My Weekend: Busy rehearsing for an amazing production

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Rebecca Flavin. I’m 22-years-old and I’m from Cork. More specifically, Dillon’s Cross; a really nice area just north of the city.

It was a great place to grow up as I have been so close to the city so I could soak up whatever it had to offer over the years. I live with my mam Kathy, my dad Mark and my younger brother James.

I have just finished studying at MTU Cork School of Music and I will be graduating with a BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre.

They were the best four years of my life. Even with a year-and-a-half of my education being remote and blended learning due to the pandemic, I learned so much about my craft and met the most amazing people. Not to mention the performance opportunities!

Along with more intimate performances on campus, I also was a part of our production of The Addams Family which was in The Everyman in February of this year.

Performing has been at the epicentre of my life from a very young age, and I am so delighted that I have had the opportunity to pursue it as a career for so long.

I remember watching The Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music as a young girl and I fell in love with hook, line, and sinker for this wonderful world of musical theatre.

I started performing at the age of three, and really started getting into musical theatre from the age of six when I started at The Performer’s Academy. During my time there, I got the opportunity to take part in so many Christmas and summer shows.

Along with having this amazing opportunity to play Fiona Murray in Twin Flames the Musical, with such an incredible cast and creative team, I also work at La Creme in the Marina Market where I serve bubble waffles, milkshakes, and ice cream to all the customers who have a sweet tooth.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

My ideal way to spend a Friday night is with my friends whether that’s a night on the town or a night in with some of our favourite movies. It doesn’t really matter where the night takes me as long as I’m with my friends.

Lie ins or up with the lark... which is it for you?

I would like to say I’m up with the lark, but then I would be lying! I would say I’m somewhere in the middle. I do like getting up early because then I can enjoy my day, but I do also value a good lie in.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

When performing is your career goal, it’s hard to schedule it like it’s a “normal” 9 to 5 job. My opinion is that my work is never done and so as a result my work creeps into my weekend! You have to take the opportunities when and where they arise. And even if I’m not rehearsing for anything, I still make time to practise and prepare for any auditions. 

I also try to find time to learn about new productions, listen to new cast albums and read plays.

If money was no object where would you head to on a weekend city break? And who would you bring with you?

With my cousin Edith, I would first head to New York and take in all that Broadway has to offer. My first stop being the new production of Sweeney Todd as I’m a huge fan of Sondheim.

My cousin and I are also massive Disney fans so the next stop on our weekend trip would be Orlando so that I could experience the magic of Walt Disney World for the first time.

Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries?

In Cork, my favourite place to go is on a walk with my dog Johnny, a Jack Russell terrier rescue that I adopted three years ago. I also have family in Dublin so I really enjoy going up there.

Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend?

If I’m not in rehearsals, I love meeting up with my best friend Ciara. We try to meet up as often as possible, even if it’s just for a coffee.

Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator?

Musical theatre started as a hobby for me, so I still love going to see plays and musicals. I also have a big interest in music and film. I am a massive fan of Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and Harry Potter so I love to indulge in some movie marathons. However my all time favourite movie would have to be Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Entertain or be entertained? If it’s the latter do you have a signature dish?

Entertain! I love making people happy, so entertaining has always been something I’ve wanted to do, beginning with shows I would put on in my living room. My party piece would be singing, and my favourite song to sing at the moment is ‘You’re My World’ by Cilla Black.

We have so many places to eat out in Cork — where are your go to spots for coffee/ lunch/ special meal?

My go to spots are Scoozis, Luigi Malones, and Amicus. 

My friend and I always go between these three spots when we go out for food in the city.

Other places which I love to go to are Bean and Leaf for a coffee and the Wine Tavern in St Luke’s for a delicious bite!

Sunday night comes around too fast... how do you normally spend it?

I usually spend my Sunday night preparing for the coming week. I really enjoy making to-do lists so I spend a lot of time scheduling my week on Sunday night. After that I love having a shower and getting into a fresh pair of pyjamas to settle in for the night with a good movie.

What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning?

My alarm clock usually goes off at about 9.30am. I like to start the week off right.

Anything else you are up to right now...

I am playing the role of Fiona Murray in Twin Flames the Musical, which will be taking place in the Fermoy Palace Theatre this month.

Set in Cork city in the 1960s, every character is searching for love. It is a family show with a backdrop of the Ford Motor plant and is very much in the genre of the classic musicals such as Blood Brothers, Grease and Sound of Music.

Twin Flames the Musical runs from Saturday October 21-28 inclusive at the Fermoy Palace Theatre.

Tickets are €25 plus booking fee available at www.gr8events.ie/ twinflames.