A FESTIVE MUSICAL BY WEXFORD’S BEST
‘NOEL’ BY EOIN COLFER IS KICKING OFF SOON. MARIA PEPPER REPORTS
NOEL, a new musical written by the bestselling author Eoin Colfer with music composed by Liam Bates, will run for seven performances in the National Opera House from Monday, December 19, to Friday, December 23.
The musical tells the story of a young girl, Noel, who is distraught at the disappearance of her mother. On a journey to find her, she meets a motley crew of characters who want to help.
Nick, a disullusioned homeless man, forms a bond with the child, and in helping her rediscovers his belief in the magic of Christmas and in himself.
The show is produced by Wexfordman Michael Londra, the Emmy-nominated tenor who has toured globally and performed on Broadway and Steve Peters through US-based company VenuWorks Theatricals.
The director is Wexfordman Ben Barnes, former artistic director of The Abbey Theatre. Liam Bates of Kilmore is a composer who has worked with everyone from Pavarotti to Bon Jovi.
A casting search was conducted nationwide to find a new young musical star for the title role. She is 13-yearold Hana Kelly from Dublin, whose voice will be familiar from the RTÉ Jr Channel theme tune.
The principal cast also includes West End stars Stephen Carlile as Nick, Zoe Rainey as Duchess and James Byng as Edgar who will be joined by Dublin native Mark Lambert as Carnegie, Wexford woman Aileen Mythen in the role of Suzy and Wicklow-based Avril O’Toole as Mother.
Noel will be staged concert style with a full orchestra on December 19, 20 and 21 at 7.30 each night and on December 22 and 23 at 3 pm and 7.30 pm. It is suitable for children from the age of seven upwards.
The musical evolved from conversations Eoin Colfer had with Kilmore man Liam Bates and Ben Barnes. The trio were looking for a new project to stage in Wexford. Liam was interest in exploring choral works. ‘I had an iea for a Christmas story and it occurred to me that it would work well as a musical’, said Eoin, who was also delighted to team up with Londra, a former classmate, at last.
The feeling is mutual. ‘As a kid in Wexford I saw how creative Eoin was. We’ve wanted to work together for the longest time and Noelis that project. Coming home to Wexford to do it makes it even more perfect,’ said Londra.
Tickets for the show are €17.50 for children and €27.50 for adults with €40 for a VIP experience in Founders Circle seating including a drinks reception with the author, composer and producers and a signed Noel Christmas gift.
For bookings, contact the box on 053 9122144 and www.nationaloperahouse.ie.