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| | In addition to being resident at the King's Head Theatre, OperaUpClose can been seen at venues across the UK touring acclaimed productions of La Bohème, The Barber of Seville (or Salisbury), Tosca and L'Elisir d'Amore. __________________________________________________________________________________
DATES AND VENUES
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
29 May
Theatre Royal Margate
21 September
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LA BOHÈME
by Puccini, in a new version by Robin Norton-Hale
The Olivier Award-winning version of Puccini’s much-loved weepie is a favourite with critics and audiences alike. One of the most accessible and moving operas ever written, at the heart of Puccini’s La Boheme is the human drama of aspiring novelist Rodolfo, who falls for an immigrant cleaner, while his friends struggle to grow up and make ends meet. WINNER OF THE 2011 LAURENCE OLIVIER AWARD "Best New Opera Production"
WINNER OF THE 2011 Whatsonstage.com AWARD "Best Off West-End Production"
    The Times,     Guardian,     Evening Standard,     Metro,     Sunday Express,     Daily Express
CRITICS' CHOICE: The Times, Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph, Independent on Sunday
“Madly brilliant... an updated, zingy translation... a fresh rediscovery." THE TIMES
"This is Puccini without a safety net and it works." EVENING STANDARD
"Opera with the gloves off." WHATSONSTAGE
"As pub theatre this is surely the best ever." DAILY EXPRESS
"Has audiences mesmerised... a huge artistic success." NEW YORK TIMES Click here to watch the trailer
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DATES AND VENUES
Ramsgate Festival
25 August
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THE BARBER OF SEVILLE (OR SALISBURY)
by Rossini, in a new version by Robin Norton-Hale
Rossini's classic comedy has been transported to Jane Austen’s England, a world of rich, eligible bachelors, feisty heroines and snobbish relations familiar from much-loved BBC costume dramas. Obsequious Doctor Bartleby has designs on his ward Rosina, but she is far more interested in the attentions of a handsome stranger (actually a womanising Count in disguise). The whole affair is stage-managed by Figaro, the barber who knows everyone’s business and can fix your hair and love life with ease.
"Plucky and purposeful... a farcical romp." THE GUARDIAN
"Norton-Hale's translation skids between centuries, raising a metaphorical little finger one moment, and its middle finger the next... Cosy, goofy fun." THE INDEPENDENT
"Norton-Hale’s staging is excellently judged with a priceless sense for the ridiculous. The opera’s finale is tightly directed and fizzes with a tangible energy... Uproariously funny, thanks partly to Norton-Hale’s irreverent new libretto."     THE PUBLIC REVIEWS
"Witty and fluent." WHATSONSTAGE.COM
"Fun, fun, fun... you're guaranteed a good time." BROADWAYWORLD.COM
Click here to watch the trailer
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DATES AND VENUES
Check back soon for new dates
| TOSCA
by Puccini in a new English version by Adam Spreadbury-Maher
and a new orchestration by Danyal Dhondy
Tosca is sensual, powerful, and vulnerable. Living in the shadow of the Berlin wall, she is the toast of the GDR elite, until her lover Cavaradossi helps a political prisoner escape, putting Tosca at the mercy of Stasi chief Scarpia.
"OperaUpClose has the knack of cutting operas down to size without mislaying their passion....OperaUpClose productions simultaneously guy opera and fall under its spell. Its a difficult balancing act, but this Tosca pulls it off" "Another jewel in the crown of OperaUpClose" "A combination of excellent acting, determined sensuality and some extremely talented singing in what is a boldly reset production" "A small but effective band of piano , cello and clarinet brings just a touch of Weill cabaret to proceedings, appropriate given the context.....Only four singers actually appear in ( Adam Spreadbury-Maher's) cleverly compressed libretto" Critics Choice, THE TIMES "An enjoyable and ,at times gripping production...visceral stuff!" TIME OUT | 
DATES AND VENUES
Holt Festival, Norfolk
21 July
Connaught Theatre, Worthing
26 September
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L'ELISIR D'AMORE
by Donizetti in a new English version conceived by Valentina Ceschi
with a libretto by Thomas Eccleshare
and a new orchestration by John Gibbons.
Adina is the hottest star in Hollywood – and Nemorino adores her. When an ambitious army officer makes a very public proposal to Adina, Nemorino is in despair, until Dulcamara, the smooth-talking stylist, comes to his rescue with a remedy which he promises will win Adina once and for all.
Donizetti’s warm-hearted opera fizzes with wit, great tunes and a keen-eyed dissection of the way love can confound even the cleverest of us.
"a little gem... director Valentina Ceschi and translator Thomas Eccleshare have splendidly gone to town reinventing the libretto... the whole thing fizzes from start to finish as a piece of unpretentious fun."     THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
"crammed full of clever comic details and fizzes with vitality... a splendid small-scale production whose only real disappointment is how few people will get to see it - a real treat"     TIME OUT
"OperaUpClose is the brand leader... these are proper voices, and the singers can act. Making comic opera funny? It's a handy trick."     EVENING STANDARD
"this sumptuous rendition of Donizetti's opera is a joy to behold... Confidently glamorous, effortlessly stylish and expertly delivered, this production is a potent potion."     ISLINGTON GAZETTE
Click here to watch the trailer
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If you'd like OperaUpClose to perform at your venue, please contact our Touring Producer, Ellie Stone via ellie.stone@kingsheadtheatre.com or call us on 020 7226 8561 |
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EVENING STANDARD
HAM & HIGH
THE LADY