Top o’ the mornin’ show comes to Warkworth Town Hall

There’ll be more than a touch of the Irish at Warkworth Town Hall next month, when concert tour company Operatunity brings a new show packed with songs, music and dancing from the Emerald Isle. When Irish Eyes are Smiling features a high-energy cast of singers and musicians performing all the classics, from Danny Boy and Galway Bay to Whiskey in the Jar and Fairytale of New York. There will also be Irish jigs, Riverdancing, duelling fiddle and accordion players, and plenty of Irish humour thrown in.

Taking the stage and singing their hearts out will be Russell Dixon, star of awardwinning West End musicals in London, the Variety Artists Club of NZ’s 2022 top male artist, Karl Perigo, and accomplished operatic soprano Kelly Lim Harris.

Joining them will be some of New Zealand’s finest instrumentalists, not least duelling fiddle and accordion players Marian Burns and Tracey Collins.

Virtuoso fiddler Burns is known for her unstoppable energy and has won a raft of awards, including a Benny Award from the Variety Artists Club, Lifetime Achievement and Best Solo Fiddler awards at the Golden Fiddle Awards, and she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to music in 2018.

Collins is acknowledged as NZ’s premier professional piano accordion player and is highly sought-after throughout Australasia. She has performed with some of New Zealand’s best known artists, including Hello Sailor, The Feelers’

James Reid, Jan Hellriegel, Bic Runga, Peta Mathias, Jackie Clark and Andrew McLennan/Snoid.

They will all be accompanied by wellknown Hawkes’s Bay concert pianist and accompanist Paul Carnegie-Jones.

Established 23 years ago, Operatunity stages regular daytime variety concerts throughout New Zealand and organises international music travel aimed primarily at seniors.

One of the organisers of the Warkworth show said that after a tumultuous few years, When Irish Eyes are Smiling would be just what was needed by many.

“What better way to celebrate seniors being out and about and living again than with a feel-good show, filled with fabulous music, love, care and flair – just what the doctor ordered!

“The tour is sure to bring much-needed fun and laughter to communities across New Zealand through our special brand of music, care and camaraderie.”

When Irish Eyes are Smiling will take place at Warkworth Town Hall on Thursday, March 9. Doors open at 10am for a complimentary morning tea with stars of the show, before they take to the stage at 11am. Tickets cost $39, with discounts for subscribers or groups of 10 or more.

For more information, visit www. operatunity.co.nz or call 0508 266 237.

To book tickets online, go to https:// nz.patronbase.com/_Operatunity/ Productions/6178/Performances