Cork Opera House has added more panto shows to deal with the latest Covid-19 restrictions. Photo: John Allen

Extra pantos at Opera House

This year’s panto at Cork Opera House is to proceed with more shows added…oh yes, there are!

Following Friday's Government announcement Cork Opera House said the show must go on despite audiences being reduced to 50 per cnet capacity per show.

In order to facilitate all of the patrons that have booked tickets, Cork Opera House will add an additional 26 shows to the run to allow for the public health requirement of reducing the capacity of indoor events to 50 per cent. Cork Opera House made the announcement on Tuesday.

Cork Opera House CEO Eibhlín Gleeson said: “The great news is that we are going ahead. It was touch and go for a few days while we established if it was actually possible for us to do it. However, the thought of cancelling the show was devastating to us all having put so much love and energy into it to this point. With the support of our committed cast and dedicated staff, we are delighted to have found a way to move forward.”

She added: “What this means is that 50 per cemt of our audiences can retain their tickets and they will be valid on the date that they booked.

“However, this will also mean that the remainder of our audiences will have to move to new dates. We know this is not ideal - but it’s the only way that all of our panto bookers will get to see the show. Our patrons have been so supportive so far, I’m confident that they will work with us in accommodating these changes.”

Patrons will be chosen to move by lottery. Cork Opera House will contact all patrons who have been selected for new dates and will be working through moving these patrons show-by-show over the coming weeks.

“From Thursday this week, we will be contacting affected patrons on a chronological basis, starting with this week’s shows and working through each show to the end of the run. For now, there is no need to contact us, our box office team will be alerting you if there has been a change to your tickets,” she concluded.

In order to facilitate 26 additional shows, the cast will undertake multiple shows on several dates, up to three shows on some days.

Restrictions will be in place at Cork Opera House, to include mask wearing for all patrons in attendance, Covid-19 vaccination Certs and ID checks will be in place at the door for patrons of 18 and over and there will be a queueing system in place once inside.