<img src='' title='Event Category: Children & Family' alt='' id='templ_icon_' width='' height='' /> Event Category: Children & Family

Dear Zoo

See our characters write to the Zoo. Who will be delivered? A cheeky monkey, a jumpy frog and of course a perfect puppy. Help your children learn as the book leaps onto the stage and share a magical experience as the story unfolds with child-engaging puppets, music and lots of audience interaction.

Rod Campbell is the master of interactive storytelling and an expert in early learning for pre-schoolers. As a trusted household name, his books have stood the test of time and continue to be a staple addition to the family bookshelf and a popular choice for early years’ teachers. The creator of more than 200 books for children, Rod Campbell’s unique ability to be both fun and reassuring encourages children to discover and delight in the world around them. Celebrating 35 years in 2017, the story of a child who writes to the zoo asking them to send a pet continues to delight each new generation of children as they lift the flaps in search of the perfect animal.

Join us to see what the zoo has sent: the perfect pet–in the end!

SPECIAL EFFECTS: This production may contain Strobe Lighting, Flashing Lights, Smoke and Haze.

AGE GUIDANCE: Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult

*Performance schedule and times are subject to change and may be affected by illness or events beyond the producers’ or venues’ control. Performers, dates, times, prices, and fees are subject to change without notice.

Briery Gap presents All Ireland Second Level Schools Drama and Light Entertainment Competition.

The Briery Gap, Macroom, are once again delighted to stage the All Ireland 2nd level schools festivals at Cork Opera House. The preliminary rounds were held at Mullingar Arts Centre and Briery Gap, Macroom. The finalists are now preparing to perform at the prestigious Cork Opera House, with the Light Entertainment Competition on Monday 24th March  and Transition Year Drama Competition on Tuesday 25th March.

Both days commencing at 11am. Best of luck to all those that have qualified for Grand Finals.

Rhythmic Feet – Incorporating the McCarthy Hegarty School of Irish Dancing

Rhythmic feet are a troupe of Irish dancers who have travelled extensively throughout Europe over the past number of years. We have performed in countries such as France, Spain, Italy and the Czech Republic to name a few. We also perform at various corporate events and weddings, as well as dancing on board some of the world’s largest cruise liners, when they dock in Cork over the summer months.

Our group is formed from the McCarthy Hegarty School of Irish Dancing which is based in Mayfield & Glanmire. The school has been running successfully for 31 years, catering for competitive and non- competitive dancers from beginner right through to World Championship level.

We are honoured yet again to be holding our show in the wonderful surroundings of the Cork Opera House, where we are combining all members of the McCarthy Hegarty School of Irish Dancing with our senior troupe ‘Rhythmic Feet’.

Showtime 2025 – Sinead Sheppard’s School Of Performing Arts

Sinead Sheppard’s School of Performing Arts are delighted to be presenting “SHOWTIME 2025”, the 19th Annual end of year production for the school.

Children from as young as three years and up will take to the stage over two shows to perform a number of Dance styles from Hiphop, Commercial, Acro and Musical Theatre to entertain you in this wonderful production of song and dance.

SHOWTIME is guaranteed to be a fun, and entertaining production showcasing fabulous talent from kids of all ages.

Sweet and Sour – The Tribute to Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo

Get ready for an electrifying night of pop anthems, heartbreak hits, and fierce rival vibes at Sweet and Sour–the ultimate Olivia Rodrigo vs. Sabrina Carpenter tribute show! Featuring a powerhouse live band and dynamic dancers, this show brings every beat and lyric to life, immersing you in the stories, sass, and soul of two of pop’s biggest sensations.

Feel the intensity of Olivia’s raw, emotional ballads like Drivers License and Vampire, and let loose to Sabrina’s unapologetic anthems like Please, Please, Please and Nonsense. With every note and move, our performers channel the sweetness and sting of young love, breakups, and finding your voice. From captivating vocals to striking visuals, Sweet and Sour delivers the ultimate showdown that’ll make you sing, dance, and relive every bittersweet moment.

Whether you’re Team Rodrigo, Team Carpenter, or somewhere in between, this tribute show is an unforgettable experience!

SPECIAL EFFECTS: This production may contain Strobe Lighting, Flashing Lights, Smoke and Haze.

AGE GUIDANCE: Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult.

*Performance schedule and times are subject to change and may be affected by illness or events beyond the producers’ or venues’ control. Performers, dates, times, prices, and fees are subject to change without notice.

StudioWolfe – Motown Celebration

Get Ready for the Show of the Year!

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough to keep us from announcing our Annual Studio Wolfe Dance Show at the Cork Opera House, with the electrifying theme of Motown!

This unforgettable event will have you dancing in the aisles as we showcase the incredible talents of all our students, from our adorable Preschoolers to our outstanding Teenage students.

Expect a night full of Dancing in the Street, dazzling choreography, and performances that will make you want to say, I Heard It Through the Grapevine—this is a show you won’t want to miss!

The Tracks of My Tears will be real if you miss this!

Cruinniú na nÓg

Ringo: Music Bingo – the world’s best Music-Intro and Comedy based Game (Not Quiz) returns to Cork Opera House. It’s a simple game where Ronan plays the intros to songs and if it’s on your sheet, you mark it off. There are fun prizes to win and fun to be had for everyone.

This session will be a Cork Opera House special with a lot of songs that have been featured in recent Pantos, Summer Shows and Proms Concerts – such as Song from Wicked, The Greatest Showman and The Sound of Music, Irish classics like Sinéad O’Connor and The Cranberries to brilliant Pop songs by The Beatles, Harry Styles, Beyonce and Taylor Swift.

The Cork Opera House & Neville Jewellers Panto – Cinderella

Book your tickets before the clock strikes midnight!

Join Cinderella and a host of lovable companions in a spectacular show packed with amazing colour, spellbinding costumes, magical live music, breath-taking dance, and a tonne of belly laughs!

Bring your family and friends along for a night filled with enchantment, laughter, and unforgettable memories. Whether you’re young or just young at heart, this timeless tale of Cinderella will captivate and entertain everyone in the audience.

Panto co-writer Frank Mackey returns to the stage as Cork’s most popular Panto Dame, Nanny Nellie. Our determined and delightful title heroine Cinderella is played by Megan Pottinger, who audiences may remember as Jill from last year’s hit panto Jack and the Beanstalk.

Cork’s own Alison McCormack and Julie Maguire are the all-singing, all-dancing Wicked Stepsisters, while Michael Grennell returns to the Opera House stage as Cinderella’s superbly menacing stepmother, Baroness Melania Hardup. Cinderella’s Prince is played by the dashing Paul Wilkins, and rounding out the cast as everyone’s favourite hapless sidekick Buttons is Blarney’s Brian  Ó’Muirí, fresh from his run in the West End production of The Book of Mormon. Joining them all on stage is a full cast of fabulous professional dancers, musicians and the wonderful young talent from Cork’s stage schools.

So, polish your pumpkin and gather your mice – get ready for a Panto experience like no other. Join us at Cork Opera House for a festive season filled with magic, merriment, and memories that will last a lifetime.

Cinderella promises to be our most magical Panto experience yet – oh yes it does! So don’t miss out, tickets for the Cork Opera House Panto always fly out the door! Secure your tickets now and let the fairy-tale adventure begin!

You WILL go to the ball!

TICKETS FOR OUR RELAXED PANTO ON DECEMBER 11th (4PM)  ARE AVAILABLE NOW, BUT CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED IN PERSON AT OUR BOX OFFICE OR BY PHONING (021) 4270022.

DIRECTOR / CO-WRITER: Trevor Ryan

CO-WRITER: Frank Mackey

MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Jimmy Brockie

CHOREOGRAPHER: Ciarán Connolly

SPECIAL EFFECTS: This production may contain Strobe Lightning, Flashing Lights, Smoke and Haze.

AGE GUIDANCE: Under 16’s must be accompanied by and seated next to a parent/guardian aged 18+

*Performance schedule and times are subject to change and may be affected by illness or events beyond the producers’ or venues’ control.

Performers, dates, times, prices, and fees are subject to change without notice.

ACCESS PERFORMANCE: Relaxed Performance on Wednesday, December 11 at 4pm

Gotta Sing Gotta Dance 2024 – Performers Academy

Join the Performers Academy for our annual end of year show showcase  and a fantastic night of all singing and all dancing in the Cork Opera House featuring a feast of musicals and a kaleidoscope of dance!

Directed by Irene Warren and Cian Griffin with choreography by Jen O’Donovan, Aideen McCarthy, Chloe Riordan, Roman Postolatiy and choir directed by Michele DeFoubert!

Jurassic Musical Adventure Live!

See our life-sized, monstrous beasts up close in this award winning festive all star spectacular. Exclusively featuring the world’s only Mosasaur, the world’s last flying Pterodactyl and more dinosaur species than any other show on earth! Jurassic Live is the UK’s most interactive theatre show where audiences become part of the dinosaur adventure.

THE SHOW

Aimed at families, Jurassic Live takes you on a musical journey as you join little Amber, Ranger Joe, Ranger Nora & the rest of the Jurassic Live rangers to help save the day from an evil man who is trying to shut down the Jurassic facility. With lots of audience participation and fun with your favourite comedic rangers on stage alongside dinosaur favourites such as Trixie the Triceratops, Herbie the Stegosaurus, Nessie the Apatosaurus, Rocky the Velociraptor, Bash the Stigimoloch and Suzie.. the world’s largest Tyrannosaurus Rex and many more!

NEW WORLD FIRST

We are thrilled to announce for 2024… the Tylosaurus, a genus of Mosasaur and the largest predatory marine reptile to ever grace our oceans. It is the largest marine puppet ever made and the only one of its kind in theatres anywhere in the world. See it swim in its gigantic purpose built Jurassic tank onstage and be warned.. if you sit near the front…you WILL get wet!!!

PREHISTORIC PTEROSAURS 

See our Pterodactyl, Phoenix fly around the stage with a ranger on his back in this spectacular, special effect. You won’t see this anywhere else on earth and it really is a sight to behold.

SENSORY WARNING

Please note this event features the use of strobe lighting and pyrotechnics. This show is aimed at families and is suitable for those aged 3+, but does feature a mild scare factor and scenes using dart guns and scenes where rangers’ lives are temporarily in danger.