees apply.
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Replica
2026-04-17 - 2026-04-18
Friday 17th and Saturday 18th April @ 7.30pm
plus Matinee Saturday 18th @ 2.30pm

Montfort College of Performing Arts presents
Replica

by Titas Halder
Something happened on the school trip. One of the class has been replaced by an exact replica of themselves. At least that’s what everyone’s saying. Once a rumour starts, it can be difﬁcult to remember what is real – or who. Convinced that there is an impostor walking among them, a group of teenagers is determined to root out the intruder. A mystery about friendship, the nature of truth and humanity. When it comes to it, how do you prove that you are a human?
*********
In September 2022 the Montfort College of Performing Arts established a senior drama company class under the direction of Sinéad Crowley. The work of the students culminates in a fully staged play which allows them to put to use all the skills developed over the course of the year. The students have appeared in three acclaimed pieces to date: ‘The Boy Preference’ (2023), ‘Old Times’ (2024), and ‘Heavy Weather’ (2025). They are delighted to present ‘Replica’ in 2026!
Director: Sinéad Crowley
Tickets: €15, €12 concession for students
*Booking fees apply.
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Amhráin na Mara - Songs of the Sea
2026-04-21
Tuesday 21st April @ 7.30pm
Amhráin na Mara – Songs of the Sea
le hÉamonn, Wike, Aisling, Aoife, Arin agus Ivy
Turas amhránaíochta “trasna na dtonnta” is ea Amhráin na Mara.
Amhráin na Mara is a sing-along voyage “trasna na dtonnta” (across the waves).
Oíche thaitneamhach a bheidh ann le amhráin mhara as Gaeilge agus Béarla. Bainfidh tú sult as a bheith ag canadh i dteannta le hÉamonn, Wike, Aisling, Aoife, Arin agus Ivy. Canfaidh siad roinnt amhráin atá ann leis na blianta, chomh maith le roinnt amhráin nuachumtha. Cuirfear na liricí ar fáil ar an oíche.
An enjoyable night of singing maritime songs in Irish and English. You will enjoy singing along with Éamonn, Wike, Aisling, Aoife, Arin and Ivy. They will sing a range of songs that have been around for many moons and a number of new compositions. The lyrics will be provided on the night.
Bíonn sé de nós ag Wike Schippers, Aisling Wharton, Aoife Conroy, Arin Harper, Ivy Favier agus Éamonn Ó Ceallaigh canadh agus casadh ina n-aonar agus lena chéile ag imeachtaí éagsúla i gCorcaigh agus Cúige Mumhan.
Wike Schippers, Aisling Wharton, Aoife Conroy, Arin Harper, Ivy Favier and Éamonn Ó Ceallaigh, perform individually and collaboratively at various events in Cork and Munster.
Tá Éamonn ag comhoibriú faoi láthair le Meitheal Mara, Community Boatyard Cork d’fhonn Amhráin na Mara agus Rabhcáin Mharaí a chanadh i measc mhuintir Chorcaí.
Éamonn is currently collaborating with Meitheal Mara, Community Boatyard Cork to sing Amhráin na Mara and Sea Shanties with the people of Cork.
“Hugely Talented Singers” – Bere Island Arts Festival
“Excellent Performance ” – Kinsale Regatta Festival
“Imeacht den Scoth” – Elaine
CAST:
Éamonn Ó Ceallaigh
Wike Schippers
Aisling Wharton
Aoife Conroy
Arin Harpur
Ivy Favier
This singalong performance is a fundraiser for Meitheal Mara and 50% of all ticket sales will be donated to Meitheal Mara.
Meitheal Mara is a maritime cultural organisation and community boat yard on the River Lee in Cork city. The organisation’s primary object is to promote and foster maritime culture and activities and social inclusion. Éamonn Ó Ceallaigh in collaboration with Meitheal Mara aims to bring Amhráin na Mara and Sea Shanties to the community of Cork.
Running time: 2 hours including interval
Age recommendation: All ages
Ticket Prices: €18, €14
*Booking fees apply.
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Every Brilliant Thing
2026-04-22 - 2026-04-25
Wednesday 22nd to Saturday 25th April @ 8pm

Gunpowder Productions presents

Every Brilliant Thing

Written by Duncan MacMillian with Jonny Donahoe
Directed by Clodagh Whelan

You are seven years old. Mum’s in hospital. Dad says she has ‘done something stupid’. She finds it hard to be happy.
You make a list of everything brilliant about the world. Everything worth living for; ice-cream, water fights, people falling over.
This play is both heartbreaking and heartwarming and despite the serious subject matter has audiences laughing out loud. A play about depression and the lengths we go to for those we love. With beautiful writing, hilarious comedy and a cracking soundtrack Every Brilliant Thing is an absolute joy.
“A wonderful evening with all the transformative power of theatre…in the hands of a brilliant actress Clodagh Whelan” – Munster Express
CAST: Clodagh Whelan
Prop design: Clara Murphy
Creative team: Eltin Griffin, Deirdre Foxe
Every Brilliant Thing is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and despite the serious subject matter has audiences laughing out loud. A play about depressions and the lengths we go to for those we love. With beautiful writing, hilarious comedy and a cracking soundtrack this show is an absolute joy.
Running time: 1 hour
Age recommendation: Adults
Trigger warnings: Strong themes including suicide, self harm and depression
Tickets: €18/€15 conc.
*Booking fees apply.
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Views from a Deckchair
2026-04-28 - 2026-05-02
Tuesday 28th April to Saturday 2nd May @ 8pm

Cork Arts Theatre presents

Views from a Deckchair
Ten brand-new, ten minute plays will have their world premieres at the Cork Arts Theatre from Tuesday 28th April to Saturday 2nd May 2026 as part of our ‘Views from a Deckchair’ event.
Established in 2015, the annual ‘Views from…’ series was conceived in order to encourage new writing for the stage and to bring those characters and stories to life in the intimate setting of the Cork Arts Theatre. It is also an important fundraiser for our little theatre.
With a different theme each year, the event sees hundreds of entries from authors all over the world. Some of the best acting and directing talent that Cork has to offer then set to work to create a wonderful evening of theatre that has proved immensely popular with audiences over the years.
This year a simple deckchair is the setting for the plays. But where is it situated? What part does the deckchair play in the stories that unfold? What characters will visit this setting? We do hope you’ll come along to find out.
We received a total submission of 115 plays for this event and, after much deliberation, the following ten plays were selected to be performed:

‘D is for Deckchair’ by Martin Clyffe
‘Die Deckstuhle’ by David McCall
‘Hy-Brasil’ by Brian Benjamin Dwyer
‘I Knew I Shoulda Taken that Left Turn at Area Rugs’ by Guy Newsham
‘Inside’ by Cheryl Walsh
‘The Cliff Edge’ by Chris Morris
‘The Driftwood Hour’ by Natassja Stiles
‘The End’ by Linda Teehan
‘Thirst Trap’ by Darren Hall
‘Tiny Swan’ by Barry Wood

Running time: 2 hours + 15 minute interval
Age recommendation: 14+
Trigger Warnings: Mature themes
Tickets: €16
*Booking fees apply.
SOLD OUT

Agnes of God
2026-05-05 - 2026-05-07
Tuesday 5th to Thursday 7th May @ 8pm

The Green Room Theatre Company presents

Agnes of God

Written by John Pielmeier
Directed by Jacinta McBride
Summoned to a convent, Dr. Martha Livingstone, a court-appointed psychiatrist, is charged with assessing the sanity of a novice accused of murdering her newborn. Miriam Ruth, the Mother Superior, determinedly keeps young Agnes from the doctor, further arousing Livingstone’s suspicions. Who killed the infant, and who fathered the tiny victim? Livingstone’s questions force all three women to re-examine the meaning of faith and the power of love, leading to a dramatic, compelling climax.
John Pielmeier’s provocative drama, a gripping and dynamic play, was a hit on Broadway and on film.
CREDITS: This amateur production of “Agnes of God” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk
CAST:
Angela Tanner
Chloe O’Leary
Karen McCarthy

Running time: 120 minutes
Age recommendation: 16+
Trigger Warnings: Mature themes
Tickets: €18
*Booking fees apply.
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'Apocalypse How?' - Cork Fringe
2026-05-08 - 2026-05-09
Friday 8th May @ 7.00pm
and Saturday 9th May @ 2.30pm
Cork Fringe 2026 presents
Apocalypse How?
The world has ended. GADZOOKS! Thankfully, the Doomslayers — Donna Fella, Annie Queeries, and Laylah Beattie — are here to guide you seamlessly into the Bottom Bunker of this brave new world, however charred and radioactive it may be. In this riotous cabaret-theatre spectacle, our unlikely Queeroes step into their roles as Apocalyptic Administrators, serving survival strategies with sequins and satire.
Expect high camp, low rations, and a bunker load of queer camaraderie as they navigate the modern malaise. Apocalypse HOW? is the ultimate glitter-soaked guide to thriving, surviving, and tap-dancing defiantly through the doom and gloom of our dystopian present.
Cast & Crew:
Laylah Beattie – Writer and Star
Donna Fella – Writer and Star
Annie Queeries – Writer and Star
Alan Porter – Sound
Duration: 70 minutes
Age Recommendation: 12+ accompanied by an adult
Trigger Warnings: Coarse language, Sexual References, Audience Participation, References to Mental Health Struggles
This venue is wheelchair accessible, if you have accessibility requirements, please email us at info@corkfringe.com ahead of your visit so we can adequately prepare the space for your comfort.
Ticket Price: €12.50
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'Dyke on Dyke Road' - Cork Fringe
2026-05-09
Saturday 9th May @ 8.00pm
Cork Fringe 2026 presents
Dyke on Dyke Road
Dyke on Dyke Road follows a straight, Catholic, repressed young woman who leaves West Cork and a line of suitors on Clonakilty beach dates, up to Galway where she figures out what a real Dyke looks like.
After the mother of all sessions in Galway she goes on pilgrimage to Dunmanway where she sits down with herself and a rollie and finally looks in the mirror. Told with humour, honesty, and fiercely true, Dyke on Dyke Road is a chaotic, beautiful show not to be missed.
Cast & Crew:
Grace Hurley – Artist
Alaoise Scherer – Director
Nicola Thornton – Stage Manager
Duration: 70 minutes
Age Recommendation: 18+
Trigger Warnings: Coarse language, Sexual References
This venue is wheelchair accessible, if you have accessibility requirements, please email us at info@corkfringe.com ahead of your visit so we can adequately prepare the space for your comfort.
Ticket Price: €12.50
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'Lady on the Rock' - Cork Fringe
2026-05-10
Sunday 10th May @ 4.00pm
Cork Fringe 2026 presents
Lady on the Rock
Misery loves company.
From her perch on Margaret’s windowsill, the Lady on the Rock statue has seen it all. She’s ready to tell you about the girl she watched grow up through the curtains. Their lives intertwined, but when Margaret begins to pull away, their companionship turns sinister.
A dark, tragicomic show that blends sharp Irish humour with gothic surrealism. An exploration of loneliness and longing, that asks us what we inherit, and how can it trap us?
Developed at the Scene + Heard Festival of New Work.
Cast & Crew:
Jack Maguire – Writer & Producer
Kennedy Fiorella – Assistant Director, Stage Manager
Liath Hannon – Lead Actor
David Donovan – Director
Aisling Doyle – Makeup
Conor McGowan – Lighting, AV & Tech
Mark Leahy – Music & Sound
Duration: 60 minutes
Age Recommendation: 18+
Trigger Warnings: Coarse Language, Scenes of Violence, Potentially Triggering Themes
This venue is wheelchair accessible, if you have accessibility requirements, please email us at info@corkfringe.com ahead of your visit so we can adequately prepare the space for your comfort.
Ticket Price: €12.50
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Improv Thingimabob
2026-05-12
Tuesday 12th May @ 8pm
THE BOLD ENSEMBLE PRESENT OUR ALL NEW

Improv Thingimabob

Hot on the heels of their sellout shows at the Cork Arts Theatre, the Kinsale Arts Weekend and The Mallow Arts Festival in 2025, The Bold Ensemble return to Cork Arts Theatre with their all new Improv Thingimabob.
A HILARIOUS NIGHT OF COMEDY SKETCHES BASED ON AUDIENCE SUGGESTIONS… AND A MULTIPLE EPISODE SOAP OPERA MADE UP ON THE SPOT!
See a down-on-their luck customer bring their woes, you decide what they are, to the bar in the musical, and lyrical Bartender Blues. Which weird misfit will be chosen by the lucky contestant on Blind Date?… and who will survive Survivor? It’s up to you…
…AND, at the start of the show, we will create characters based on your suggestions to return after the interval to play out a multi-episode, Soap Opera,… AND, the story arc will be decided by you, the audience
The Bold Ensemble have been delighting Cork audiences for over 12 years, so come along to this great fun night and see your suggestions, however zany, played out for you on the spot, and watch as laughter and chaos ensues.
Dave Ramseyer, Ivy Favier, Sheila Kelleher and Micheál Roche – We Are The Bold Ensemble.
This show is for ONE NIGHT ONLY, book early to avoid disappointment.
Not suitable for under 16s.
Running time: 1hr 30mins including interval.
Tickets: €15, €12.50 (concessions)
*Booking fees apply.
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Cork International Poetry Festival 2026
2026-05-13 - 2026-05-16
Wednesday 13th – Saturday 16th May 2026
Cork International Poetry Festival

The Cork International Poetry Festival is Ireland’s biggest annual poetry festival. It celebrates Cork as a vibrant poetry scene with international connections. Every year major Irish and international poets gather for four days of readings, discussions, workshops and film.
The programme of readings taking place this year at the Cork Arts Theatre is as follows:

Wednesday 13th May @ 7pm
Stephen de Búrca and Gerard Smyth
Details and Booking

Wednesday 13th May @ 8.30pm
Cian Ferriter and Enda Wyley
Details and Booking

Wednesday 13th May @ 10pm
Shangyang Fang and Jennifer Lee Tsai
Details and Booking

Thursday 14th May @ 7pm
Cathy Galvin and Greg Rappleye
Details and Booking

Thursday 14th May @ 8.30pm
John F. Deane and Martha Sprackland
Details and Booking

Thursday 14th May @ 10pm
Christina Hennemann & Audrey Molloy
Details and Booking

Friday 15th May @ 7pm
Simon Maddrell & Máighréad Medbh

Details and Booking

Friday 15th May @ 8.30pm
Niall Campbell & Polly Clark
Details and Booking

Friday 15th May @ 10pm
Anthony Joseph & Patricia Smith
Details and Booking

Saturday 16th May @ 3pm
Fool for Poetry & Gregory O’Donoghue Prize Readings
Details and Booking

Saturday 16th May @ 4.30pm
Isabelle Baafi & Dean Browne
Details and Booking

Saturday 16th May @ 7pm
Kevin Graham and Bruce Snider

Details and Booking

Saturday 16th May @ 8.30pm
Leo Boix and Henry Cole
Details and Booking

Saturday 16th May @ 10pm
Kim Moore & Annemarie Ní Churreáin
Details and Booking

Patient:Soldier
2026-05-20 - 2026-05-23
Wednesday 20th to Saturday 23rd May @ 8pm
Storytime presents
Patient:Soldier
Written by Barra Fitzgibbon and Katherine White
Directed by Daniel Clarkson
Performed by Katherine White
Black Death, Spanish Flu, Cholera, the Grim Reaper’s greatest hits.
Now it’s 2020, and there’s a new plague in town.
Dr Reaper takes the stage in this darkly funny, but always true story of an Irishman’s fight for life and love. At its core, the belief that words, connection, and sheer will can tip the scales between survival and surrender. A love letter to the health service, this is a warts-and-all journey through an overwhelmed hospital at breaking point, part battlefield, part comedy club, part confessional. Both hilarious and heartbreaking, PATIENT:SOLDIER exposes the chaos, courage, and absurd humanity at the frontline of a system pushed to its limits.
CREDITS:
Writer: Barra Fitzgibbon
Co-Writer: Katherine White (Award-winning writer with Doctor Who credits).
Director: Daniel Clarkson (Olivier Nominated)
Lighting Designer: Adam Foley (Award-winning West End designer).
“Quotation”
“A fantastic show. Emotional with such honest and direct impact,
cleverly written and performed. A real insight into Barra’s experience but even more than that,
capturing a moment in time that was strange for everyone.”
– Rosemary Richards, Director of Bloomsbury Festival, London.
Audience Reviews
“An unforgettable night. A powerful piece of poignant theatre.”
“A most memorable evening … no point adding more words, you just had to be there. Quite special!”
“A wonderfully written and heartfelt play.”
Running time: 60mins | No interval | Additional Q & A
Age recommendation: 16+
Trigger Warnings: Strong language
Ticket Prices: €20 / €18
*Booking fees apply.
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DIVA
2026-05-26 - 2026-05-30
Tuesday 26th to Saturday 30th May @ 8pm
Katie Holly presents
DIVA
Written by Katie Holly
Directed by Laura O’Mahony
Norma has been the manager of multiple wedding bands for nearly a decade, pandering to bridezillas and gormless grooms, dealing with woeful wedding venues and misogynistic drummers, while building a highly successful business. She’s good at what she does and she knows it. Until she is unexpectedly faced with a wedding full of people from her home town; people she hasn’t seen since she left Ballybeggin under mortifying circumstances. Now she must explain her out-of-character actions to Garda Aine O’Dowd, a no nonsense professional who likes to knock people off kilter in order to get to the truth.
Will she be on Norma’s side when she hears the details? Or will she go with her initial gut instinct, that Norma is nothing more than an entitled, law-breaking diva?
CAST:
Irene Kelleher
Laura Harte
CREATIVE TEAM:
Directed by Laura O’Mahony
Lighting and Sound Design by Cormac O’Connor
Written and Produced by Katie Holly
Writer Katie Holly — shortlisted for Susan Smith Blackburn Prize (the world’s largest prize for women playwrights) and award winner at New York Festivals awards for audio drama — premieres her new play DIVA at Cork Arts Theatre this May. The script development of ‘Diva’ was kindly supported by Cork Theatre Collective and the Arts Council of Ireland.
To read more about Katie’s work visit www.katiehollytheatre.ie
Running Time: 60 minutes, no interval
Age recommendation: 16+
Ticket Prices: €20
*Booking fees apply.
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The Dowry
2026-06-03 - 2026-06-06
Wednesday 3rd to Saturday 6th June @ 8pm
The Dowry
Presented by Lee Side Drama Group
Written by Derry Cotter
Directed by John McCaffrey
​In the heart of a rural Irish village in the mid-1950s, the Barry family finds itself entangled in an intricate web of tradition, societal expectations, and familial duty. The Dowry unfolds within the confines of the Barry household’s kitchen, a microcosm of the larger societal dynamics at play. The narrative delves into the complexities of land succession, the plight of women in a patriarchal society, and the omnipresent influence of the Catholic Church.
The play opens with Sheila Barry and her daughter Mary preparing food, setting the stage for the return of Tom Barry, the patriarch, and John Joe Comerford, the village matchmaker. The conversation quickly turns to Liam Barry, the son, whose prowess on the hurling field is a source of pride for the family. Yet, beneath the surface of this seemingly idyllic rural life, tensions simmer. The Barry family, like many others, is bound by the traditions of land inheritance, where the farm is passed to the eldest son only upon the father’s death.
The play’s tension reaches a crescendo with the introduction of Sarah Burke, Liam’s intended. Her presence in the Barry household is both a promise of continuity and a catalyst for conflict. The dowry negotiations, orchestrated by John Joe Comerford, become a battleground for control and legacy. Through a series of dramatic events, including a contentious land sale, the Barry family must confront their values and the future of their legacy.
Duration: 2 hours
Ages: Suitable for all ages
Trigger Warnings: None
Ticket Prices: €18
*Booking fees apply.
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Constellations
2026-06-16 - 2026-06-20
Tuesday 16th – Saturday 20th June at 8.30pm
plus Saturday matinee at 2pm
Cork Arts Theatre in association with Cork Midsummer Festival
presents
Constellations
by Nick Payne
Directed by Al Dalton
“One drink. And if you never want to see me again you never have to see me again.”
Constellations by Nick Payne is a stirring love story with infinite possibilities. A quantum physicist and a beekeeper meet at a barbeque. They hit it off, or perhaps they don’t. They go home together, or maybe they don’t. In the multiverse, with every possible future ahead of them, a love of honey could make all the difference.
Directed by Al Dalton (Misterman, The Cure) and starring actors Julie Maguire (The Quare Fellow, Anna Karenina – Abbey Theatre) and Aidan Moriarty (King Lear – Gate Theatre, Translations – Abbey Theatre), Constellations is the second in Cork Arts Theatre’s Re:Directing season 2026 – a series of contemporary plays platforming three Cork theatre directors, produced in-house and funded by The Arts Council.
A tender, and at times, heartbreaking drama about love, free will, and the choices that define us, Constellations runs for six performances only. Tipped by the Irish Times as one of the Top Twenty theatre events for 2026, don’t miss your chance to catch it !
“Who knew that higher physics could be so sexy, so accessible — and so emotionally devastating?” – The New York Times
Starring: Julie Maguire & Aidan Moriarty
Directed by Al Dalton
Set by Aedín Cosgrove
Lighting by Dara Hoban
Sound by Arran MacGabhann
Costume by Valentina Gambardella
Movement and Intimacy direction by Cathy Walsh
Technical Manager: Jamie Feehily
Production Manager: Joe McNicholas
Stage Manager: Aoife Byrne
Assistant Director: Chloe Walsh
Assistant Stage Manager: Ava Manning
Assistant Production Manager: Jack Kirby
Poster design: Martha Hegarty
Image: Martha Hegarty / Celeste Burdon
Duration: 80mins, no interval
Trigger warnings: Adult content / themes
TICKET PRICES:
Wed 17th – Sat 20th June at 8.30pm plus Saturday matinee at 2pm.
Tickets: €24 / €20 conc. plus booking fee
Preview: Tuesday 16th, 8.30pm.
Tickets: €18 plus booking fee
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