16 May 2017
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
The Everyman has a tantalising line up for the summer season with a rich mix of theatre, music, comedy and family shows. With over 100,000 customers through the doors in 2016, the Everyman team are looking forward to creating more magic for Cork audiences in the season ahead.
Julie Kelleher, Artistic Director of the The Everyman, Cork. Pic: Miki Barlok
Speaking at the launch of the programme, Julie Kelleher, Artistic Director said: “It has been, and continues to be, my pleasure and my privilege to introduce our seasons to you, though the real fun is seeing you come out in numbers to support the various elements of the programme. My thanks to you for your continued support of the artists who make and present shows here, and indeed your support of the building, which as you know, celebrates its 120th birthday this year. This season continues our pledge to honour the rich and varied performance history of the building through a programme that brings you the very best of the performing arts.”
Each of the 12 months of this year hosts a special Everyman 120 show – an event that encapsulates the best of the building’s past, present or future, as the theatre continues its mission of maintaining tradition and breaking new ground. The Everyman 120 shows to look out for in the coming months include the unmissable Irish premiere of Futureproof by remarkable Cork playwright, Lynda Radley, which is part of the Cork Midsummer Festival this June. Following the success of Lovers (2015) and The Factory Girls (2016), the Everyman continues the tradition of producing top quality drama, this time giving Brian Friel’s masterpiece Dancing at Lughnasa the winning Everyman touch. Both productions feature large ensembles of Ireland’s most accomplished actors and the finest creative teams.
The Everyman continues the tradition of producing top quality drama, this time giving Brian Friel’s masterpiece Dancing at Lughnasa the winning Everyman touch. For full details on the summer programme, visit www.everymancork.com Picture: Miki Barlok
MacCurtain Street and the Victorian Quarter has really sprung to life in the last couple of years, and it really has everything you need to feed, water, and entertain yourself in style for a great night out. In theatre, leading UK theatre company Paines Plough, bring their smash hit Edinburgh show Every Brilliant Thing to the stage in July. The programme also offers some of the big hits from last year’s Dublin Fringe Festival: Joanne McNally’s honest and funny Bite Me; Brokentalkers’ stunning take on Europe’s refugee crisis, This Beach; the charming and hilarious To Hell In A Handbag, which gives a leading role to a pair of supporting characters from Oscar Wilde’s beloved The Importance of Being Earnest; and last, but by no means least, a show that Julie Kelleher has had her sights on for a few years now: Moonfish Theatre’s gorgeous and unique adaptation of Joseph O’Connor’s bestselling novel, Star of the Sea, a production that is everything that modern Irish theatre can, and should be.
The autumn sees a range of exciting nights in the shape of live gigs, comedy and even movies: The Illegals, featuring Niamh Kavanagh; She Moved Through The Fair (which features songs made famous by Cork singer, Margaret Barry); two editions of the Everyman Sunday Songbook; John Spillane; David O’ Doherty; as well as a host of riches yet to be announced from Cork Comedy Festival (September); Guinness Cork Jazz Festival (October) and Cork Film Festival (November).
From great nights out to the great outdoors, for those who love nothing more than tales of great adventure, the Everyman sees the return of Tom Crean: Antarctic Explorer, as well as appearances from legendary mountaineer Simon Yates (of Touching the Void fame) and Ireland’s answer to David Attenborough: wildlife expert Colin Stafford Johnson.
Families who fancy a bit of the weird and wonderful should check out the acclaimed production of Alice In Wonderland by Blue Raincoat, which opens on Halloween night and runs right through the midterm break. The record-breaking 2016 panto, Red Riding Hood, was the most successful in the history of the Everyman. Tickets are on sale now and early birds can grab the best seats in the house by booking a family ticket to this year’s highly anticipated panto, Beauty and the Beast.
As ever, the Everyman are bringing the best of national, and international touring in theatre, opera and dance to Cork. Keep an eye out for the Opera Collective Ireland production of Benjamin Britten’s Owen Wingrave, and the return of Ballet Ireland with a pre-Christmas treat, Romeo & Juliet.
With 326 performances last year, 106 productions, the Everyman continue to grow bigger and better, offering an eclectic mix of entertainment for all ages, every week.
Executive Director Seán Kelly commented at the launch, “Yes, I’m biased, but we have a superb programme lined up for the coming season. We couldn’t function without the steadfast support of our audiences and there really is something for every one of them to enjoy in this programme. I’m especially excited about our two summer productions – Futureproof and our brand new production of Brian Friel’s masterpiece, Dancing at Lughnasa.”
See www.everymancork.com for full details of the Everyman summer programme. Tickets for all shows are available now from the website, or from the box office, telephone 021 4501 673.
