Meet one of the writers behind  Summer Revels show at Cork Opera House

Katie Holly is one member of the writing team on the new Summer Revels show, running from the end of July to mid-August at Cork Opera House.

She’s excited to share what’s in store for Cork audiences.

A Cork Tradition

Directed by Killian Collins and John O’Brien, Summer Revels follows a rich tradition of wonderful summer shows at Cork’s biggest theatre venue.

The original Summer Revels ran from the ’70s to the ’90s and was a huge hit with Cork audiences. This iteration is a whole new experience, packed with new characters, but maintains the spirit of fun that was so characteristic of the earlier production.

Writer Katie is originally from Charleville and doesn’t being aware of the Summer Revels as a child.

“No, I don’t it. Probably because I didn’t live in the city. We were never brought to it as children.

So, it was interesting going back to research the whole set-up and to discover the massive success they had with it.

“It just grew and grew, going from a two-week show to as long as eight weeks at its peak. There were really iconic Cork characters. It was so popular that it didn’t need to be d.”

Cork people who do the Revels that ran throughout the ’70s and ’80s will recall the much beloved double-act Cha and Miah, played by Frank Duggan and Michael Twomey, a duo who graced Cork stages for 42 years before retiring the act in 2012. Billa was another star of the show, played by the legendary Billa O’Connell, and the Montforts featured throughout, guided by their founder Eileen Nolan.

A Blend of Old and New

It’s quite the legacy to contend with, but it helps the new cast and crew that Summer Revels 2024 will be a little bit different, as well as being a little bit the same, as Katie explains.

“The main order of the day is that it is fun. The old show was a variety show with musical numbers and comedy sketches. People were very familiar with the characters and so they followed them but there was no through line. Our show has a through line. There will still be stand-alone sketches and the whole effort is to create comedy for family entertainment. We’ve even thrown in a few gags for the grown-ups.”

Katie did a fair amount of research to prepare for her role, as did the rest of the team. Past performers were consulted also.

“I went to see the panto in Cork Opera House to get a sense of the kind of humour the audience might expect. Our show is reflective of that genre but there is no fairy-tale aspect, so it is not a story everyone knows.

We created all these new characters in the writing room so it’s an entirely fresh show. 

"A musical variety show spectacular! If anything suggested wasn’t magic, revelry or fun, it was cut – that’s how we collaborated throughout the writing process.”

I manage to get a tiny preview of the plot from Katie.

“The characters are putting on a show within the show. The audience gets to see the panic of the stage manager and everything else that goes on behind the curtain.

“We have created all sorts of iconic characters: the diva actor; the clumsy clown; and two audience commentating throughout. For these we took inspiration from Statler and Waldorf, two characters in The Muppet Show. They arrive in late for the show and come in though the audience door.”

It’s clear that Katie wants to tell me more, so I nudge her on.

“To be honest, these two characters are based on myself and my husband in 25 years time. He knows and considers himself to be a co-creator,” she laughs.

“I am looking forward to seeing it. Trevor Ryan is playing Cathleen, who is me, and Michael Sands is playing Denis, my husband. I’m quite nervous about him seeing it, to be honest. I think he’ll find it funny. At least I hope he will…”

A New Chapter

It is a very new type of project for the young writer who has already enjoyed considerable success. Her play Sharon was recorded and broadcast as a radio play on Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ Radio 1 and won a New York Festival Silver Award for ‘Best Digital Drama’ in 2019.

In 2022/2023, Katie completed a residency in Everyman Theatre, Cork, under the mentorship of Enda Walsh.

“My own work is comedy drama aimed at adults. It has been great to write with a younger audience in mind. It allows you to be more playful, to tap into what you would have found funny as a child. 

Farting is back on the table. It broadens your horizons as well as giving you new limits.

It also offers her more company than usual. Alongside Katie are writers John McCarthy, Kevin Twomey and Sally O’Leary, as well as directors John O’Brien and Cillian Collins.

“This is my first opportunity to do this type of work. I have always written on my own which can be a bit isolating. It is so lovely to collaborate with other writers and to bounce ideas around. 

It is also wonderful to work with people on such a fun project, to bring joy. There is no darkness in this whatsoever.

This is not to be mistaken for a lack of hard work. The team started working on this 12 months ago when they met up initially to brainstorm, two directors and four writers sitting around a table.

“We met up once a month for a while, then we paused for panto season, and started more seriously in January. We started taking all our ideas and shaping them into a plot that makes sense. With four writers and two directors, you can’t run with every idea.”

Summer Fun

“It’s lovely to have a mirror show to the panto. Pantomime season is warm and cosy, lit up by fairytale. This is brighter and summery with a great deal of fun. It is its own world really, being a play within a play, and has an element of surrealism.”

Katie is finding it strange being away from the Opera House now that rehearsals have begun.

The cast is also stellar, all hailing from Cork and including Declan Wolfe, Michael Sands, Cormac Mohally, Therese O’Sullivan, and Fiona Kennedy. Claire O’Leary, sister to writer Sally, has just finished (or wrapped as they say in the business) Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Wizard of Oz on the West End. This is pure Cork like, as in, the best of the best.

For now, most of Katie’s work is done. The script is complete, and it is full steam ahead with rehearsals.

Normally I would be doing things on a shoestring, so I’d be directing too. It is strange not to be there. But I assume everything is going well. They would tell me if it wasn’t!

“We also have an amazing creative staff. But I might call in just to say hello and see how they’re getting on.”

HOW TO BOOK

Summer Revels 2024 is on from July 24 until August 11 at Cork Opera House, at various times. Tickets and more information: www.corkoperahouse.ie