Bringing the stage on to the streets

On The Town: It may have been coming down in buckets but the promise of teatro alfresco and some fine Italo-Cork cuisine helped ensure Pizza Republic was jammers this week for the launch of one the highlights of Cork 2005, Corcadorca's Relocation event.

Hosts Pat and Eilish O'Leary had laid on tasty bruschettas and fine wines for their guests as folk thronged the popular South Main Street eaterie to hear Cork's own pleasantly unassuming Cillian Murphy launch the programme of four street plays later this summer.

Murphy - who plays the villain in the upcoming Batman Begins - recalled his own discovery of Corcadorca back in 1994 before going on to enthuse about seeing the Polish group, Teatr Biuro Podrózy, in its production of Carmen Funebre in Galway in 1997. The company will be bringing What Bloodied Man is That? to Elizabeth Fort on Cork's Barrack Street.

Compagnie Jo Bithume from France will bring Victor Frankenstein to the Grand Parade, while Grid Iron from Scotland will perform The Devil's Larder in a city hotel.

Corcadorca's energetic director, Pat Kiernan, pointed out that all three groups were at the top of the company's wish-list when it began looking at performers for Cork 2005.

"These are premieres, they're free events that people can happen upon through the city throughout the summer - and hopefully the weather will be fine," said Kiernan, who will be overseeing Corcadorca's The Merchant of Venice on the bridges of the city.

Among those enjoying the evening were John Kennedy, Tracy McCormack and Nicola Swanton from Cork 2005. Gerry Barnes, manager of Cork Opera House, also came along with his son, Owen (12), as did actor and broadcaster Gerry McLaughlin.

Also there were St Patrick's Festival supremo Moray Bresnihan and his girlfriend, Valerie Kelly, who is doing wardrobe on Ken Loach's new movie, The Wind that Shakes the Barley, soon to begin shooting in Cork.

French consul Francoise Letellier revealed that the French navy is sending a pipe band to Cork to coincide with the visit of Compagnie Jo Bithume, while graphic designer Kieran O'Connor reckoned it was going to be one hectic summer.

"We're going to have four theatre groups and then there are the 'Live in the Marquee' gigs in June and July," he said. "I'm hoping to get to see Brian Wilson and Nick Cave."

Also spotted at the festivities were Henry Condon, of Red FM, and Maurice Gubbins and Dan Linehan, of the Evening Echo. The world of politics was represented by Deputy Lord Mayor Fergal Dennehy and the incoming Lord Mayor, Cllr Deirdre Clune.