Orpheus and Eurydice, The Rose Theatre

Commemorating the 300th anniversary of the death of composer Christoph Willibald Gluck, Time Zone Theatre Company is returning to the Rose Theatre with a production of his most popular opera Orpheus and Eurydice. Performed in English and running for only twelve nights, the opera is based on the Greek myth of Orpheus, who ventured into the underworld in order to save his wife Eurydice and attempted to charm the spirits of the dead with his music. 

From the setting to the cast this production of Orpheus and Eurydice is not your average opera.  Staged in the excavated archaeological site of the Rose Theatre, this huge space with water covering its foundations and its red rope lights creates an ideal atmosphere for the Underworld setting. This production is also remarkable for its work with the local Southwark community and their participation within the piece. Time Zone is offering workshops allowing participants to learn basic singing and performance skills before having the opportunity to perform alongside professional singers in the production itself.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that this public participation could turn Orpheus and Eurydice into a glorified amateur production, yet the experience at the helm reassures against unprofessionalism. Musical Director Andrew Charity (musical director of the 2009 OLIVIER award-winning production of La Boheme) has vast experience in opera both as MD and conductor, and director Pamela Scherman is no stranger to the challenging space of The Rose, having directed The Eve of St Agnes there this January. 

It remains to be seen how the acoustics of an excavated site lend themselves to an opera , but this bold theatrical reimagining of Gluck’s stunning music will certainly be unique way to experience to the gifted composer's most famous work .