CORK AUDIENCES will be the first to see an epic musical drama based on the life of Michael Collins next month.
The production is the culmination of four years of effort by staff at the Cork Opera House and will be its feature presentation of the year.
Written and directed by Waterford-born musical dramatist Bryan Flynn, the production documents the turbulent events preceding the foundation of the State, from 1916, through the War of Independence and the Civil War.
While audiences may find the presentation of Collins’s life in the form of a musical unusual, Flynn says that through his own research he discovered a story that lends itself perfectly to the genre. “It’s the stuff all great tragedies are made of. It is 31 years of a most fascinating life put into a thrilling and powerful drama,” he said.
The work was commissioned by Cork Opera House executive director Gerry Barnes in 2005, who entrusted Flynn with the task of producing “an Irish story”.
Now, following a major collaborative effort by Cork Opera House staff, Barnes is confident the musical will attract an even more powerful response than last year’s showcasing, which was used as a benchmark to put the finishing touches on the final production.
Featuring live musicians and a full professional ensemble of 30 actors and singers, Michael Collins opens at Cork Opera House on March 19th.
"Everyone's been working very closely on this project over the past four years and we hope that our audiences will be thrilled by Michael Collins– it is certainly one of our main productions of the year," Barnes said.