Geoff Gould and Blood In The Alley Theatre in association with Cork County Council and The Arts Council are thrilled to announce a hugely exciting programme for the Blackwater Valley Theatre Fit-Up Festival 2022, taking in six local venues with the best of drama and music.
The festival kicks off on Wednesday, February 9 in The Mall Arts Centre, Youghal with a man who has become synonymous with this event – Seamus O’Rourke. The Co Leitrim playwright/director/actor/raconteur brings us ‘The Handy Man’ (suitable for over 15s).
Hugh Spotten (the handyman) is about to receive an award from his community, but a hilariously funny, yet poignant and poetic piece! You can also catch ‘The Handy Man’ in St George’s Arts Centre Mitchelstown on the following night (Thurs 10th).
O’Rourke continues with the brilliantly-written madcap piece ‘Victor’s Dung’ On Friday 11th in Bartlemy Hall (please note – over 16s). Featuring Seamus O’Rourke, Charlie McGuinness and Tommy Sharkey, this is the comic tale of Victor Maguire, a crude, vulgar, abrupt, un-PC Cavan farmer who gets a surprise one Friday morning. If you fail to see it in Bartlemy, it runs the following night (Sat 12th) in Ballynoe Hall.
Sunday comes in stark contrast with the wonderful violinist, Vladimir Joblokov who brings his skilled fusion of classical music for this Valentine’s weekend with the playfulness and emotion of gypsy, folk and popular music. Two venues – Fermoy Hospital (3pm) and Palace Theatre (8pm).
It’s back to St Geoge’s in Mitchelstown on Monday 14th for more Valentine’s charm with Vladimir.
On Wednesday 16th, it’s back to the east of the county where the wonderful Irene Kelleher will perform her self-penned play ‘Wake’ in The Mall, Youghal.
Here we meet Lily at her mother’s wake, suffering her way through the sea of Auntie Rachel’s sandwiches, cousin Aileen’s juicing recipes and Aoibheann’s woodland theme wedding plans. And then – an old face from her past arrives and Lily is not going to let the night that’s in it thwart her plans (this one for over 14s).
‘Wake’ also runs in St George’s Mitchelstown on Thursday 17th, in Bartlemy on Friday 18th, in Ballynoe on Saturday 19th and, to bring the festival to a close, finishing up in the Palace Theatre, Fermoy on Sunday 20th.
Tickets for all events are €15. Tickets can be booked for performances at The Palace Fermoy on 025-32042, for Youghal 087-9593276. Tickets at the door for all the venues.
Please note that on Sunday 13th February at 8pm, ‘Victor’s Dung’ and on Monday 14th February at 8pm, ‘Valentines with Vladimir’ will be live-streamed for free viewing online, available to view at fit-uptheatrefestival.com.
