Charles Court Opera is emerging from lockdown with a re-worked outdoor staging of their Offie Award-winning production of H.M.S Pinafore at The Maltings Open Air Theatre Festival later this month.
Described as ‘the masters of G&S in small spaces’, the group has customised the production which played an award-winning run at London’s King’s Head Theatre and a UK tour in 2019, for two performances in the Roman Theatre of St Albans at The Maltings Open Air Theatre Festival on 24 August 2020.
Featuring an eight-strong cast led by the D’Oyly Carte’s Joseph Shovelton as Sir Joseph Porter, the special outdoor staging of the production is directed by John Savournin with musical direction from David Eaton, choreography by Damian Czarnecki and design by Rachel Szmukler. The cast also features Meriel Cunningham, Jennie Jacobs, Matthew Kellett, Catrine Kirkman, Philip Lee, Matthew Palmer and Alys Roberts.
Commenting on the production, the company’s artistic director Savournin said: “We are thrilled to be getting our singers and production teams back to work, and bringing some much needed pleasure to audiences at this trying time.”
The Maltings Theatre’s artistic director Adam Nichols added: “I’m delighted to welcome the fabulous Charles Court Opera to add their customary wit and irreverence to our entertaining outdoor programme at The Maltings Open Air Theatre Festival.”
CCO will also be presenting its summer concert, A Summer’s Evening of G&S at the Hever Festival on 23 August. Performing against the beautiful backdrop of the historic Kent castle, the concert will feature Savournin, Lilo Evans, Meriel Cunningham, Matthew Kellett and Philip Lee.
Announcing the two shows, Savournin said: “We are thrilled to be able to programme these performances, and be part of helping to get the opera industry moving again.”
Both the eagerly awaited CCO and Opera Holland Park co-production of The Pirates of Penzance which was due to open this month and CCO’s production of Iolanthe which was about to open at the King’s Head Theatre at the beginning of lockdown were shelved due to the Covid crisis.
Angela Thomas
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