Cork Opera House to come alive to The Sound of Music 

The Cork Opera House has announced the casting of five shining stars of the stage for its summer production of The Sound Of Music. 

Among them is West End star Matt Blaker, a seasoned performer whose previous credits include Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera, Billy Flynn in Chicago, and Frank Farmer in The Bodyguard, who has been cast in the role of Captain Von Trapp.

The English actor also appeared in Netflix’s British monarchy drama, The Crown.

A strong Cork cast will include acclaimed soprano, Majella Cullagh, who has been cast in the role of Mother Abbess.

Ms Cullagh said that The Sound of Music has been “the soundtrack to my entire life”.

“It was my Aunt Brenda's favourite movie, and we never missed watching it whenever it was showing. It was our little thing together,” said Ms Cullagh.

“Cara O'Sullivan, my sister in song, played Mother Abbess in the last iteration of the musical at Cork Opera House and I went to countless shows to revel in her performance."

Honour

“It is an honour to follow in Cara's footsteps, and it brings a lump to my throat to think of how much this would mean to beautiful Brenda.

“I will hold them both in my heart every time I get to sing "Climb ev'ry mountain.” 

Also joining Mr Blaker and Ms Cullagh are Jean Elliot, known to Cork Opera House audiences from West Side Story, La Traviata and The Full Monty, who will take on the role of Sister Sophia.

Carrie Mullane, whose 50-plus productions include performances at London’s Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, will play Sister Berthe, and Emma Nash, an inaugural member of the Cara O’Sullivan Associate Artists, Cork Opera House’s flagship development programme for new Irish operatic talent, who will play Sister Margaretta.

The Sound of Music, directed by Davey Kelleher, will run at Cork Opera House from Thursday, July 23 to Sunday, August 16.

Tickets priced from €37.50 are available from https://www.corkoperahouse.ie.
With several performances already sold out, early booking is strongly advised.