Matt Blaker and More Join THE SOUND OF MUSIC at Cork Opera House

Cork Opera House has cast West End star Matt Blaker, leading man of The Phantom of the Opera, Chicago and The Bodyguard, and a cast member of Netflix's The Crown - as Captain Von Trapp in its summer production of The Sound of Music, running from July 23 to August 23, 2026.

Barker, who has performed to a live global audience of more than 700 million viewers on China's CCTV New Year's Eve broadcast, will star opposite acclaimed Irish soprano Wendy Carr, previously announced as Maria. He is joined by one of Ireland's most celebrated Sopranos, Majella Cullagh, in the pivotal role of Mother Abbess, alongside Jean Elliott (Sister Sophia), Carrie Mullane (Sister Berthe) and Emma Nash (Sister Margaretta).

The announcement follows exceptional early demand for the 30-show run, with a number of performances already sold-out months ahead of opening night.

Matt Blaker is one of the UK's most experienced musical theatre leads. His West End credits include Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera, Billy Flynn in Chicago, and Frank Farmer in The Bodyguard. Television audiences will recognize him from Netflix's global hit The Crown, and he previously performed with Jersey Boys on China's CCTV New Year's Eve show, one of the most-watched live broadcasts in the world.

“In Matt Blaker, we have found our Captain Von Trapp,” said Eibhlin Gleeson, CEO and Artistic Director of Cork Opera House. “Matt brings serious West End pedigree to the role - Phantom, Chicago, The Bodyguard, and we cannot wait for audiences to see him lead this cast opposite Wendy.”

For Majella Cullagh, one of Ireland's most accomplished sopranos and a long-time collaborator with Cork Opera House, the role of Mother Abbess carries deep personal significance.

“The Sound of Music has been the soundtrack to my entire life,” said Ms. Cullagh. “It was my Aunt Brenda's favourite movie and we never missed watching it whenever it was showing. It was our little thing together.

“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. 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'.”

Ms. Gleeson added: “Casting the Mother Abbess is one of the most important decisions in any production of The Sound of Music. We needed someone who could land ‘Climb Ev'ry Mountain' with the weight and emotion it deserves, and there was only ever one name for us - Majella Cullagh. Majella is a powerhouse performer and one of the finest sopranos this country has produced.”

Joining the principals are three further home-grown artists. Jean Elliott, known to Cork Opera House audiences from West Side Story, La Traviata and The Full Monty, takes the role of Sister Sophia. Carrie Mullane, whose 50-plus productions include performances at London's Royal Albert Hall (Video Games in Concert) and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (Sunday at the Musicals), will play Sister Berthe. Emma Nash, an inaugural member of the Cara O'Sullivan Associate Artists, Cork Opera House's flagship development programme for new Irish operatic talent, will play Sister Margaretta.

“These are formidable, experienced, home-grown artists who will complement Majella's role exceptionally well,” said Ms. Gleeson. “Emma is an inaugural member of our Cara O'Sullivan Associate Artist Programme, which makes this casting particularly meaningful for us.”

Further casting and production details will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Matt Blaker and More Join THE SOUND OF MUSIC at Cork Opera House

4/21/2026

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