Here is another Bulletin of Theatre events with some interesting plays for the next few weeks. Also, pay close attention to the last item in the Bulletin, the African Dance workshop, which I’ve been told its great fun!

Best wishes,

Marcus

UCC Drama & Theatre Studies

2nd Year Student Production

“Broken”

in association with Dr. Róisín O’Gorman DTS-UCC

@ Granary Theatre 8pm
Wed Nov 28th – Sat Dec 1st
Tickets: € 7.00 / €5.00 conc - Granary Box Office tel 021 490 4275
for further details contact m.portley@ucc.ie ext 4229

BROKEN creates a nightmare world where characters split and multiply. This play, based on Charles Mee’s ORESTES 2.0 incorporates devised work and an original sound score. The story of a family torn apart by conflicting loyalties and murderous reprisals is set within a contemporary post-war world of decay and psychological disorder. Devised from the Greek classic, this play challenges our understanding of family loyalties and confronts our contemporary habit of diluting, mediating and comodifying the brutality of war.

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A Decadent Theatre Production

Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me
By Frank McGuinness

Directed by Andrew Flynn

Inspired by the story of Brian Keenan, the Belfast man who was taken hostage in Beirut, this is a heartrendingly compassionate, tenderly tragic but also uproariously funny play. Chained to a wall in horrific conditions, an Irishman, Englishman and American overcome their tensions to form a close friendship under the appalling strain of captivity.

“The audience are so invested in the drama that they readily gasp, laugh and cry.” — Irish Theatre Magazine

From Monday 19th November until Sat 1 Dec in the Halfmoon Theatre
Shows at 8.30pm
Tickets: e25 plus e2.50 booking fee
Booking: 021 427 0022
Information Line: 021 427 4308
www.corkoperahouse.ie

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Cork Opera House and Cyclone Theatre Company present

The Merchant of Venice
By William Shakespeare

@ the Half Moon Theatre

Some Shakespeare scholars say The Merchant of Venice was written as a comedy. Building on that idea — and on the success of Romeo & Juliet – director Peadar Donohoe brings the same cast to this production set in 16th century Venice. This is Shakespeare as you’ve never seen it, complete with pie fights, clowning characters, and a slapstick style brimming with zany comedic energy.

Cast: Paula McGlinchey, Sean McNally, Shane Casey, Damian Punch & Marcus Bale

All tickets, €15. Running time, 90 minutes with no interval.

Tue 4 Dec at 10:30am and 1:30pm
Wed 5 Dec at 10:30am
Thu 6 Dec at 10:30am and 8:30pm
Fri 7 Dec at 10:30am and 1:30pm
Tue 11 Dec at 10:30am and 1:30pm
Wed 12 Dec at 10:30am and 1:30pm
Thu 13 Dec at 10:30am and 1:30pm
Fri 14 Dec at 10:30am and 1:30pm

MANY PERFORMANCES ARE SOLD OUT – RING BOX OFFICE TO CHECK AVAILABILITY

Tickets: €15 plus €2.50 booking fee (school groups exempt)
YOU CAN BOOK YOUR TICKETS ONLINE, BY PHONE OR IN PERSON

ONLINE: www.corkoperahouse.ie
* 7 days a week, 24 hours a day! Just click here and select Buy
Tickets – couldn’t be simpler!

BY PHONE: 021 427 0022
Lines Open:
* Mon-Sat: 9am-7pm (6pm on non-performance nights)
* Sundays & Bank Holidays: 6pm-9pm
* closed on non-performance nights
* All internet and telephone bookings are subject to a handling fee per ticket.

IN PERSON: Emmet Place, Cork City
Opening Hours:
* Mon-Sat: 9am-8.30pm (5.30pm on non-performance nights)

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“Cork Circus’s Winter Explosion’ Show

An action packed circus variety show, truely fun for all the family!

This is the second showcase of the skills of the hardworking, multicultural members of Cork Circus’s weekly adult circus skills workshop. And anyone who saw the first show, left amazed by the high standard and raw energy of each and every performance.

This time around there are over 15 acts! Including; acrobatics, unicycling, dance, magic, juggling and clowning. 90minutes (with interval) of the spice of life!!

It is on in the Lough community centre on Sunday the 9th of December at 7pm. Entry by donation (recommended €5), funds raised will go to the community centre. Tea and buns will be served!

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Charity Comedy Christmas show in Cork, 11-16 Dec 2007

Hello, if you’d like to help three of Cork’s most important charities this Christmas, there’s a very funny show happening in Cork this
December.

The Reindeer Monologues is all about Santa’s 8 reindeer and what it’s like to work in the North Pole the day before Christmas Eve. Directed by Jim Hyde, proceeds from the shows will directly help the great work of three charities serving Cork and Munster: ARC Cancer Support House, the Breast Care Unit of The South Infirmary Hospital and Cork’s Hearing-Impaired and Deaf community.

Kind of like The Office, but set in the Arctic Circle this great show, by Jeff Goode of the USA, gives everyone the chance to get a break from Panto’s this Christmas and see some silly grown-up humour about what Santa really uses those sleigh rides for! The 8 reindeer are: Dasher (the serious one); Cupid (the silly one); Blitzen (the fiery one); Hollywood (the egotistical one); Comet (the tough one); Donner (the fatherly one); Dancer (the cute one) and Vixen (the flirty one). There’s also a couple of elves thrown into the mix.

Starring Cora Fenton, Adrian Scanlan, Taylor Lane, Kate McSwiney-O’Rourke and Brian Stynes,

The Reindeer Monologues is on at the Cork Arts Theatre (Carroll’s Quay) from Dec 11 to Dec 16 (Tuesday to Sunday night). Please call 021 450 5624 to book.

Many of Cork’s most caring companies are hosting the show. Opening Night is hosted by John Fleming of Audivox Hearing Centre of Wilton Shopping Centre. Sheena’s Boutique, Oliver Plunkett Street, is hosting Sun, Dec 16; Shandon Street Hospital, 73 Shandon Street, is hosting Fri, Dec 14; Trulife Medical Equipment & Services, Coal Quay, is hosting Sat, Dec 15; and the Quality Hotel & Leisure Centre, John Redmond Street, Shandon, is hosting Wed, Dec 12.

The Opening Night will be something very special for Cork. To aid Cork’s deaf/hearing-impaired community and the Cork Deaf Association, there will be a sign language interpretation. This is rare for mainstream Cork theatre - we want to give everyone the chance to experience and enjoy live theatre and comedy.

Tickets for the shows cost €20, with proceeds to these charities. Good boys and girls in the audience will, naturally, be given lots of free sweeties and mulled wine!

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AFRICAN DANCE WORKSHOP conducted by Ouali Bebe.

Bebe comes from the Ivory Coast, he will be visiting Ireland to hold a two days workshop. Bebe is an electric performer and a brilliant teacher. He has taught and performed for many years from Africa to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Expect brilliant music, infectious energy and fat laughs. Bebe incorporates ndolo, kwasa kwasa and soukous movements in his dance. The workshop is open to all, no previous experience is necessary. Bebe’s work is especially revealing to achieve relaxed and supple movements and to get a firm contact with the floor.

Dates and Times: 1st Dec, from 4.30 to 7 pm.
2nd Dec, from 2.30 to 5pm

(You are free to come to both or on either days)

Venue: Cork Movement Centre, 32/33 South Main St., Cork.
Cost: €40 (€35) for both days; €25 (€20) for one day
Contacts: 0872 645 5074, info@artimmediate.com
More information on: www.artimmediate.com/africandance
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