Scottish Opera’s revival of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale opens this October

OPENS AT THEATRE ROYAL GLASGOW BEFORE TOURING TO INVERNESS, EDINBURGH AND ABERDEEN

This autumn, Scottish Opera presents a revival of the much-loved 2014 production of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, which opens at Theatre Royal Glasgow on 12 October and tours to Inverness, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

It is performed alongside the Company’s specially created staging of Britten’s Albert Herring, which is at Lammermuir Festival, Theatre Royal Glasgow and Festival Theatre Edinburgh, bringing even more opera to Scottish audiences.

Conducted by Scottish Opera Music Director Stuart Stratford, Director-Designer duo Renaud Doucet and André Barbe (La bohème 2017) and Lighting Designer Guy Simard bring this quick-witted comedy to life with typically colourful and quirky style. Set in Rome at the cusp of the Swinging Sixties, the eccentric characters are given life in a world that is the perfect setting for a titanic clash of generations.

This highly successful production of Don Pasquale, which began life at Scottish Opera, was recently seen in Miami, Genoa, Vancouver, and Toronto.

David Stout, who delighted audiences in The Barber of Seville in Autumn 2023, returns to Scottish Opera as Don Pasquale, with three up-and-coming singers making their Scottish Opera debuts in the main roles.

Opera Australia principal soprano Stacey Alleaume is Norina, Filipe Manu (Jette Parker Young Artist 2019/20) is Pasquale’s son Ernesto, and Josef Jeongmeen Ahn (a member of the Jette Parker Artists Company of 2023/24) is Doctor Malatesta.

Don Pasquale runs a crumbling boarding house in Rome, and determined to keep his fortune to himself, he decides to marry, spiting his nephew Ernesto. But, when he finds a bride, he discovers that married life is not as simple as he expected …​

Renaud Doucet and André Barbe said: ‘We are delighted to be returning to Scottish Opera with Don Pasquale. After studying the score, we thought that the creative vitality and energy of Rome in the mid 1960’s was an ideal setting for Donizetti’s generation clash opera.

‘We imagined that Don Pasquale owns a small, run-down pensione. Old and something of a hermit, he leaves the running of the hotel to his nephew Ernesto and to his staff – a rum bunch including a chain-smoking chambermaid, a greasy cook and a past-it porter, so old that he has shrunk inside his uniform. A chorus of tourists come and go.

‘The dramaturgy of the opera is illustrated during the overture by the video projection of a typically Italian 1960s ‘fotoromanzo’ — sequential storytelling using photographs, text and speech bubbles — starring the principal characters, enabling the audience to immediately jump into the action of this ‘dramma giocoso’ (drama with jokes).’

Stuart Stratford said: ‘Donizetti was at the absolute height of his powers in terms of melodic gifts and spectacular writing for voices in Don Pasquale.

‘This production by Renaud Doucet and André Barbe is amazing, and it sits alongside Britten’s quintessential British comedy, Albert Herring.

‘Both are very different ways of approaching laughs in the theatre, and they were written just about 100 years apart.’​

Those who wish to discover more about how Don Pasquale was created can attend Pre-show Talks which delve into the detail of the opera. Tickets are free but should be booked in advance.​

Audience members with a visual impairment can enjoy the full opera experience at Audio-described performances, which have a live commentary describing the action on stage without compromising the music. There are also free Touch Tours of the set, and a live audio introduction before the start of the performance.

Specially created Access performances of Don Pasquale run alongside the mainstage productions in Glasgow and Edinburgh. With Dementia Friendly values at their core, afternoon Access performances are for those who enjoy a more relaxed opera experience.

With a shorter running time (under two hours including an interval) and tickets at just £12.50, these performances are open to all, including those who may be living with dementia or Long COVID, more comfortable at a shorter show, struggling to get to evening performances, or would simply benefit from the more relaxed atmosphere.

Don Pasquale is supported by The Scottish Opera Syndicate.

Tickets for Don Pasquale are on sale now at www.scottishopera.org.uk/shows/don-pasquale/

Don Pasquale creative team​

Conductor                               Stuart Stratford & Susannah Wapshott (21 November)

Director & Choreographer      Renaud Doucet

Designer                                  André Barbe

Lighting Designer                    Guy Simard

Don Pasquale cast​

Don Pasquale                         David Stout

Norina                                     Stacey Alleaume

Ernesto                                   Filipe Manu

Doctor Malatesta                  Josef Jeongmeen Ahn

A Notary                                Jonathan Forbes Kennedy

Performance Diary

Theatre Royal Glasgow  

12 • 17 • 26 October 2024, 7.15pm  

20 October, 3pm (Audio-described performance with Touch Tour at 1.45pm)

Pre-show talk, 17 October, 6pm

Relaxed Access performance, 25 October, 3pm (Audio-described performance)

Eden Court Inverness  

31 October, 7.15pm

2 November, 7.15pm (Audio-described performance with Pre-show talk and Touch Tour at 6pm)

Festival Theatre Edinburgh  

8 • 16 November, 7.15pm 

Pre-show talk, 16 November, 6pm

10 November, 3pm (Audio-described performance with Touch Tour at 1.45pm)

Relaxed Access performance,15 November, 3pm (Audio-described performance)

His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen  

21 November, 7.15pm (Audio-described performance with Pre-show talk and Touch Tour at 6pm).

Mary, Queen of Scots’ rooms at the Palace of Holyroodhouse open for exclusive evening event

On Mary, Queen of Scots’ birthday, Friday, 8 December, a special evening event at the Palace of Holyroodhouse will explore life at Mary’s court, giving visitors the rare chance to explore the Stuart Queen’s atmospheric private apartments at night.

The evening will include an exclusive curator-led tour of Queen Mary’s chambers, as well as immersive talks, performances and activities that will bring the sights, sounds and tales of Mary’s court at Christmas to life.

The evening commences with a tour of Mary’s private chambers, providing an insight into the life and surroundings of one of the most famous figures in Scottish history. Mary’s chambers were originally built for her father James V nearly 500 years ago and are the oldest section of the Palace.

Many of the most significant events of Mary’s short reign took place in these rooms, including the murder of her Italian secretary, David Rizzio, in front of her eyes in 1566.

As visitors explore the chambers, 16th-century music performed by The Galloway Consort will guide them through the historic corridors and rooms, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the Stuart period.

The Palace, which was occupied by Queen Mary between 1561 and 1567, will be spectacularly decorated for Christmas.

By the light of the Christmas tree in the Great Gallery, visitors can listen to festive tales of the celebrations at Mary’s court, including the Feast of the Bean, a 16th-century Christmas tradition that would take place at the start of the festive period.

The tour continues into the Abbey Strand buildings, which were once lodgings for many of Mary’s courtiers, where visitors can learn more about life at Mary’s palace.

A historical costume specialist will share insights into court fashions, with the chance to try on replica historical clothing. Visitors can even take part in an activity to craft their own sweet-smelling cloth pomander, bringing the smells as well as the sights and sounds of the 16th century to life.

The evening concludes with a glass of wine accompanied by a musical performance by lutenist Eric Thomas, featuring pieces for lute and voice, as well as performances of historical dances.

Throughout the evening, visitors will be able to enjoy the Christmas decorations, including the Christmas tree in the Great Gallery and the velvet garlands, vibrant berries and seasonal foliage adorning the Great Stair leading to the historic State Apartments.

An Exclusive Evening at Mary’s Court is at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Friday, 8 December, entry slots between 17:00 and 19:00, £25.00.

Tickets include a complimentary glass of wine, guided tours, talks and music performances. Tickets can be booked at www.rct.uk/whatson

Kidnapped stars stop by Stevenson Statue

KIDNAPPED: A Swashbuckling Rom-Com Adventure

Adapted by Isobel McArthur with Michael John McCarthy  

Co-directed by Isobel McArthur and Gareth Nicholls   

Based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson  

Cast includes Malcolm Cumming, Christina Gordon, Kim Ismay, Danielle Jam, Fatima Jawara, Ryan J Mackay, Grant O’Rourke, David Rankine, Isaac Savage, and Karen Young.  

Composer and Music Supervisor Michael John McCarthy Set and Costume Design Anna Orton, Sound Design Clare Hibbert Video Design Tim Reid Lighting Design Ben Ormerod Casting by Michael Howell  

Supported by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown  

Touring the UK from Tuesday 28 March to Saturday 13 May 2023  

Opening at the Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock and touring to Theatre Royal, Glasgow; Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh; Eden Court, Inverness; Perth Theatre and Northern Stage, Newcastle from March to May 2023.    

Opening Performance at the Beacon Arts Centre on 31 March 2023  

 Kidnapped, Robert Louis Stevenson’s adventure-classic is touring Scotland and Northern England in a riotous new retelling for 2023. 

19-year-old Davie Balfour has never left home, never been kissed and never fired a gun. Armed with nothing but a hand-drawn map, he heads off on an adventure like no other – quickly realising that he has lot of catching up to do. The production follows Davie on a journey of eye-opening discovery as he navigates murderous foes, Jacobite outlaws and the most inept crew of pirates this side of the Atlantic.    

Kidnapped was originally written as serialised fiction in the magazine Young Folks from May to July 1886, then first appeared in book form published by Cassell and Company in July 1886. The novel, and author Robert Louis Stevenson, both have a number of local connections to the city of Edinburgh. Stevenson was born and raised in the City, studying at the University of Edinburgh. The city and the surrounding geography influenced his writing, and Kidnapped takes place in locations familiar to Edinburgh locals.

In 2004, Edinburgh was designated the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, and to celebrate, almost 15,000 copies of Kidnapped were given away as part of a city reading campaign in 2006. The Writer’s Museum in Edinburgh presents the lives of three prominent of Scottish writers, one of them being Robert Louis Stevenson. Visitors to the museum can see a collection of portraits, photographs, personal possessions and treasures that Stevenson found on his own travels.

The climax of the novel, Kidnapped takes place upon Corstorphine Hill, where a statue dedicated to Robert Louis Stevenson now stands, on Corstorphine Road. The 15-foot-tall statue was sculpted by Alexander Stoddart and depicts principal characters Alan Breck Stewart and Davie Balfour.

A number of the streets in Dumbrae and Clermiston area take their names from locations and characters in the novel.

Rannoch Road, Duror Drive and Morven Street are named after real locations that Alan and Davie visit, and Essendean Place and Terrace are named after a fictional location created by Stevenson. Hoseason Gardens plays tribute to character Captain Hoseason, Ransome Gardens to fictional cabin boy Ransome and Alan Breck Gardens to Alan Breck Stewart.

Actors Malcolm Cumming and Ryan J Mackay recently visited the statue, ahead of the new stage reimagining of Kidnapped coming to the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh. Malcolm and Ryan are playing Alan Breck Stewart and Davie Balfour, respectively.

Kidnapped has been reimagined by Isobel McArthur with Michael John McCarthy, who previously teamed up for the Olivier award-winning Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of), in a colourful new take on the classic historical novella and is packed full of 20th century pop music and 18th century romance, all performed by a dynamic ensemble of actor-musicians.

This vibrant production is a coming-of-age romcom for today, which celebrates the poetry, humour, and heart of Stevenson’s writing. Edinburgh audiences can see Kidnapped when it visits the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh from the 11 to 22 April 2023, after opening in Greenock, or catch the show on tour in Glasgow, Inverness, Perth, and Newcastle from March to May.

Ryan J Mackay, who is playing Davie Balfour, was most recently seen on stage in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and he will be joined by Malcolm Cumming as Alan Breck Stewart, familiar to Scottish audiences from the acclaimed James IV: Queen of the Fight, (Raw Material and Capital Theatres, in association with National Theatre of Scotland) which toured Scotland in late 2022.  

They will be joined on this adventure by a talented ensemble including: Christina Gordon, who will be reuniting with Isobel McArthur and Michael John McCarthy after her run as an original cast member of Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of), for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role; David Rankine who is a Scottish actor most recently seen in the revival of the National Theatre of Scotland production of Rocket Post, which featured song arrangements from Michael John McCarthy; Kim Ismay is perhaps most familiar to audiences for playing the role of Tanya in the West End production of Mamma Mia, and Madame Morrible in the international and UK & Ireland tours of Wicked; Danielle Jam, who recently worked with Raw Material, Capital Theatres and National Theatre of Scotland as one of the lead roles in James IV: Queen of the Fight and will be reunited with her James IV co-star Malcolm Cumming in KidnappedGrant O’Rourke has done extensive work in theatre, television, film and radio, and is most familiar to Scottish audiences for his role in Outlander, and more recently, Shetland; Isaac Savage is an actor, musician and composer who will joining the ensemble as the Performing Musical Director for Kidnapped, and last year was the Performing Musical Director for Cinderella at Dundee Rep; Karen Young is a Scottish actress, recently appeared in Cinderella at Dundee Rep; Fatima Jawara was most recently seen as the titular role in Eastern Angles’ Christmas production of Little Red.

Join the conversation: #Kidnapped  

Touring to Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock (previews Tue 28, Wed 29, Thurs 30 March) Fri 31 March – Sat 1 April 2023; 

Theatre Royal, Glasgow Wed 5 – Sat 8 April 2023,

Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh Tue 11 – Sat 22 April 2023; 

Eden Court, Inverness Wed 26 – Sat 29 April 2023; 

Perth Theatre Wed 3 – Sat 6 May 2023 and 

Northern Stage, Newcastle Tues 9 – Sat 13 May 2023.   

Full tour information here.  

HRH The Princess Royal re-opens refurbished Lady Haig Poppy Factory

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal called into Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Edinburgh yesterday (Thursday 19th January) to officially re-open the campus following a two-year refurbishment.

Her Royal Highness toured the factory and its new exhibition space, and chatted to staff, before visiting Poppyscotland’s mobile museum, Bud.

The factory, founded in 1926, will now re-open to visitors and school groups following the project to showcase its history and heritage. Thirty-three disabled veterans work in the factory on Logie Green Road, making more than three million poppies each year for the Scottish Poppy Appeal, as well as wreaths and other tributes.

Her Royal Highness was met by the Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, Brigadier Dr John Reid Thomson, who is also chair of the factory, Poppyscotland’s President, Rear Admiral Mark Beverstock, Helen Owen, chair of Poppyscotland, and factory manager, Major Charlie Pelling.

David Adamson, a wreath maker and tour guide, who served for 22 years with the Royal Highland Fusiliers, gave her a tour of the factory, introducing the team.

During her visit, she spent time talking to the veterans about their experiences and the different stages of making poppies and wreaths. She signed a “reflection postcard” which will form part of a wall display in the factory.

She also met Summer Saunders and Kate Miller, both 17, from Ayr, who designed a silk red poppy dress as part of the “Junk Kouture” sustainability project and Sophie Henderson, 14, from Ayrshire, who won Poppyscotland’s 2020 poetry competition with her poem “In Future Fields”, a response to John McRae’s 1915 “In Flanders Fields”.

Her Royal Highness then toured Bud, the 18-tonne truck which transforms into a micro-museum, that has now travelled to every local authority in Scotland.  She unveiled a plaque before being presented with a framed copy of both poems by Ms Owen.

Poppyscotland’s Director, Austin Hardie, said: “We were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to officially re-open our newly refurbished factory and campus today. 

This is the culmination of two years of hard work to ensure we have a modern facility dedicated to supporting Scotland’s veterans’ community.

“We are very proud of our heritage, and this marks an exciting new chapter in the factory’s 97-year history. We are looking forward to welcoming school groups and the wider public to the factory and exhibition space, telling the story of the poppy to new generations.”

Ms Owen said: “We are very grateful to Her Royal Highness for taking the time to meet the team involved in this exciting project, as well as her continued support for our Armed Forces community.

“The veterans enjoyed showing her how poppies and wreaths are hand-made using traditional methods, and explaining the unique history of the factory.”

Mr Adamson said: “She was very interested in everything, and took the time to speak to as many of the guys as possible. She also noticed the big difference from last time she visited.”

To find out more about Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory or book a tour, go to:

www.poppyscotland.org.uk/lady-haigs-poppy-factory.