After being snapped up by will.i.am on BBC1’s The Voice and then by producer Bill Kenwright for the Sound of Music, Lucy O’Byrne is hot property.

A new production of the much-loved musical The Sound of Music comes to Canterbury this week, starring Lucy O’Byrne, the first classical singer to reach the final of The Voice.

After appearing on the show and performing at the BBC Proms, the Dubliner released her debut album earlier this year.

Her first stage role sees her as Maria in Bill Kenwright’s production of The Sound of Music where she is joined by Coronation Street’s Andrew Lancel who plays Captain von Trapp.

Best known for playing scheming Frank Foster in the ITV show, a role that earned him a Villain of the Year award at the British Soap Awards, he was also DI Neil Manson in the long-running series The Bill.

The show features memorable songs from Edelweiss, My Favourite Things and Climb Every Mountain.

We spoke to Lucy ahead of the show's Canterbury run.

Everyone knows the Sound of Music...

That’s the great thing about it. The audience sing along. There’s rarely an audience member who hasn’t seen it before. It’s very much a part of people’s lives. As Maria you get to sing nearly every song in the show.

The role really does become a part of your life...

It is such a wonderful role and it is such a busy part as you’re always on stage. Maria is such a force for positivity, her glass is always half full. It is hard for that positivity not to rub off. We do eight shows a week, two shows a day sometimes.

I am actually living my dream...

Every day I can’t believe it. It’s genuinely like a dream come true. We’ve done more than 150 shows now and I’ve never been bored even for a second. I have never not felt so grateful to be here. I have loved every single second. Hopefully that feeling will last. It is definitely hard work but it is worth it.

My singing teacher put me forward for The Voice, I didn’t really want to do it at the start...

The thought that not one of the judges would turn their chair around for me was horrible! Then when I got through I couldn’t believe it and then you start to love it and you start to want it. It was an amazing experience. I never thought for a second I would get as far as I did, partly because they’d never had an opera singer before. Also, because I was from Ireland I didn’t think I’d get anywhere in the public vote. When I meet people in the street now who voted for me I thank them genuinely.

The producer Bill Kenwright was watching the final and he phoned the producers and asked me to audition for this show...

It’s like something out of a film isn’t it? Within a week I was in an audition. I originally wanted to pursue a career in musical theatre, that’s why I entered The Voice. And now I get to do it.

Will.i.am is a lovely man...

It was amazing being mentored by him. He is quite down to earth and he always wants to have fun. I think he’s a genius.

I released my first album earlier this year...

I’m quite lucky that I’m able to pursue both sides – music and musical theatre. From September this year I’ll be doing solo gigs and some album promotion.

Before I did The Voice I was an usher at the stage show Wicked for two years...

It’s a great show. I never got tired of watching it. It would be amazing to return to the show as part of the cast sometime.

DETAILS

The Sound Of Music is at Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre from Monday, July 25 to Saturday, July 30. Tickets cost from £23.50. Book on 01227 787787 or visit marlowetheatre.com.

The show will also be at Dartford’s Orchard Theatre from Tuesday, September 27 to Saturday, October 1. For tickets call 01322 220000 or visit orchardtheatre.co.uk