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theatre · Thursday 23 July 2026 · 7:00pm 
The Sound of Music - Cork Opera House
At Cork Opera House · Emmet Place, Cork City, Co. Cork
At Cork Opera House · Emmet Place, Cork City, Co. Cork
Cork Opera House is staging a major new production of The Sound of Music across five weeks this summer, with a cast that blends West End experience and home-grown Irish talent. This is not a touring show passing through - it has been built here, directed by Davey Kelleher and executive produced by Cork Opera House’s own CEO, Eibhlín Gleeson. For anyone who loves the story of Maria, the Von Trapp family, and the songs that seem to live permanently in the back of every Irish person’s head, this is a proper occasion. It suits families, couples, school-leavers, and anyone who just wants a big, full-blooded musical done well.
The production stars Wendy Carr as Maria - an acclaimed soprano and Classical Brit Award nominee - opposite Matt Blaker as Captain Von Trapp. Blaker has led productions of The Phantom of the Opera, Chicago and The Bodyguard in the West End, and appeared on Netflix’s The Crown. Majella Cullagh, one of the finest sopranos Ireland has produced, takes the role of Mother Abbess. The sisters are played by Jean Elliott, Carrie Mullane and Emma Nash - Nash is an inaugural member of Cork Opera House’s own Cara O’Sullivan Associate Artist Programme, which develops local talent.
Musical director is Cathal Synnott, and the production features the full score: Do-Re-Mi, Edelweiss, Climb Every Mountain, My Favourite Things - all of it, live. Note that the production uses strobe lighting, smoke and haze. Children under 16 must be seated beside a parent or guardian aged 18 or over. An Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpreted performance takes place on Saturday 8 August at 2pm; ISL seats must be reserved through the box office.
Several performances have already sold out, so early booking matters.
Cork City is well served by rail from Dublin Heuston (roughly 2 hrs 30 mins, multiple services daily) and from Limerick, Tralee and Mallow. Bus Éireann and Aircoach run regular services from Dublin and other cities. Cork Kent Station is about a 15-minute walk from Emmet Place, or a short taxi or city bus ride.
Cork Opera House sits on Emmet Place beside the River Lee, just off Lavitt’s Quay. There is no dedicated car park on site. Merchant’s Quay Shopping Centre car park is the closest option, and there is pay-and-display on-street parking nearby, though the city centre fills up on performance evenings - arriving early or using public transport is the sensible call.
Cork City in July is lively, with the English Market, the Crawford Art Gallery and the riverfront all worth an evening wander before or after the show. There is more to see in Cork and across Co. Cork.
Heading to Cork Opera House in Cork? Cork has plenty more to see. Read the Cork area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.