Scottish Opera is taking world class opera directly into communities across the country this spring with a new touring production that will visit 18 venues from the Borders to the islands.
Opera Highlights The Office Party runs from 3 February to 14 March, transforming village halls, theatres and community spaces into intimate opera houses for one night only.
The production tells the story of a raucous office party and a tangled love triangle, brought to life by four singers and a pianist in a fast moving, accessible format designed for seasoned opera goers and first timers alike.
The tour is part of Scottish Opera’s extensive outreach programme, one of the largest touring schedules of any European opera company.
Music woven through the story includes extracts from Pagliacci by Leoncavallo, Romeo and Juliette by Gounod, Werther by Massenet, Alcina by Handel, Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II and Samuel Barber’s one act opera A Hand of Bridge, all performed in English.
This spring’s tour will visit Glasgow, Tillicoultry, Helensburgh, Town Yetholm, Newton Stewart, Dunlop, Dalmally, Dornie, Stornoway, Gairloch, Newtonmore, Banchory, Fraserburgh, Cromarty, Orkney, Wick, Lairg and Bathgate.
The cast features soprano Kira Kaplan, baritone Daniel Barrett, tenor Connor James Smith and mezzo soprano Alexandria Moon, who makes her Scottish Opera debut, with musical direction and piano accompaniment by Toby Stanford.
The production is directed by Emma Doherty, who previously worked with Scottish Opera on The Giant’s Harp and served as Assistant Director on Oedipus Rex and Marx in London!, with designs by award winning designer Kenneth MacLeod.
Speaking about the production, Emma Doherty said:
“It was fantastic to see the audience reactions to our production this autumn, which showcases some beautiful music and deals with the themes of forbidden love and deception.
“I am looking forward to getting back into the rehearsal room with the new cast, to prepare for the spring tour.
“In the show, designed by the brilliant Kenneth MacLeod, audiences can expect to see four colleagues with complicated love triangles who are gearing up for their office party!”
The operatic selections for the tour have been curated by Fiona MacSherry, Scottish Opera’s Head of Music, with the aim of making the story immediate and engaging for audiences of all ages.
The spring tour follows a successful autumn run that visited 17 venues across Scotland, attracting more than 4,000 audience members and earning strong praise from those attending.
Audience feedback described the show as “wonderful that Scottish Opera comes to some of the more remote and rural areas”, with others saying they “loved every minute” and praising the “excellent production, good acting and superb singing”.
Opera Highlights is supported by Friends of Scottish Opera and the JTH Charitable Trust.
Tickets for Opera Highlights The Office Party are on sale now via Scottish Opera.
To get your tickets click here
Performance Diary
Tuesday 3 February, Tron Theatre, Glasgow, 7.30pm
Thursday 5 February, Devonvale Hall, Tillicoultry, 7pm
Saturday 7 February, Hermitage Academy Main Hall, Helensburgh, 7.30pm
Tuesday 10 February, Wauchope Hall, Town Yetholm, 7pm
Thursday 12 February, Newton Stewart Cinema, 7pm
Saturday 14 February, Dunlop Village Hall, 7pm
Tuesday 17 February, Dalmally Community Centre, 7pm
Thursday 19 February, Dornie Community Hall, 7pm
Saturday 21 February, An Lanntair, Stornoway, 7.30pm
Tuesday 24 February, Gairloch Community Centre, 7pm
Thursday 26 February, Newtonmore Village Hall, 7pm
Saturday 28 February, The Barn Arts, Banchory, 7.30pm
Tuesday 3 March, Fraserburgh Leisure Centre, 7pm
Thursday 5 March, Victoria Hall, Cromarty, 7pm
Saturday 7 March, Orkney Theatre, 7pm
Tuesday 10 March, Assembly Rooms, Wick, 7pm
Tuesday 12 March, Lairg Community Centre, 7pm
Saturday 14 March, Reconnect Regal Theatre, Bathgate, 7.30pm
