Leah Barniville: The BGT semi-finalist on Simon Cowell, Cork, and playing Cinderella at the Everyman
Leah Barnville stars as Cinderella at the Everyman panto.
“It was always clear that I was going to be on the stage,” says Leah Barniville, who stars as Cinderella in the Everyman pantomime in Cork. However, the 23-year-old Dubliner could never have dreamt that she would make it through to the semi-finals of in 2017 with a standing ovation from the audience and from the four judges, including Simon Cowell. Barniville, who was only 15 at the time, sang from at the thrilling live event in Birmingham.
“If I didn’t have a video of the standing ovations, I wouldn’t have any recollection of them because I was so shocked and excited. I wouldn’t have taken in the fact that all the judges were standing up after my performance. It was a whirlwind.”
Up until then, performing in various shows put on by the stage schools she joined as a child was Barniville’s hobby, albeit one that obsessed her. She used to be glued to the TV screen watching and It was her mother that really encouraged her to pursue her star potential, suggesting she send a video of her daughter performing to The reality TV show had put out a final call for auditions on social media.
“I was saying there was no point as they’d get millions of videos and they probably wouldn’t even see mine. I was being a typical moody teenager. My mother said I’d never know if I didn’t try. I said: ‘You know what, you’re right. Send in the video. We have it anyway.’”
A few months later, Barniville’s mother got the call to say her daughter had got through the first hurdle. She then had to do “three or four” video calls, singing different songs and chatting about herself. She had to go to London a number of times, always accompanied by her mother and timetabled so that Barniville rarely missed school.
One of two children, Barniville’s younger brother, Daniel, is her biggest fan. He became quite emotional watching his sister sing at the semi-final of The playful hosts of the show, Ant and Dec, asked after Daniel who was only twelve at the time.
As part of the experience, Barniville and the other contestants had meetings with psychologists. “They have to make sure your nerves are okay. They have to be really careful about mental health on reality TV because people can become ill. When it came to the semi-final, I was at peace. I said to myself that I had gotten so far and done amazing, even if I didn’t get through to the finals.”
Describing herself as a musical theatre performer and a recording artist, Barniville may not have won but she made quite an impression on Simon Cowell.
“I’ve actually have had more encounters with him since the show in recent years as I lived in London for a while and worked with industry professionals, doing extensive voice training. I was at loads of networking events with incredible people. I met Simon Cowell one night at an event.
"It was in a dining room at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane. I plucked up the courage to go over to him. I had planned to introduce myself and explain why I was talking to him. But I didn’t have to. Soon after I said ‘hi,’ he remembered my first name which really impressed me. He gave me so much time. I was amazed that he was asking me about my career and how it was going. He wished me all the best for the future; he couldn’t have been kinder.”
While Barniville says the music industry can be tough, she says it’s also “great.” The downside is always having to keep up and be innovative, particularly when releasing her own music.
“I’m constantly battling with the question ‘will people love it or hate it?’ But if you don’t have people who hate you, you’re not going to have people who love you.”
Having done a lot of training in London as well as professional work including singing at the Royal Albert Hall and supporting Chris de Burgh at the Cork Opera House last year, it was suggested to Barniville that she consider applying for advanced entry to the BA in Musical theatre at MTU Cork School of Music. With a lot of credits under her belt, she only had to study for one year for a degree that normally takes four years. Barniville was awarded her BA last year.
Living in Cork for the past year, Leah says it is friendlier than Dublin and London. “Every time I leave the house, I bump into someone I know. You could know hundreds of people in London or even in Dublin, but you never run into them.”
Describing herself as “a massive fitness enthusiast,” Barniville likes to keep in shape for her career. “I’m in the gym five or six days a week for an hour or more. I do weight training, boxing, running, spinning and indoor cycling. My favourite thing in the world at the moment is Hyrox which is a kind of hybrid training. There are Hyrox sporting events every weekend in different cities all over the world. I’ve flown to three of them in Europe in the last year.”
Clearly, Leah Barniville applies herself with zeal to what’s important in her life.
- is at the Everyman in Cork from November 29 2025 to January 18 2026. www.everymancork.ie
is at Cork Opera House from November 26 2025 until January 18 2026. This family-friendly show with live music and dance sees the return of the much loved character, Dame Nanny Nellie. www.corkoperahouse.ie.
is at Cork Opera House from December 5 2025 until January 11 2026. Strictly for over eighteens, this unscripted show involves audience involvement. The audience chooses the story as well as which comedian/actor plays what character. Expect magic, mayhem and unexpected twists. www.corkoperahouse.ie
Siamsa Tíre, Tralee, Dec 14 and 15: This all-children panto is presented by the students of the Jackie O’Mahoney School of Performing Arts. siamsatire.com
University Concert Hall, Limerick, Dec 18-Jan 11: The cast includes Limerick native Stuart Mackey, country music singer Cliona Hagan, and Cork entertainer Keith Hanley. www.uch.ie/show/cinderella/
is at the Scala Retreat and Conference Centre in Blackrock from December 17 until December 21 2025. It will be performed by young people from all over Cork including members of the Scala Musical Theatre Group. www.scala.ie
is at the Cork Arts Theatre from December 10 until December 20 2025. This Irish language bilingual pantomime is about Hercules, the son of the goddess Ériu, who is under threat from Hades. Hades will stop at nothing to rule the world. It will be performed by Cois Laoi Productions. www.corkartstheatre.com
is at Ringaskiddy Community Centre on December 14 2025. This charity matinee performance is in aid of The Sunshine and Smiles Club which is a youth club for children and teenagers with special needs. Tickets on Eventbrite.
is at the Briery Gap Macroom from December 12-14 and December 19-21 2025. This traditional panto has a modern twist for the whole family. You can even bring your baby. On the day of the show, call to the box office 30 to 45 minutes prior to the start and ask for a Babes in Arms ticket. www.brierygap.ie
