Spanning a 25-minute immersive journey through a cherished Irish musical and a fresh production drawn from Blindboy Boatclub’s short fiction, there genuinely is something for every spectator, including those who don’t regularly attend the theatre.
Animals
Adapted from Blindboy Boatclub’s best-selling short stories, Animals is a new production slated for the Abbey Theatre this autumn. It runs as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival (from 23 September to 7 November) and features a versatile company including Pat Shortt, Emer Dineen, Jeanne Nicole Ní Áinle, John Doran and more. Brought to the stage by Dan Colley as adaptor and director, it promises a provocative, absurdist spectacle in which audiences can expect “the strangeness of life and humanity’s underlying animal instincts to be laid bare.”
As described online: “Hidden mythologies emerge as we follow Erskine Fogarty and his fridge-freezer on the long road to Limerick, the vengeful Pamela Furlong becoming a dogman, a poitín maker haunted by a cormorant and a perilous liaison between two giants of Irish history.”
A conversation-starter, to say the least. Tickets are on sale now and you can secure yours here.
Tír an Traonaigh / Land of the Corncrakes
This August, audiences will be invited aboard a bus for a memorable theatrical voyage through the expansive North Mayo landscape.
A trailblazing new show addressing biodiversity, relationships and language, Tír an Traonaigh/Land of the Corncrakes draws inspiration from one of nature’s most remarkable migrations and blends theatre, music and movement into a single, grand production.
Commissioned by An Taibhdhearc, the Irish National Language Theatre, it was crafted by Tom Swift, directed by Jo Mangan, and will be performed entirely in Irish. Running 19–23 August 2026, the show unfolds across several sites in and around Belmullet, Co Mayo, with audiences moving together through the scenery as each story unfolds.
At its core lie two sisters, Annie and Deirbhle, whose long-running dispute over land, nature and a noisy little bird propels them on an emotional field trip through the North Mayo countryside. Central to their tale is the Corncrake, whose yearly migration between Africa and the Mullet Peninsula becomes a potent symbol of biodiversity, memory and belonging. The Corncrake holds different meaning for each sister: for environmentalist Deirbhle, the bird’s distinctive ‘Crex Crex’ call recalls their father and happier days; for Annie, it’s a nuisance obstructing progress and practicality on their struggling farm in Emlyclough (Imleach Chloch). Yet when Deirbhle vanishes on a field trip in Africa, everything shifts.
Tickets start at €15 and you can get yours here.
Flight
A critically acclaimed immersive theatre experience making its European premiere this July, Flight lands at Galway International Arts Festival.
Produced by the pioneering immersive specialists Darkfield, the performance occurs inside a converted shipping container whose interior imitates an aircraft cabin. Throughout the show, the audience sits in near-total darkness while 360° binaural sound and sensory effects combine to simulate the sensation of being on a flight. The narrative evolves, guiding viewers through two worlds, two realities and two potential outcomes of their journey.
Running from 13–26 July at the Festival Garden in Eyre Square, details and ticket information are available here.
Work is the Curse of the Drinking Classes
One of many cultural highlights staged as part of the Boyle Arts Festival (16–25 July), Work is the Curse of the Drinking Classes takes place on 17 July at King House.
Set in Paris in 1898, the production follows Will Govan in the role of an exiled Oscar Wilde as he reflects on his wildly colorful life, musing on love, fame, family and misfortune. A humorous yet deeply tragic tale, the play draws on Wilde’s letters, essays and anecdotes to breathe life into this literary genius in a 60-minute performance.
Promising ten days of outstanding arts and cultural experiences, this year’s lineup features a diverse mix of visual art, music, theatre, literature, comedy and family-friendly events. Other notable offerings range from opera to live music, art trails and even a knitting workshop with Liz Nugent. Access the full programme and ticket information here.
The Sound of Music
The hills will come alive at Cork Opera House this summer with The Sound of Music. This grand production features a cast of 32 adult roles and 12 children’s parts, led by the renowned soprano and classical Brit Award nominee Wendy Carr as Maria and West End veteran Matt Blaker (known for The Crown) as Captain Von Trapp. Among the principal nuns, Majella Cullagh, a leading Irish soprano, plays Mother Abbess, with Jean Elliott as Sister Sophia, Carrie Mullane as Sister Berthe, and Emma Nash as Sister Margaretta.
It’s a spectacular revival of a timeless classic, brought to life with dazzling scenery, vibrant costumes and performances that stay with you. Demand has been high enough to warrant additional performance dates, but don’t wait—tickets are moving quickly. Secure yours here.
A Filthy Dirty Rumour
Running 22–25 July at Lyric Theatre in Belfast, A Filthy Dirty Rumour is a drama about the power of a lie.
Set in the 1950s, the tale centers on Ruth and Oscar, a couple whose marriage quietly unravels. Childless, sexless, and emptied by silence, they live more as strangers than lovers. One evening, Ruth invites Eva in for a drink. In a rare moment of vulnerability, she finds comfort. But when her devout sister Alma witnesses the scene, her interpretation is something more—and she triggers a sequence of events that tears apart the lives of everyone involved.
Written and directed by Nathan Martin, this bold, intimate drama examines the mental health challenges facing queer communities, addressing internalised homophobia, sexual identity and the fragile pursuit of happiness and love under a regime of repression and fear. Book your tickets here.
Fawlty Towers
John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers makes a comeback at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from 28 July to 1 August.
Fifty years after its television debut, Fawlty Towers returns in a brand-new stage adaptation by John Cleese himself and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger. Fresh from a sold-out run in the West End and universal praise from critics across London and beyond, this version brings Basil, Major and Polly—and an 18-strong ensemble—back to life with razor-sharp wit, chaos and calamity at every turn.
Tickets start from €29.80 and you can get yours here.
