Be our guests: Cork's panto dames on their excitement to welcome audiences once more

Siobhan Howe joined the team behind the Opera House panto during a tumultuous week and Marjorie Brennan meets Ciarán Birmingham as he takes to the stage for the sixth year in the Everyman

Frank Mackey plays Nanny Nellie in the Cork Opera House Panto 'Nanny Nellie's Adventures in Pantoland from December 10th. Pictures: Eddie O'Hare

Cork Opera House panto is days away from opening and this last week has been full of tension and stress for the team behind the show.

Full dress rehearsals, technical checks, perfecting special effects, last-minute nerves… these are normal pre-show activity – and aren’t the source of this stress. Instead all eyes were on Dublin, the pending government announcements and what they would mean for panto.