Cork Opera House unveils a stellar Summer Revels 2024 cast

Cork Opera House has revealed the stellar cast for its exciting premiere of Summer Revels.

The show is led by one of Cork’s brightest lights on London’s West End, Claire O’Leary, fresh from her recent run at The London Palladium in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new Wizard of Oz.

Claire is joined by Cork theatre icons Declan Wolfe of RTÉ’s The Den and The Improv Panto;Michael Sands from The Sound of Music, Annie and The Young Offenders, and Trevor Ryan from The Sound of Music.

The 17-strong professional ensemble also includes several Cork musical theatre performers including Marie O’Donovan, Therese O’Sullivan, Alex Glennon and Fiona Kennedy.

They are joined by Bandon’s Alison Arnopp of The Royal Shakespeare Company, who makes a welcome return to the Cork Opera House stage.

Emerging Cork artist, Precious Abimbola, makes her professional debut at the Revels showcase.

This eclectic cast also features characters from the worlds of circus and magic with Cormac Mohally Lord of Strutt and local psychological magician Daniel Cremin.

Musical director Cathal Synnott of Riverdance will lead a band of Dylan Howe Rowan, Patrick Lynch and Anastacia Beary.

Acclaimed Cork directors Killian Collins and John O’Brien lead the creative team of writers, designers and performers in this epic, fun family show.

Describing the show, Mr O’Brien said: “It’s a riotous family show with pop, musical theatre, comedy, sketches, magic and circus all combining to make a super fun show celebrating the creativity of Cork.” 

“There’s a great blend of youth and experience with an energetic, all-singing, all-dancing company of brilliant Cork people,” said Mr Collins.

The Summer Revels! writers’ room brings together Cork playwrights Katie Holly and John McCarthy, as well as the award-winning sketch comedian Sally O’Leary and presenter of the ‘I’m Grand Mam’ podcast, Kevin Twomey.

With a nod to the legendary Summer Revels! that lit up Cork Opera House during the 70s and 80s, this new script will follow the hilarious and haphazard characters as they perform their show-within-a-show against all the odds – the talent, the egos, the hilarity and the magic that goes into making sure that the show must go on.

Previews will begin at Cork Opera House on July 24 ahead of a July 27 opening night, with the show running until August 11.