Designed by a team of curators led by Cork Opera House CEO and Artistic Director, Eibhlín Gleeson, and directed by Davey Kelleher, The Cork Proms will feature three exciting programmes of music.

Heyday – A Mixtape of Irish Rock & Pop (12 & 13 June)
Celebrating all things brilliant about Irish Rock music, Heyday will present new arrangements of beloved songs by artists and bands such as Sinéad O’Connor, The Cranberries, The Pogues, Thin Lizzy and many more. Joining the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra conducted by John O’Brien will be soloists Jack O’Rourke, May Kay, Laoise Leahy, Niall McCabe and Lucia Evans.

New World Symphony and Rhapsody in Blue – Dvořák, Gershwin and Music Inspired By America (16 June)
Including Dvořák’s New World Symphony, this programme was curated by the renowned and award-winning Cork pianist, Gary Beecher, who will join the orchestra onstage to perform Rhapsody in Blue, following his debut performance of this piece with the National Symphony Orchestra in 2023. The programme will also feature music by composers Copland, Korngold and Barber. This concert will be conducted by Elaine Kelly.

There’s No Place Like Home – A Musical Theatre Revue (19 & 20 June)
Following the success of previous Musical Theatre Proms, Cork Opera House will once again present two nights celebrating the best this genre has to offer. From Wicked to The Sound of Music, Dear Evan Hansen to The Phantom of the Opera – this concert will feature all the hits from Broadway and the West End, with some surprises along the way. Joining the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra, conducted by Colm O’Regan, will be soloists Claire O’Leary, Molly Lynch, Shane O’Riordain, Majella Cullagh and Claire O’Leary.

Returning following its triumphant Irish premiere at Cork Midsummer Festival 2019, Theatre for One: This Ireland features the six original writers (Marina Carr, Stacey Gregg, Emmet Kirwan, Louise Lowe, Mark O’Rowe and Enda Walsh), working with an electric line-up of new writers (Iseult Deane, Susannah Al Fraihat, Aoibhéann McCann, Joy Nesbitt, Ois O’Donoghue and Aoife Delany Reade), whose short plays were selected from a nationwide public call-out.

One booth, 12 voices and a uniquely intimate experience for each audience member.

Conceived and created by the Olivier and Tony Award-winning designer Christine Jones, and constructed by LOT-EK architects, each original 5-minute play is written specifically for this specially-designed, state-of-the-art theatre for one actor and one audience member at a time. It’s completely free – no tickets required – just join the queue.

Supported by The Arts Council.

‘A ghost, a sparrow, a mother and a girl. Love doesn’t need words. You can just feel it.’*

*Words offered by Fiacre Ryan (author of Speechless) in response to his reading of Grace.

This exciting new production explores the universal themes of grief and communication as Grace and her father invite you into the multisensory landscape of Grace’s world.

Written by UCC and Cork Opera House Theatre Artist- in-Residence, Jody O’Neill (What I (Don’t) Know About Autism) and directed by Niall Cleary (Humans: A Robot Musical).

All performances of Grace are relaxed performances, making them more accessible for people with sensory sensitivities. All performances will be captioned. (ISL interpreted performances are also available please contact sadhbh@onceoffproductions.com or visit graffiti.ie/theatr… for more details.)

Written by Jody O’Neill
Directed by Niall Cleary
Cast includes Eleanor Walsh, Bryan Burroughs & Grace Kiely
Set and Lighting Design by Zia Bergin Holly
Sound Design by HK Ní Shioradáin
Costume Design by Valentina Gambardella
Dramaturgy by Louise Stephens
Movement by Inma Pavon
Produced by Sadhbh Barrett Coakley

Supported by the Arts Council, Baboró & The Abbey Theatre.

What actions matter? Why is it so hard to do anything, even when we stand to lose everything? How can people change? Five singers and a piano contemplate these questions, giving music to existential crises.

In Cork, in a not-so-distant future, a group of artists are living together. Some are rappers, some comedians, some dancers, and some actors. Their home is their right, and their comfort, but the newly elected government doesn’t agree. The gang decides to fight back, with protests, cups of tea and viral music videos – determined to keep their Home Sweet Home.

This ambitious disability-led production, which features creatively-embedded access including Audio Description, Captioning, Irish Sign Language Interpretation, and Relaxed Performances, is a collaboration with director Al Bellamy and playwright Jody O’Neill, and marks 10 years of Suisha Inclusive Arts/Cope Foundation.

Performed and Devised by BenÓg Brady, Ruby Hardie Brown, Jason Buckley, Paul Fitzgerald, Andy Forrestal, Fergus Hegarty, Brendan Looney, Sarah Lynch, Florin Nolan, Diarmuid O’Leary, Aoife O’Sullivan, Gerard Whealy
Writer Jody O’Neill
Director Al Bellamy
Producer Eoin Ó hAnnracháin
Production Manager Scott Duggan
Stage Management Beth Cosgrove, ASM Niamh Wiseman
Set Design Olan Wrynn
Costume Suisha Arts, Lauren Reynolds, Valentina Gambardella
Music Composition Eoin Nash with Suisha Arts
Lighting Design Eoin Winning
Sound Design HK Ní Shioradáin
Movement Inma Pavón
Videography Matthew Murphy Media
Prompter Buddy Todd
Captions Áine Falvey
AV Operator Ben Burns
Production Assistants Helen Cantwell, Millie Baynham
Exec Producer Susan Holland
Access Advisors Birds of Paradise Theatre Company

Supported by the Arts Council, Cork City Council, and Benefact’s Movement for Good programme, Cope Foundation, Cork Education & Training Board, Cork Opera House, and UCC Department of Theatre. Initially conceived as part of the BE PART (art BEyond PARTicipation) Creative Europe network.