At Norwich Theatre, we are committed to bringing world-class opera to our stage, and this season proves the genre is anything but boring. From ‘true crime’ grit and heartbreaking romance to laugh-out-loud comedy, get ready for the high notes, the high drama, and everything in between.
English Touring Opera present: Pagliacci | 24 Apr | Norwich Theatre Royal
If you crave intensity, then Pagliacci is for you. Forget the grand, distant myths of old; this is a true crime drama ripped straight from nineteenth-century headlines. In just 90 minutes, it deconstructs the mask of the performer, showing a man whose life and stage roles blur into a dangerous spiral of jealousy.
It is the perfect choice for those who love psychological thrillers and want to feel the heat of a breakdown that feels as real today as it did when Leoncavallo first penned it.
Sung in English with English surtitles.
English Touring Opera present: The Gondoliers | 25 Apr | Norwich Theatre Royal
For those who prefer their drama with a side of wit, Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers is a joyful riot of mistaken identity. It proves that sharp satire never goes out of style, mocking the absurdity of class and monarchy while keeping the energy light and the music soaring.
It is the ultimate escape into a world of chaos, charm, and handsome gondoliers.
Sung in English with English surtitles.
La traviata | 31 Jul – 2 Aug | Norwich Theatre Royal
We all need romance in our lives, and La traviata is exactly that pure and unfiltered. There is a reason this story of Violetta and Alfredo has endured for centuries; it captures the intoxicating high of new love and the crushing weight of societal judgment.
With the Buxton International Festival Orchestra bringing Verdi’s score to life, this production promises to be a sensory feast, a world of Parisian glamour that hides a deeply moving core of heartbreak and sacrifice.
Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
The Marriage of Figaro | 8 Sep | Norwich Theatre Royal
Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro is perhaps the most perfect opera ever written, a fast-paced comedy where the underdog servants outwit their masters. Full of razor-sharp wit it is a story of triumph and heart that reminds us that love, with a little help from some clever trickery, usually wins.
Sung in a fresh English translation, it is fast, funny, and fabulously full of heart, making it impossible not to fall in love with the music and the characters alike.
Fancy giving it a go?
La Traviata – An Introduction to Opera | Full day workshop 19 May then 21 May – 23 Jul | Stage Two
Our Theatre Makers programme invites you to challenge traditional notions of opera-making. Launching with a full-day workshop on the Playhouse stage with Buxton International Festival, you will explore this powerful art form – where music, drama and design unite to tell stories that move us.
This is a unique opportunity to experiment, collaborate and play, using the themes of sacrifice and the power of voices. This 10-week project comprises multiple artistic disciplines, including storytelling, movement, acting, voice and writing. Please note this is not a singing project.
Part of our Creative Ageing programme, this project is open to women aged 60+
For more information, please call the Box Office on 01603 630 000 or visit norwichtheatre.org.
