The Second Woman announced for Cork Midsummer Festival 2025

One Woman. One Scene. One Hundred Times. One 24-Hour Performance.

Your only chance to experience this unique and unmissable, theatrical marathon at Cork Opera House, 24 hours from 4pm Saturday 14 June – 4pm Sunday 15 June!

‘A spellbinding theatrical marathon’
The Guardian ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
‘Remarkable exposé of the art of acting’
The Stage ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
‘Utterly gripping and utterly wonderful … I won’t ever forget it’
Whatsonstage ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
‘A rich and revealing piece of drama'
Financial Times ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Eileen Walsh, one of Ireland’s most celebrated and recognised actors, will star in The Second Woman, an internationally acclaimed feat of thrilling theatre and live cinema.

Over 24 hours, 100 different men will star opposite Eileen Walsh, as she performs over and over a scene between a man and a woman in a relationship that has lost its creativity and romance. They talk, they laugh, it’s awkward, it’s funny. None of the 100 Marty’s will have rehearsed with Eileen Walsh’s Virginia prior to the performance and most of whom are non-actors.

Inspired by John Cassavetes’ film Opening Night, created by an all-female team who capture and mix the action live from five simultaneously recording cameras. At the conclusion of each scene a decision must be made. The wait for what comes next becomes more addictive than any binge-worthy TV series.

Audiences can purchase tickets for the full 24 hours or join us at scheduled entry times throughout the performance – and stay for as long as they like until the performance ends at 4pm, Sunday 15 June. Food and drink will be available throughout the 24 hours at Cork Opera House.

Creators Nat Randall & Anna Breckon
Script & Direction Anna Breckon & Nat Randall
Video design EO Gill & Anna Breckon
Lighting co-design Amber Silk & Kayla Burrett & Lauren Woodhead
Sound design Nina Buchanan
Set design FUTURE METHOD STUDIO
Original hair & makeup design Sophie Roberts
Producer & Tour Manager Jenny Vila - La Mecànica

The Second Woman is presented at Cork Midsummer Festival with the additional support of The Tomar Trust and accommodation partners Moxy Cork.

Ticketing Information
Please note: seating is unreserved and the audience is free to move seats throughout the performance and enjoy the show from different angles. Suitable for ages 15+.

24-HOUR TICKETS
€55 (€45 concession) 4pm 14 June

This is your only way to guarantee access to the full 24-hour experience, from beginning to end.

• Guaranteed entry at 4pm for the entire 24-hour experience.
• 24-Hour Ticket holders are the only audience members who will get to experience the very start of the performance. The performance will start at 4pm sharp on Saturday 14 June.
• Once seated, you can choose to stay for the full 24-hours. At very busy times, if you choose to leave the venue for an extended period of time, you may need to join the Priority Queue and wait for a seat in the auditorium to become available. (You will not need to pay again on re-entry)
  

SCHEDULED ENTRY TICKETS - scheduled entry times:
9pm 14 June - €35
2am 15 June - €20
9am 15 June - €35

This ticket gives you entry at the time stated on your ticket.

• You can arrive 15 minutes before the start of your scheduled entry time on your ticket. On arrival, you can join the Priority Queue at your scheduled entry time. Latecomers will join the General Queue.
• At very busy times, we cannot guarantee entry at your exact arrival time, but you will be admitted into the performance at the earliest available opportunity.
• Once you are seated, you can choose to stay until the performance ends at 4pm on Sunday 15 June. At very busy times, if you choose to leave the venue for an extended period of time, you may need to join the General Queue and wait for a seat in the auditorium to become available. (You will not need to pay again on re-entry).
• If you arrive after your scheduled entry time, you may need to join the General Queue and wait for a seat in the auditorium to become available.
  

ON-THE-DOOR TICKETS
€25 Peak (4pm – 10pm Saturday 14 June and 10am – 4pm Sunday 15 June)
€15 Off-Peak (10pm Saturday 14 June – 10am Sunday 15 June)

Arrive at any point throughout the performance, join the General Queue and get entry to the show as soon as a seat becomes available.

• On-The-Door tickets can be purchased in person at the venue box office any time throughout the 24-hour performance on a first-come, first-served basis. Simply show up, join our General Queue and wait for a seat to become available.
• We cannot guarantee a specific entry time. You will be let in at the earliest available opportunity as a seat becomes available. Please note, anyone who has purchased a Scheduled Entry Time Ticket and is waiting in the Priority Queue, will be let in ahead of those waiting in the General Queue.
• Once seated, you can choose to stay until the performance ends at 4pm on Sunday 15 June or leave whenever you wish. At very busy times, if you choose to leave the venue for an extended period of time, you may need to join the General Queue and wait for a seat in the auditorium to become available. (You will not need to pay again on re-entry).

ENTRY & QUEUEING
Priority Queue: For 24-Hour tickets and Scheduled Entry Time tickets at time shown on ticket

General Queue: On-The-Door tickets, and re-entry for Scheduled Entry Time tickets

Tickets are on sale now - click here to book!

(Original photo by David Conachy)