From page to stage – and everything in between
The latest news, reviews and features on theatre, books, TV, culture and life
Conor Mitchell’s darkly comic children’s opera retells a familiar story: ‘who was the Pied Piper? and ‘Why did the rats all dance to his tune?’ This world premiere from the award-winning Belfast Ensemble brings opera home to Northern Ireland. Musically extraordinary, this cautionary tale explores themes of nature, nurture and just desserts! The Musician is... Continue Reading →
While the country remains locked down, Nevill Holt Opera (NHO) is looking ahead and has made the bold decision to move its opera festival outdoors and stage it later than usual this summer. With dates now throughout August, NHO will build an outdoor stage and seating that will enable each performance to play to a... Continue Reading →
Earlier this year Constella, the world’s only dedicated opera-ballet company, launched Connecting Stars, an initiative which provides one-to-one virtual performances to care home residents adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Now in the run up to the festive season they’ve released an online production of their Christmas Gala, which will be raising money for them... Continue Reading →
Opera Helps began as a site-specific art project in which professional opera singers visited people in the comfort of their own homes to sing to them one to one. It harnessed the redemptive power of opera to help with participant's personal problems. Unlike therapy, or a trip to the doctor, Opera Helps doesn’t aim to... Continue Reading →
Nevill Holt Opera has announced six concerts will take places in the gardens of the Nevill Holt Estate on the 29 August, 5 and 12 September, with two performances on each date. Reflecting NHO’s commitment to nurturing the most talented up-and-coming young singers in the UK, each concert will feature at least five of NHO’s... Continue Reading →
Weimar International Festival will go ahead! The number of audience members must be smaller, and the programme has had to be adapted and adjusted to work in the current restrictions but it remains as diverse, contemporary and rich with politically relevant work as ever. The Festival will run from 26 August to 13 September. Festival... Continue Reading →
Constella, the world’s only dedicated opera-ballet company, have launched Connecting Stars. Their initiative aims to alleviate two urgent problems presented by the Covid-19 pandemic: loneliness amongst care home residents isolated from their support network and the immense financial difficulties faced by artists whose industry has come to a standstill. Through free one-to-one virtual concerts some... Continue Reading →
Connecting creativity in the Coronavirus Crisis, #OperaHarmony looks to assemble teams from across the globe for all new homemade micro-operitas to be shared online. With ongoing support, composers will be paired with librettists to build the pieces on the themes of ‘distance’ or ‘community’ before being matched with directors and singers to record and turn... Continue Reading →
Production images have been released for King’s Head Theatre’s Puccini double-bill Opera Undone: Tosca & La bohème which runs at Trafalgar Studios 2 until 7 March. Opera Undone is a new strand of the King’s Head Theatre’s celebrated opera programming, whereby famous operas are radically reimagined in a new punchy 60-minute format, sung entirely in... Continue Reading →
In its biggest summer festival to date, Nevill Holt Opera will present two of the world’s most beloved operas, Verdi’s La traviata and Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Located in one of England’s most beautiful country house estates, the new theatre at Nevill Holt Opera is the only opera house ever to be shortlisted for the prestigious... Continue Reading →
