My Weekend: I have done 14 Everyman Christmas pantomimes!

Tell us a little bit about yourself

Well, I am 21 years old and I’m from a family of six (three brothers and two sisters), so my life is never boring. My mother and I would always run if there was a match on, as our ears would be burst from the four boys (my father included in the boys) shouting at the television as if the players could hear them!

I grew up in Ballinhassig and played nearly every sport you could think of. My parents liked to keep us all busy, so we were always occupied with something or other, one being CADA Performing Arts. I joined CADA when I was 7 and never left.

Through CADA, I discovered my love for performing. I owe everything I have done in this industry to CADA and its amazing teachers, with extra mention, of course, to Catherine Mahon Buckley for founding such an amazing company, which I called home for so many years, and still do.

Through CADA and The Everyman is where I found my love for the stage. 

I have done 14 Everyman Christmas pantomimes. 

I started off with the junior chorus, for a few years, then moved to handmaidens and swing, I was then Cinderella in The Everyman production of Once Upon a Time, with the Panto Stars; the following year, I played Jasmine, and now, this year, I am Belle in Beauty and the Beast.

I went to Ballyheada NS for primary school and then I went to Christ King Girls’ Secondary School, where I met some of my best friends to this day. I am also still in contact with two of my music teachers from this school (Aisling Creedon and Una Long McDonagh). They were always amazing to me and supported me with my love for singing.

After secondary school, I went to University College Cork to study drama, with English and philosophy, but after landing the role of Jasmine in The Everyman panto production of Aladdin in 2021/2022, I decided to put that on hold and audition for musical theatre/dance schools in the UK. To my surprise (and joy), I got into Laine Theatre Arts in Surrey. I am now in my second year and loving it.

 It was difficult moving away, because I love my family and the comforts of home, but I knew it was important for me to go. 

I was lucky enough to have two of the most amazing parents, who made it possible for me to move over and follow my dream.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

I must say, I don’t normally have many Friday nights off. I work in a bar, while I am in college over in the UK, every Friday and Saturday night, so I’m normally the one aiding everyone else’s Friday nights-out. And, at the moment, I have a show every Friday night, so I am normally too tired to go out after.

However, on the rare occasion I do have a Friday night off, I normally try and spend it with my boyfriend or friends. I don’t really mind whether we stay in or go out.

If I ever have a show the next day, however, that means any kind of alcohol is a no-go! And I am very strict with myself on this, as I know I will not be able to sing the next day.

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

Oh, definitely a lie-in, although I don’t get many of them! I am up every morning at 7am for college, Monday to Friday, so I do love my lie-ins on the weekends.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

Yes! At the moment, with panto, we have three shows most Saturdays and one show every Sunday. I love being on stage with everyone, though, so I don’t mind working on the weekends. When you love what you are doing, it doesn’t feel like work.

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

Oh, definitely somewhere in Italy! Maybe Rome! My boyfriend and I have been trying to organise a little getaway for Easter and that would be amazing. I have a feeling, however, that it will more than likely just be us travelling around the UK!

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

To be honest, because I am away from home so much lately, just being back at my childhood home is the best place for me to recharge. It’s the simple things, like chatting with my mom and home-cooked dinners, that I really miss when I am away. 

You take those things for granted when you are used to having them 24/7.

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

I try to. But, most of the time, I am pretty tired from doing shows during the week, so I normally just have a ‘pj day’ and stay in. We do get Mondays and Tuesdays off most weeks from panto, so I try to catch up with the girls then!

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

Well…. I often perform many musical theatre numbers to myself in the mirror, if that counts, but other than that my job is my hobby, which I am so extremely grateful for, so I get to indulge in that every week.

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

Oh, definitely entertain! If you ask my parents, they would tell you I’ve loved ‘drama’ ever since I could talk (my dad’s favourite joke). 

My happy place is when I am performing and if I get to entertain people as well, well, then, that is just the icing on then cake.

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

Two of my favorite places in Cork city are Perry Street Cafe (their pancakes are to die for), and Koto (where I always get the Pad Thai with tofu).

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

Relaxing! Trying to relieve my feet of some of the pain of dancing in heels all week. I normally just chill in my pjs and read my book or watch a movie with my family. Nothing too exciting, but it’s exactly what I need.

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

At the moment, I have nothing on a Monday morning, thankfully, so it doesn’t! But when I am in college, it does go off at 7am, so I can get myself ready to dance, sing, and act from 9am to 6pm.

• For more on this year’s Everyman panto, see everymancork.com