Paul Featherstone

I am directing a new production of Bartok’s Duke Bluebeard’s Castle for English Pocket Opera in a co-production with Central St.Martins College.

The audience will follow Judith from room to room as she discovers the secrets and horrors behind each door.
Sung in English.

Two casts: Anna Gregory & Dominic Barrand
and Hannah Pedley & Simon Wilding
Music Director/piano: Will Carslake

Performance Dates:
Tue.17 Jan. 6pm(Hannah/Simon) & 8pm(Anna/Dom)
Wed.18 Jan. 1.30pm(Anna/Dom) & 8pm(Hannah/Simon)
Thu.19 Jan. 1.30pm(Hannah/Simon) & 8pm(Anna/Dom)
Fri.20 Jan. 6pm(Anna/Dom) & 8pm(Hannah/Simon)
Sat.21 Jan. 3pm(Anna/Dom), 6pm(Hannah/Simon) & 8pm(Anna/Dom)

8 Designers from the college design a scene each in this promenade production at the college’s brand new theatre behind Kings Cross Station on Handyside Street. See link for map: http://www.csm.arts.ac.uk/sites/

It will be a production of Bartok’s masterpiece like no other.

Unfortunately “Macbeth” at the King’s Head has been postponed for financial reasons. However, as one door closes, seven more open, as I have been asked to direct Bartok’s “Duke Bluebeard’s Castle” for English Pocket Opera at the new Central St.Martin’s building next to King’s Cross. Eight designers from Central St.Martin’s will have a room/scene each to design. Performances will be in the third week of January 2012.

Also, with English Pocket Opera in 2012, will be the spectacular and ambitious Olympic Games project,“Ring Round The World”. Keep checking the website for more information: http://ringroundtheworld.org/

“Street Scene” tour over. Great show, wonderful cast and company – thanks to all who made it such a pleasure to work on.

In rehearsals for “Street Scene” at the Young Vic. It’s selling out fast, so get your tickets quick. It promises to be even better than 3 years ago.

I have been remiss at updating the website – performances of “Opera Blocks” with English Pocket Opera at Camp Bestival in Dorset & the Unicorn Theatre in London have come and gone without advance warning. Next year is going to be a big year for the company with their Olympic project involving thousands of kids in hundreds of schools with performances in theatres all over London including the Royal Albert Hall. Will post details soon.  http://epoc.co/

After “Street Scene”, I will be returning to the Kings Head to play Macduff in Verdi’s “Macbeth” directed by Danny Slater and conducted by Toby Purser. Performances throughout Nov & Dec opening on Nov.3

On Nov.27 I will be singing the tenor solos in Dvorak’s “Mass in D” and Britten’s “Rejoice In The Lamb” at St.Mary’s Church, Dumfries with the Dumfries Choral Society.

The Opera Group’s production of Kurt Weill’s “Street Scene” (winner of the Evening Standard Award for Best Musical 2008) is being revived at the Young Vic this autumn,  and also touring to Vienna (Theater an der Wien), Basingstoke Anvil, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Newport Riverfront Theatre & Hull Truck Theatre.

I will again be performing the roles of Abraham Kaplan, Steve Sankey & Officer Murphy.

See the Opera Group website for more info: http://www.theoperagroup.co.uk/?p=31

I am still performing Canio in Opera Up Close’s production of Leoncavallo’s “I Pagliacci” at the King’s Head in Islington.
“a more vivid and immediate version would be hard to imagine than Anna Gregory’s blood-and-thunder production” (Opera Now)

“The production and performance are tremendous, as intense and compelling as any account of this piece I have seen. That is largely thanks to two seasoned performers, Dominic Barrand as the vengeful cripple Tonio, and Paul Featherstone as Canio, the clown whose heartbreak leads him to murder his wife and her lover. These two are singing actors of extraordinary calibre.” (The Spectator)

Remaining dates are:
Mon May 23

Sun May 29

Mon May 30

Tue May 31

All performances are at 7.15pm unless otherwise stated

Please note that the performance on Sun May 22 has been cancelled.

See the website:  www.kingsheadtheatre.com/rep-season-calendar.html

Never been to the opera? Been, but want to know more? Fancy a laugh? Want something for the kids that YOU will enjoy? Looking for Easter holiday activities? After performances to over 25,000 children in schools Opera Blocks comes to the theatre for the first time!
I will be performing in this English Pocket Opera Company show at the Kings Head on Wed 13, Fri 15, Wed 20 & Thu 21 April, 11am at the Kings Head Theatre in Islington.
See the EPOC or Kings Head sites for further details.

I am performing the role of Canio in Opera Up Close’s production of Leoncavallo’s “I Pagliacci”. Director: Anna Gregory MD: Kelvin Lim
The performances are at the King’s Head in Islington – 7.15pm unless otherwise stated. Revised dates are:

Fri Mar.18 Sat Mar.19
Tue Mar.29 Wed Mar.30
Thu Mar.31

Wed Apr.6 Thu Apr.7
Thu Apr.14 Fri Apr.15
Tue Apr.26 Wed Apr.27
Fri Apr.29

Fri May 6 Sat May 7
Sun May 8 (3pm)
Sun May 22 Mon May 23
Sun May 29 Mon May 30
Tue May 31

See the website: http://www.kingsheadtheatre.com/rep-season-calendar.html

WAGNER’s RING with English Pocket Opera went incredibly well -10 shows in one week, imaginative designs from the 9 designers from Central St.Martins. Looking forward to the schools workshops in March. See production photos by using the “Wagner’s Ring photos” link on the right (under Blogroll).

I will be performing in English Pocket Opera’s 90 minute version of Wagner’s “Ring”, singing Siegfried, Loge and Mime. Directed by Mark Tinkler and designed by 9 students from Central St.Martins, “The Ring” will be performed at the Cochrane Theatre, Southampton Row, London (near Holborn tube).from Tue.18-Sat.22 January.
For more information, see:http://epoc.co/?q=content/ring-1

Just back from Rome where Elena was performing Jemmy in concert performances of “Guillaume Tell” – with Gerald Finley, John Osborn & Pappano – excellent stuff, look forward to the CD.
Enjoyed street performances at the Spanish Steps & Pantheon – bless that soprano who sang the Brindisi with me, you were a star! Thanks to everyone who asked for cards – look forward to hearing from Mr Rieu!
Plan to go back next year.

Off to Australia in mid November – Sydney (where Elena is doing Haydn’s “Orfeo ed Euridice” (www.pinchgutopera.com.au), Melbourne (MSO Messiah) and hopefully Adelaide & Elizabeth, where I was born.

Throughout the autumn Paul will be performing in schools in the North of England with the Opera North education team in workshops on Britten’s “THE TURN OF THE SCREW“.

31 December ~ Opera Gala Concert with soprano Elena Xanthoudakis in Poznan, Poland. Filharmonia Poznanska conducted by Lukasz Borowicz

2011

Plans to do Mahler’s “DAS LIED VON DER ERDE” arr. Schoenberg in Glasgow with the Auricle Ensemble and there is talk of a revival of the award winning Opera Group/Young Vic production of Weill’s “STREET SCENE“.