Pantos, festive shows, and concerts: 16 to book for Christmas in Cork and beyond
Issy Khogali and Anthony Sahota of Cork Opera House's upcoming panto, Aladdin. Picture: Michael O'Sullivan / OSM PHOTO
Hop on the magic carpet to the Opera House, as everyone’s favourite street urchin teams up for fun and adventure with a cast of homegrown and West End talent, including Anthony Sahota as Aladdin, the iconic Frank Mackey as Nanny Nellie and Michael Grennell fulfilling his usual duties as the baddie everyone loves to hate. A visual feast awaits under the expert guidance of director Trevor Ryan. Tickets: €25/€39.50/€42.50/family pass from €145.
There’s also plenty of magic and enchantment in the air at the Everyman, where director Catherine Mahon-Buckley and Cork panto veteran Ciaran Bermingham team up on writing duties to sprinkle their fairy dust on this much-loved classic. star Leah Barniville plays Cinderella with stalwart support from an impressive cast, including the always hilarious Fionula Lenihan. Tickets: €30/€38.50/family €140.
More mayhem than magic, and definitely not for the smallies, this alternative panto boasts a wealth of Cork comedic and theatrical talent, including Dominic MacHale of Laura O’Mahony and Declan Wolfe. Unprepared and unscripted, the audience gets to call the shots. Tickets: €21.50/€25/reduced prices for large groups.
Guaranteed to get you in the Christmas spirit, this perennially popular event returns under the baton of conductor John O’Brien and features a selection of classical favourites, traditional carols, and contemporary festive hits with accompaniment from the Opera House Concert Orchestra. Tickets: €33/€35/€38/€40.
A much-loved fixture on the Christmas calendar, this year’s event lives up to its theme of ‘A Very Cork Christmas’ showcasing some of the city’s most impressive talent, including soprano Majella Cullagh, the Cork Concert Orchestra, the Joan Denise Moriarty School of Dance, Montforts Youth Choir and Cór Cois Abhann. Proceeds from the charity event will go to Cork Alzheimer’s, Shine A Light, and Samaritans Cork. Tickets: €30/€40.
This atmospheric chapel in the gorgeous surrounds of Nano Nagle Place is the perfect setting to embrace the more spiritual side of Christmas with this immersive retelling of the Dickens classic emphasising the importance of compassion, connection and redemption as Ebenezer Scrooge faces up to some home truths from the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. Tickets, €15.
Take a breather from the festive frenzy and enjoy some calm and serenity as leading concert pianist Fionnuala Moynihan performs some of Chopin’s most celebrated works as well as her own arrangements of Christmas carols and songs. Tickets: €16/€18.
The superstar violinist, conductor and ‘King of the Waltz’ brings his particular brand of joy to his millions of fans around the world in this festive edition of his hugely successful series of filmed concerts. Recorded in his hometown of Maastricht in the Netherlands, it features the Johann Strauss Orchestra, special guests and a large brass ensemble playing a selection of Christmas carols, popular classics, and, of course, waltzes.
There’s sure to be laughs aplenty as Danny O’Carroll of and most recently takes centre stage as the Dame in the evergreen tale of a boy and his magic beans. He joins Waterford’s own Richie Hayes as Muddles and Evan O’Hanlon as Jack and a cast of talented young local performers in what promises to be a show-stopping spectacular. Tickets from €25.
Laying claim to be the fairest panto of them all, Snow White and her seven loyal sidekicks, with the help of the Dame, the huntsmen, some woodland creatures and an entourage of minions, take on the wickedest of stepmothers in search of their own happy ending. This all-children panto is presented by the students of the Jackie O’Mahoney School of Performing Arts. Tickets: €19/€21.
Actor, TikTok star and Limerick native Stuart Mackey will be wielding the glass slipper as Prince Charming in this production of the family favourite. Country music star Cliona Hagan will bring her vocal chops as the Fairy Godmother, as will Cork’s Keith Hanley, former winner, who plays Dandini, with Esther Brady as Cinderella. Tickets: €17-€36.Â
Fun for all the family is promised in another adaptation of the fairytale, written by Pat McElwain. Will the evil Queen get her comeuppance? Tickets: €17.50/family, €65.
The ’tale as old as time’ is a fitting choice for this Dublin theatrical institution which has been putting on pantos since the 1870s. It has already proved to be an extremely popular choice, with the run extended until the middle of January. Legendary Dame Joe Conlan as Nana Potts is joined by Nicholas Grennell as Papa, Ciara Lyons as Belle, and David James Whelan as Beast. Tickets from €22.50.
Another appearance by the original grinch, our old friend Ebenezer Scrooge, this time in an adaptation by Neil Bartlett, and starring Lloyd Hutchinson as Scrooge and Emmet Kirwan as Bob Cratchit. Tickets from €21.50.
One of Ireland’s best-known sopranos, Celine Byrne is no stranger to the impressive Grand Canal Dock venue. An enchanting evening is in store as she presents a selection of carols, Christmas favourites and classic musical numbers. Tickets from €41.10.
Tapping into the current love for all things with the release of the movie’s second instalment, this show, written and directed by Al Porter and Ryan Andrews, puts a new twist on the as Olly, Polly and Dolly defy gravity to hit the Yellow Brick Road. Tickets from €25.40.
