Meriel Cunningham is a dynamic mezzo-soprano known for her versatility across opera, operetta, and musical theatre. She has garnered significant critical acclaim for her rich, expressive voice and captivating stage presence with critics praising her performances as "mesmerising" (The Stage) and highlighting her “exceptionally rich tone” (Theatre Reviews North) and "remarkable contralto depths" (Opera). She was nominated for Best Opera Performance at OffWestEnd’s 2024 Offie Awards.

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Recognised for her portrayals of the mezzo-soprano soubrette roles, Meriel is an established performer of Gilbert & Sullivan with Charles Court Opera and the National G&S Opera Company; roles including Iolanthe (Iolanthe), Phoebe (The Yeomen of the Guard), Constance (The Sorcerer), Tessa (The Gondoliers), Lady Angela (Patience) and Pitti-Sing (The Mikado).

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Alongside her much-praised role debut as Rosina in Charles Court Opera’s The Barber of Seville, Meriel operatic roles include Carmen with Prologue Opera in collaboration with the Hastings Philharmonic, Pastora in Dorilla in Tempe at Wexford Festival Opera and covering the role of Minerva in The Return of Ulysses for Royal Opera at The Roundhouse.

 

Meriel revels in playing comedic characters with her performances described as “hysterical” (The Telegraph) and “razor-sharp funny” (The Arts Desk). Notable operetta roles include Regina in The Princess of Trebizonde for New Sussex Opera, Louka in The Chocolate Soldier for Opera della Luna and The Muse/Nicklausse in The Tales of Hoffmann for Grimeborn Opera Festival.

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Beyond the operatic stage, Meriel’s theatre credits include Doctor Who: Time Fracture (West End), It’s in the Air! (Hope Mill Theatre) and Charles Court Opera's Offie award winning Odyssey - A Heroic Pantomime (Jermyn Street Theatre). 

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On the concert platform Meriel has performed in recital at Barbican Hall, St. John Smith Square and St James' Piccadilly. She regularly hosts and performs at DEBUT's signature #secretconcert series at Shoreditch Treehouse and Brunel Museum in London.

 

​A graduate of The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Meriel continues to study with John Evans.

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