May 15 2012

Ring Round The World Performance Dates

English Pocket Opera Company’s production of “Ring Round The World” will be on at the following theatres. All performances start at 1.30pm. Composed by Pete Churchill, directed by Mark Tinkler and performed by Emma-Kate Nelson, Michelle Cornelius, John Moabi & Paul Featherstone, with children from over 150 London schools.
For more info:

http://ringroundtheworld.org/

UNICORN THEATRE, Southwark
Mon.21 – Fri.25 May

ROSE THEATRE, Kingston-on-Thames
Tue.12 -Fri.15 June
Mon.18 – Thu.21 June

PLEASANCE THEATRE, Islington
Tue.26 – Fri.29 June
Mon.2 – Wed.4 & Fri.6 July

BROADWAY THEATRE, Barking
Tue.10, Wed.11 & Fri.13 July
Mon.16 – Wed.18 July


Mar 18 2012

Ring Round The World: Schools tour

I am currently touring schools throughout London with English Pocket Opera’s “Ring Round The World” until March 30. http://ringroundtheworld.org/

On Monday 19 March we will be performing some of the songs from the show at the Royal Albert Hall with Camden schools, conducted by the composer Pete Churchill.


Jan 30 2012

English Pocket Opera

Bluebeard’s Castle all over – great production, wonderful designs, fantastic performances. For those of you who missed it, check out some of the production photographs on flickr. See the link in the blogroll link on the right.

Next up is Ring Round The World, the mammoth schools project coinciding with this year’s Olympic Games, where each school will be twinned with a competing country.
See link for more details:
http://epoc.co/?q=content/ring-round-world

Many performances later in the year at the Unicorn, Pleasance, Rose & Broadway Theatres as well as the Royal Albert Hall.


Dec 17 2011

Duke Bluebeard’s Castle

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.
Bluebeard's Castle image by Artemis Evlogimenou
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.


Oct 22 2011

News: Bluebeard, Macbeth

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.


Sep 4 2011

News update

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.


May 19 2011

Street Scene

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


May 18 2011

Pagliacci


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


Apr 14 2011

Opera Blocks

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.


Mar 13 2011

Pagliacci

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).