Renowned spectacle theatre company Macnas will make its Cork premiere with a specially curated indoor performance at Marina Market for Science Week 2025. On Sunday, 9th November, Macnas will bring its vibrant troupe of drummers, stilt walkers, sculptures, and puppets to Cork city to tell a powerful story about biodiversity loss and the gradual disappearance of the corncrake across Ireland.
Known for its distinctive and recognisable call, the corncrake’s decline serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need to protect habitats and biodiversity. An installation inspired by the performance will remain at Marina Market, alongside the Science Week-funded SpaceFest, until Thursday, 13th November.
Macnas’ Cork premiere will officially kick off Science Week 2025, which is running from the 9th – 16th November this year, with a range of events taking place in Cork throughout the week.
Kicking off an exciting programme of activity in Cork, Macnas will bring a powerful performance to Marina Market, featuring flocking corncrake stilt walkers and Macnas’ renowned drummers alongside beloved puppet Lumo and their newly created Moon Tower. The performance will happen around an installation which will remain in the market until Thursday 13th November.
The Macnas installation at Marina Market will feature alongside SpaceFest Science Festival.
Speaking about Macnas’ premiere in Cork as part of Science Week 2025, Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Research for Society at Research Ireland, said:
“Following inspiring performances by Macnas in Dublin and Galway last year, we are delighted to be able to bring this world-renowned spectacle to Cork to officially launch Science Week 2025. Macnas’s performance and message perfectly encapsulates this year’s Science Week theme – ‘Then. Today. Tomorrow.’, inviting us to think about protecting our habitats and species, to ensure that generations to come can enjoy the wonderful biodiversity on our island. An installation inspired by Macnas will be available for the people of Cork to see at Marina Market until Thursday, November 13th.”
Johhny O’Reilly, Executive Director of Macnas, said:
“We are delighted to be bringing Macnas to Cork as part of this year’s Science Week. This will provide the people of Cork with an opportunity to experience Macnas’ world-renowned performances up close and to engage with one of the highlights of Science Week in Cork this year.”
The theme for this year’s Science Week is ‘Then. Today. Tomorrow.’. Research Ireland is encouraging people to explore how science and research have shaped and improved the lives we live today, while also looking at the questions and challenges of tomorrow, and how insights from the past can influence our future decisions.
For more information on how to get involved and to see the full list of events, workshops and talks across the country, please visit scienceweek.ie. You can also follow developments using the hashtag #scienceweek or #ThenTodayTomorrow. Most Science Week events are free to join, but registration may be required.
Photograph: Emilija Jefremova