What’s on day-by-day
7 p.m. Winning the Vote: Irish Suffrage with Dr Margaret Ward, Wexford Library
Illustrated talk on the Irish suffrage movement
7 p.m. Pre-Opera Talk, National Opera House
8 p.m. Il Bravo, National Opera House
Saverio Mercadante opera in three acts, sung in Italian.
8 p.m. Wexford Light Opera Hits from the Musicals, Clayton Whites Hotel
Multi-award winning WLOS in performance of West End musicals and operetta favourites.
8 p.m. Bridge Drama presents two OneAct Plays, Wexford Arts Centre
A double treat - ‘When I Snap My Fingers’ by Bruce Adams and ‘After The Picnic’ by David Foxton.
9.50 p.m. Singing and Swinging Pubs, Sinnott’s, Distillery Road
10.35 p.m. Singing and Swinging Pubs, the Mocking Monck.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31
1.05 p.m. Lunchtime recital, St. Iberius Church
Baritone Brett Polegato is joined by Andrea Grant on piano.
2 p.m. Hallowe’en Face Painting, Wexford Arts Centre.
€3 per child. Runs until 5 p.m.
3.30 p.m. Don Pasquale, Clayton Whites Hotel
Opera Shortwork, by Gaetano Donizetti.
7 p.m. Pre-Opera Talk, National Opera House
8 p.m. L’Oracolo/Mala Vita, National Opera House
Opera double bill from Franco Leoni (L’oracolo) and Umberto Giordano (Mala vita).
8 p.m. Wexford Light Opera Hits from the Musicals, Clayton Whites Hotel
Multi-award winning WLOS in performance of West End musicals and operetta favourites.
8 p.m. Bridge Drama presents two OneAct Plays, Wexford Arts Centre
A double treat - ‘When I Snap My Fingers’ by Bruce Adams and ‘After The Picnic’ by David Foxton.
9.30 p.m. Singing and Swinging Pubs, Mackens (The Cape)
10.20 p.m. Singing and Swinging Pubs, T. Morris
11.10 p.m. Singing and Swinging Pubs, The Merry Elf, Killinick
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1,
11 a.m. Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network (ISACS) panel discussion
At Wexford Arts Centre until
12. 30 p.m., marking the 250th anniversary of the birth of the modern circus. Speakers include Dea Birkett, Ringmistress of the Circus 250 celebrations, ROI and UK; Ria Murphy, Aerial Artist
Wall Runner & Digital Media; Ronan Brady, Cross artform Circus Performer with Fidget Feet / This
is Pop Baby/Taking Flight; Tara Gerbola. Proprietor of Traditional family circus Circus Gerbola; Charlotte Mooney, Contemporary Circus artist; and Opera collaborator, Ockhams Razor, UK. After the talk, Elizabeth Burns, Arts Officer, Wexford Co Council, will launch the Irish Street Art, Circus and Spectacle Network’s Strategic plan for 2019 – 2021. Everyone is welcome to attend
1.05 p.m. Lunchtime recital St. Iberius Church
The popular festival attraction continues in the company of Francesca Tiburzi, soprano, and Giorgio D’Alonzo on piano.
3.30 p.m. Bernstein A La Carte, Clayton Whites Hotel
Opera Shortwork - Roberto Recchia directs celebration of one of America’s greatest composers.
7 p.m. The Ros Tapestry Talk, Wexford Library
Writer and historian Eithne Scallan talks about the history, while Kay Dolan, Rosa Ronan and Susan Synott-Shannon deal with the working/technical details. Two of the Tapestry panels will be on display.
7 p.m. Pre-Opera Talk, National Opera House
8 p.m. Dinner at Eight, National Opera House
William Bolcom opera set in Depression-era Manhattan.
8 p.m. Wexford Light Opera Society, Hits from the Musicals Clayton Whites Hotel
Multi-award winning WLOS in performance of West End musicals and operetta favourites.
8 p.m. Bridge Drama presents two OneAct Plays, Wexford Arts Centre
A double treat - ‘When I Snap My Fingers’ by Bruce Adams and ‘After The Picnic’ by David Foxton.
9.15 p.m. Singing and Swinging Pubs, Sky and the Ground
9.50 p.m. Singing and Swinging Pubs, The Talbot Hotel
2018 show from last year’s Singing winners
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2
1.05 p.m. Lunchtime recital St. Iberius Church
Joo Won Wang, baritone, and Tina chang, piano. in the final recital of the 2018 programme.
3.30 p.m. La Fanciulla Del West, Clayton Whites Hotel
Opera Shortwork - condensed performance of possibly Puccini’s greatest work.
7 p.m. Pre-Opera Talk, National Opera House
8 p.m. Il Bravo, National Opera House
Final festival staging of Saverio Mercadante opera in three acts, sung in Italian.
8 p.m. Bridge Drama presents two OneAct Plays, Wexford Arts Centre
A double treat - ‘When I Snap My Fingers’ by Bruce Adams and ‘After The Picnic’ by David Foxton.
8.30 p.m. Holy Mary (Eoin Colfer), Jerome Hynes Theatre
Hilarious and heartbreaking play from pen of Wexford native of Artemis Fowl fame.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3
11 a.m. The War At Sea Around Ireland 1914-18, Wexford Library
Lecture by Dr Pat McCarthy of the Military History Society of Ireland examining the strategy and tactics used by both sides.
12 p.m. Vocal Recital (Rachel Kelly), National Opera House
Rising star in programme exploring familiar and lesser-known French repertoire, accompanied by Fiachra Garvey.
3.30 p.m. Don Pasquale, Clayton Whites Hotel
Opera Shortwork, by Gaetano Donizetti.
7 p.m. Pre-Opera Talk, National Opera House
8 p.m. L’Oracolo/Mala Vita, National Opera House
This year’s final performance of opera double bill from Franco Leoni (L’oracolo) and Umberto Giordano (Mala vita).
8 p.m. Bridge Drama presents two OneAct Plays, Wexford Arts Centre
A double treat - ‘When I Snap My Fingers’ by Bruce Adams and ‘After The Picnic’ by David Foxton.
8.30 p.m. Holy Mary (Eoin Colfer), Jerome Hynes Theatre
Hilarious and heartbreaking play from pen of Wexford native of Artemis Fowl fame.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4
11 a.m. Festival Book and Collectibles Fair, Talbot Hotel
Sale of rare and collectable books, including extensive collection of books of County Wexford interest. Entrance fee €2, but children free. Runs to 5 p.m.
3 p.m. Chorus and Orchestra Concert, National Opera House
Performances of Handel’s ‘Dixit Dominus’ and Vivaldi’s ‘The Four Seasons’ in the O’Reilly Theatre.
7 p.m. Pre-Opera Talk, National Opera House
8 p.m. Dinner at Eight, National Opera House
The Festival’s closing performance of William Bolcom’s opera set in Depression-era Manhattan.