Theatre to reopen with lifetime memberships

CORK’S newest theatre has launched a drive to recruit lifetime members.

The Cork Arts Theatre, or Cat Club as it is known, is due to reopen in November.

But the “‘little theatre with the big heart”’ is hoping to attract regular and new theatre goers to join over the coming weeks and raise much needed funds.

“We are dependent to a huge extent for our funding on ‘bums on seats’ as the saying goes,” theatre manager Dolores Mannion said.

“And we appeal to all those with a love of theatre to aid us in our efforts to make the new Cork Arts Theatre a venue of which all Corkonians can be proud.”

The membership deal will entitle members to two free tickets for the opening nights of all in-house productions, concessions on tickets for all other shows, special promotional offers throughout the year and an invitation to the official opening of the new auditorium and exhibition venue.

The theatre has played a vital role in the artistic life of Cork for three decades.

It has staged hundreds of productions, encouraged the writing of new plays and provided a much-needed performance space.

It was demolished last year and rebuilt as part of a major apartment complex.

Rehearsals are already underway for the first production at the new theatre.

The new play by well-known local poet and playwright, Patrick Galvin, author of “Song for a Raggy Boy”, will be staged in November.

The Lifetime deal is available until October 31st. Details from 021-4508398.