Opera Collective Ireland

07/09/2026

Lovely to see Maria Matthews featured in Irish Country Magazine, talking about her career, her love of opera and taking on the formidable Aunt Norris in our upcoming production of Mansfield Park.

Maria joins a brilliant cast of Irish and Irish-based artists for Jonathan Dove’s acclaimed opera, coming to Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, for just three performances, 25-27 September.

Many thanks to Irish Country Magazine for the feature and for supporting Irish artists and opera.

🎟️ Tickets via Pavilion Theatre.
https://www.paviliontheatre.ie/events/view/mansfield-park

Pavilion Theatre
Maria Matthews - Soprano Irish Country Magazine

Opera Collective Ireland’s production of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park opens in Dún Laoghaire this September.

06/09/2026

A week in black & white 🖤
A few moments from our first week of Mansfield Park rehearsals in Dublin.

The cast and creative team have been deep into Jonathan Dove’s score this week, and we absolutely adore these photographs by Gabriel Mueller - the concentration, conversations and quieter moments in between.

Three weeks to go until this company moves from rehearsal room to stage at Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire.
Mansfield Park | 25-27 September
🎟️ https://www.paviliontheatre.ie/events/view/mansfield-park
Just three performances - two evenings and one Sunday matinée.

There’s also a chance to hear directly from the people behind the production, with free pre-performance talks for ticket holders - composer Jonathan Dove on Friday evening, and director Patrick Mason on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Places are very limited and pre-booking is essential.

📸 Gabriel Mueller

04/09/2026

Mansfield Park meets The Great British Sewing Bee 🧵📖

A lovely Austen connection - OCI alumna Emma Morwood created this Jane Austen-inspired dress on The Great British Sewing Bee, just as we’re preparing to bring Mansfield Park to the stage later this month.

Bualadh bos, Emma - and congratulations on making it all the way to the semi-final! 👏🧵

03/09/2026

MEET THE CAST | Mansfield Park
Meet the cast bringing Jonathan Dove’s Mansfield Park to the stage at Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, this September.

Heather Sammon - F***y Price | Seán Boylan - Edmund Bertram | Anna-Helena MacLachlan - Lady Bertram | Jamie Rock - Sir Thomas Bertram | Laura Aherne - Maria Bertram | Diana Salop - Julia Bertram | Maria Matthews - Aunt Norris | Ami Hewitt - Mary Crawford | Andrew Henley - Henry Crawford | Cathal McCabe - Mr Rushworth

With rehearsals now in full swing in Dublin, this company of Irish operatic talent is bringing Jane Austen’s world of family, love, privilege and social expectation to life through Jonathan Dove’s acclaimed score and Alasdair Middleton’s libretto.

Directed by Patrick Mason and conducted by David Parry, with set and lighting design by Paul Keogan, costume design by Catherine Fay, and featuring the Opera Collective Ireland Chamber Ensemble.

🎭Just three performances - two evenings and one Sunday matinée.

📍Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire

📅25-27 September 2026
Friday & Saturday 7.30pm | Sunday 3pm

🎟️Book now https://www.paviliontheatre.ie/events/view/mansfield-park

31/08/2026

MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM | Mansfield Park
Rehearsals began today for Opera Collective Ireland’s Mansfield Park.

Bringing Jonathan Dove’s acclaimed opera to the stage at Pavilion Theatre this September:

🎼Jonathan Dove - Composer
Patrick Mason - Director
David Parry - Conductor
Paul Keogan - Set & Lighting Designer
Catherine Fay - Costume Designer

With a libretto by Alasdair Middleton, based on Jane Austen’s novel, Mansfield Park brings Austen’s world to life through music, wit and theatrical immediacy.
Audiences can also hear directly from the creative team through our free pre-performance talks, available to Mansfield Park ticket holders. Places are limited and advance booking is essential.

🎼 Friday 25 September, 6.30pm - Jonathan Dove
Performance 7.30pm

🎭 Saturday 26 September, 6.30pm - Patrick Mason
Performance 7.30pm

🎭 Sunday 27 September, 2pm - Patrick Mason
Performance 3pm

📍 Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire
📅 25-27 September 2026
Book here: https://www.paviliontheatre.ie/events/view/mansfield-park

27/08/2026

MANSFIELD PARK - COMING THIS SEPTEMBER 🎭
Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park comes to the stage in Jonathan Dove’s acclaimed opera - fresh, witty and emotionally charged.
At the heart of the story is F***y Price, navigating a world shaped by privilege, desire and shifting loyalties as she learns to trust her own judgement and find her voice.

CAST
✨Heather Sammon
✨Seán Boylan
✨Anna-Helena MacLachlan
✨Jamie Rock
✨Laura Aherne
✨Diana Salop
✨Maria Matthews
✨Ami Hewitt
✨Andrew Henley
✨Cathal McCabe

Music by Jonathan Dove | Libretto by Alasdair Middleton
Directed by Patrick Mason | Conducted by David Parry
Costume Design - Catherine Fay | Set & Lighting Design - Paul Keogan
Orchestra - Opera Collective Ensemble

📍 Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire
📅 25-27 September
🎟️ Three performances only
🎟️ https://www.paviliontheatre.ie/events/view/mansfield-park

05/08/2026

Congratulations to Irish baritone Seán Boylan, who has received Garsington Opera’s 2026 Leonard Ingrams Award for his performance as Algernon Moncrieff in Gerald Barry’s The Importance of Being Earnest.

The annual award recognises exceptional work by the next generation of opera artists and creatives, while providing practical support for their continued career development.

We look forward to welcoming Seán to the role of Edmund Bertram in Opera Collective Ireland’s production of Jonathan Dove’s Mansfield Park at Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, from 25-27 September.

A richly deserved recognition - congratulations, Seán!

Seán Boylan Garsington Opera

03/08/2026

🎭✨ What a way to finish Opera Bridge 2026.
A full house at the Schlosstheater Rheinsberg provided the perfect setting for a memorable Showcase Concert, bringing this year's Opera Bridge programme to a close.

Over the course of the programme, artists from Ireland and Germany took part in mentoring, workshops, masterclasses and creative collaboration, exploring everything from career development and artistic identity to entrepreneurship and performance. The Showcase Concert was the culmination of that shared learning and exchange.

Of course, there was plenty of time for new friendships too - rehearsals, backstage moments, shared meals, lots of laughter and, yes, more than a little swimming in the lake (apparently that's a Rheinsberg tradition! 🌊😄).

Thank you to our exceptional artists, mentors, workshop leaders, creative team, production crew and everyone at Musikkultur Rheinsberg whose generosity, expertise and enthusiasm made Opera Bridge 2026 such a rewarding experience.

Vielen Dank, go raibh míle maith agaibh to everyone who made the journey so special.
Here’s to the friendships made, the professional connections built and the exciting careers that lie ahead. 🇮🇪🤝🇩🇪

Musikakademie Rheinsberg Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg Embassy of Ireland Berlin Deutsche Botschaft Dublin / German Embassy Dublin Erasmus+

30/07/2026

🎭 It's showtime! Opera Bridge Showcase Concert
Thurs 30 July 🇩🇪 7pm | 🇮🇪 6pm
See you in Rheinsberg! ✨

30/07/2026

🎭 Tonight's the night!
The Opera Bridge 2026 Showcase Concert takes place this evening at at 7.00pm (Germany) / 6.00pm (Ireland) at Schlosstheater Rheinsberg, celebrating the culmination of this year's Opera Bridge programme.

🎥 Can't join us in person? The concert is being professionally filmed, and the recording will be available afterwards on the Opera Collective Ireland and Musikkultur Rheinsberg channels.

We look forward to sharing this special performance with you.

🇮🇪🤝🇩🇪

📸 Frances Marshall Photography
Deutsche Botschaft Dublin / German Embassy Dublin Embassy of Ireland Berlin Erasmus+ Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg Musikakademie Rheinsberg The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon Culture on RTÉ RTÉ lyric fm RTÉ News