With schools returning, and the summer holidays coming to an end, perhaps it is time to consider a little pampering.

What better way than to enjoy an evening out at the theatre, preceded by a supper and maybe even a post-show nightcap. Sounds good?

Well, here is a quick tour of the four provinces of Ireland to highlight a number of possibilities for that special night out. All venues will have booking details on their websites.

Belfast

For just three nights, and following on from its initial and successful run, Bright Umbrella presents an all-female rehearsed, abridged reading of Hamlet, by William Shakespeare.

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. The young Prince Hamlet’s father died suddenly, and shortly after that his mother married the Prince’s uncle. Now, a ghost stalks the castle battlements. The time is out of joint.

This is an innovative performance of one of the world’s greatest works of literature. It runs at The Sanctuary Theatre in Belfast from 5 to 7 September.

Lovers of The Bard might also wish to put Talking Shakespeare in the diary, staged at the same venue on 1 September. This is a wide-ranging, illustrated talk on Shakespeare’s life, works and legacy by Bright Umbrella’s Trevor Gill.

In this talk, Trevor discusses Shakespeare’s life (or what we know of it), considers life and politics in Elizabethan England, and discusses the content and theatrical delivery of some of The Bard’s greatest works.

Cork

I have to admit to not being a disciple of podcasts, but perhaps a visit to the Cork Podcast Festival might change my perspective.

It runs from 4 to 15 September, at the Cork Opera House, with a few events also being hosted by St Luke’s, and is billed as a celebration of the best and most captivating podcasts in Ireland.

The organisers invite the public to immerse themselves in the world of podcasting, and to this end they have brought together a diverse lineup of thought-provoking shows, engaging discussions, comedy gold and intimate live recordings.

There will be a number of opportunities to engage with some favourite podcasters, and to be part of the live audience for these one-of-a-kind recordings. The Cork Podcast Festival presents a chance to witness the magic of podcasting come to life.

A wide variety of artists and speakers will take to the stage, including Blindboy, The Rebel Army, Martt Cooper and Ivan Yates, Deirdre O’Kane and Emma Doran, and comedians Cornelius O’Sullivan and Chris Kent.

Ivan Yates joins Matt Cooper at the Cork Podcast Festival.

Dublin

Being the capital city, there is more variety among the theatre offerings in Dublin than elsewhere, and picking just one event would be difficult.

However, there are a couple of performances that should be on any shortlist.

In the warmth of the Donegal harvest of 1936, the five Mundy sisters, Kate, Maggie, Rose, Agnes and Chris, love, survive, fight, and dance. This unforgettable summer brings the possibility of joy and love to these extraordinary, ordinary women.

Brian Friel’s moving and heartwarming masterpiece about family, home and belonging, Dancing At Lughnasa, has returned to stage of the Gate Theatre for the first time in over 20 years.

A timeless drama about resilience and courage, this great work continues to resonate with audiences, and bring new generations of fans. This stunning production, directed by Caroline Byrne, runs until 21 September.

As Wicked comes to the end of a successful run, 17 September sees the start of what is certain to be a blockbusting run of Hamilton, set to be staged until mid-November.

This is a musical that has taken the world by storm, and its Dublin run will be no different.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s multi-award-winning phenomenon Hamilton is at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre for the first time, and is the story of America’s founding father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War.

The score blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B and Broadway musicals – the story of America then, as told by America now.

Galway

Simply not to be missed, Druid Theatre stages a major new production of The House, the late Tom Murphy’s masterpiece.

The House will premiere in September at the Town Hall Theatre in Galway and then transfer to the Gaiety Theatre for Dublin Theatre Festival. It runs in the West from 14 to 21 September.

Set in the 1950s, The House is a tense drama of desire, belonging and possession. Mrs de Burca can sense the beginning of an end. With her health failing, and her three daughters making their own way in the world, it’s time to sell the family home.

Down the town, a generation of young men have returned from the building sites of England to haunt the streets for a few weeks. Among them is Christy Cavanagh, a man with cash in his pockets, fond memories of a childhood spent with the de Burca family, and a plan to buy their house.

Garry Hynes directs a large ensemble cast including the brilliant Marie Mullen as Mrs de Burca, and Marty Rea as Christy Cavanagh, alongside Jessica Dunne Perkins, Darragh Feehely, Liam Heslin, Colm Lennon, Andrew Macklin, Amy Molloy, Rachel O’Byrne, Donncha O’Dea and Cathal Ryan.

Six of the 11 actors in the cast will make their Druid stage debut in The House.