FIRST ‘NOËL’ OPENS ON WEXFORD STAGE
‘NOËL’ MUSICAL PREMIERE AT THE OPERA HOUSE
THE WORLD premiere of a brand new musical Noël, written by the author Eoin Colfer with original music by Liam Bates of Kilmore was greeted with rapturous applause when it opened in the National Opera House last night (Monday).
The show, which is directded by Ben Barnes and produced by the Emmy-nominated Wexford tenor Michael Londra through his US-based company VenuWorks Theatricals, is continuing nightly until Friday with 7.30 pm performances tonight (Tuesday), Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and two matinees at 3 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.
The musical is billed as a magical Christmas show for all the family and tells the story of a young girl called Noël who embarks on a journey in search of her mother, meeting various characters along the way. Nick, a homeless man forms a bond with the child and in helping her, he rediscovers his own belief in the magic of Christmas and in himself.
The title role is played by 13-yearold Dublin girl Hana Kelly, whose voice is familiar from the RTE Jr Channel theme tune.
The cast also includes West End stars Stephen Carlike as Nick; Zoe Rainey as the Duchess and James Byng as Edgar, who are joined by Dublin native Mark Lambert as Carnegie, Wexford woman Aileen Mythen in the role of Suzy and Wicklow’s Avril O’Toole as Mother.
Noël is suitable for children from the age of seven upwards. It is staged concert-style with a full orchestra.
Michael Londra, who returned from his home in the US for rehearsals, is hoping the show will enjoy a US premier on Broadway in 2017.
Book tickets at 053 9122144 or online at nationaloperahouse.ie.