Mayo’s latest ‘must-see’ musical hits the stage

Any theatre fans in Mayo have a great show to look forward to.  One year on from ‘Phantom of the Opera, it’s show-time all over again for the Ballinrobe Musical Society, as they prepare to take to the floorboards and return to the streets of Paris with their rendition of ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame.’

The society has a rich history of bringing the best in performing arts to the stage.  Since their inception in 1943, they have won a plethora of awards from the Association of Irish Musical Societies.

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Ballinasloe native Sarah Corcoran is stepping into big shoes in her debut with the society.  The leading lady takes on the role of Esmerelda, a beautiful and kind-hearted soul at the center of the show’s ‘love quadrangle’.

However, the gifted actress has plenty of accomplishments of her own, boasting an AIMS award herself for her 2018 portrayal of Sarah in ‘Ragtime.’

According to Sarah, she’s been welcomed into the fold by many familiar faces.

“I’m from Ballinasloe but I'm now living in Tuam,” she said, in conversation with The Mayo News.  “Alan lives nearby, and Shane, the Musical Director, is one of my closest friends.”

“Myself and Niall (Conway) have been in so many shows together, and I’d know a decent number of people here so I don’t feel alone at all.”

The character of Esmeraleda is one which has captivated Sarah since she was young.

“When I was younger, so many young girls were looking at their Ariel dolls and Belle dolls, I was always looking at the Esmerelda ones,” she said.

“She’s really sassy, and I was always obsessed with the song ‘God Help the Outcasts’ from when I was a child.  She’s got a bit of something strong, and she’s not afraid of giving back.”

The strength of both the cast and music also convinced her to come on board.

“The songs are booming but they’re beautiful and still capture that sort of Disney softness,” she stated.  

“You get goosebumps from the music, the cast is strong across the board.  You’ve a great frontline.  The set design is second to none.  It’s a must-see, definitely.”

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Sarah has undertaken many roles since her musical debut at the age of seven, and her most recent role as Audrey Two in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ saw her finish as runner-up in AIMS nominations.

The marked variance in the roles is something she’s relishing.

“In my last role as Audrey Two it was so different.  I wasn’t even on stage!  This role is so contrasted and I love it.”

The show possesses many complexities and challenges for the cast, not least the fact that some songs contain Latin.

Trying to coordinate a choir, a chorus and main characters can be a tall order at the best of times.  However, according to Sarah, they’re rising to the challenge.

“Musically, it’s a massive undertaking.  The fact that the show’s one which requires a choir really emphasises that.  There’s a lot of Latin in the show, which makes it hard to learn lines, that’s half the battle.”

The challenges are certainly not lost on Niall Conway either.  Mr. Conway is one of the faces audiences in Ballinrobe will be well accustomed to, having been involved in the society for the last twenty years.

It’ll be an extended amount of time in the make-up chair for the society stalwart, but he’s relishing the opportunity to take on the role of Claude Frollo, the Archdeacon of Notre Dame who finds himself torn between his lust for Esmerelda and upholding his moral values.

“It’s quite an operatic piece,” Niall said.  “For my character and the singing I’m doing, it’s very different for me.

“Even the make-up side of it makes an entirely different prospect from anything I’ve done before.”

Niall, who last year played the role of the iconic Phantom in 2024’s ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ is another who was familiar with this show early in his life.

“The first time I became aware of ‘Hunchback’ was in college, when my roommate was playing it constantly in French.”

The esteemed actor is well acquainted with playing the villain, having made his debut as the notorious Will Conklin in ‘Ragtime.’  Now, twenty years on, he’s trying to take his learnings into his role as Frollo.

“My character is almost cartoonish in many ways,” he stated, “and there’s a temptation to lean into that.

It could almost be pushed into being overly cartoonnish, and I have been tempted.  But Alan, the director, is the first to say I’m really taking liberties with it.

The character’s so blatantly corrupt, but somehow he doesn’t see it that way.”

Ballinrobe Musical Society's production of 'Hunchback of] Notre Dame' will run in Ballinrobe Community School from Sunday 16 - Saturday 22 February.  Tickets can be purchased here.