What a Revel-ation!

An all-star cast, including some of Cork’s stars from London’s West End, has been announced for a new musical theatre show this summer.

The announcement comes from Cork Opera House ahead its upcoming premiere of ‘Summer Revels!’, a new home-grown musical-comedy production lovingly based on the shows of the same name that ran throughout the '70s and '80s.

The entirely Cork cast is led by Claire O’Leary, one of Leeside’s brightest lights on London’s West End. O’Leary is fresh from her recent run at The London Palladium in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of ‘Wizard of Oz’, following her West End debut in 'Les Miserables'.

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

The 17 strong professional ensemble also includes several Cork musical theatre performers who have been entertaining audiences nationally and internationally for years. Marie O’Donovan ('Cork Adult Panto', 'Hysterical Histories'), Therese O’Sullivan ('Elf: The Musical'), Alex Glennon (Bord Gais Energy Theatre’s 'West Side Story') and Fiona Kennedy ('Sleeping Beauty') are all joined by Bandon’s Alison Arnopp of The Royal Shakespeare Company, who makes a welcome return to the Cork Opera House stage following her acclaimed appearance in ‘Broadway - Cork Opera House Proms 2023’. Emerging Cork artist Precious Abimbola makes her professional debut surrounded by this stellar company.

The multi-disciplinary cast also features characters from the world of circus with Cormac Mohally (Lords of Strut, Body Brothers); the world of magic with local psychological magician Daniel Cremin; and the world of music with musical director Cathal Synnott ('Riverdance', Gate Theatre’s 'Sweeney Todd', 'Once') leading a versatile band of Dylan Howe ('Rowan'), Patrick Lynch, and Anastacia Beary in the jukebox musical score of pop hits and musical theatre favourites.

“Excitement for ‘Summer Revels!’ is building at Cork Opera House as the last couple of pieces of what will be an extraordinary summer show fall into place,” said Cork Opera House CEO, Eibhlin Gleeson.

“This will be a vibrant, colourful show full of comedy, music, dance, and laughter – all that you would expect from Cork Opera House's well-established family shows,” she added.

With a nod to the legendary ‘Summer Revels!’ shows that lit up Cork Opera House during the '70s and '80s, this new script will follow the same hilarious and haphazard characters of old as they perform their show-within-a-show against all the odds.

Acclaimed Cork directors Killian Collins and John O’Brien lead the creative team of writers, designers, and performers. “We’re very excited to work with such an amazing professional ensemble of multi-talented artists,” says Collins. “There’s a great blend of youth and experience with an energetic, all-singing, all-dancing company of brilliant Cork people.”

O’Brien adds: “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.”

Previews will begin at Cork Opera House on 24 July ahead of a 27 July opening night and a run to 11 August. Tickets are available now at corkoperahouse.ie.