Local residents will perform three special movement pieces at Norwich Theatre Royal during the performances of La traviata (31 Jul – 2 Aug).
Developed through Norwich Theatre’s Theatre Maker programme, the programme supports its community of participants of all ages in sharing, performing, or exhibiting stories influenced by lived experiences. The group was inspired by the production and An Introduction to Opera Workshop devised by Buxton International Festival at the Norwich Theatre Playhouse, led by members of the creative team and practitioners from Norwich Theatre.
The group consists of Caroline Kitcatt, Mary Ledgard, Claire Mitchell, Andrea Paton, Steve Peck, Denise Pereira, Esme Staniforth, Chris Stevenson, Maggie Stickney, Sharon Upton and Karen Vermeulen-Grainger. The group is supported by Movement Practitioner Rebecca Chapman. They are joined by a group of dancers from Natyapriya Anne Tiburtius, Annie Blyth, Sherly Joseph, Yan Li and Mini Nelson.
Audiences will experience the three movement pieces at different stages of the evening:
- The È strano Line (Part 1): Performance begins before the show as a walking promenade in Norwich Theatre Royal’s Long Bar, representing celebration, love, struggle, and courage. Titled after the opening words of Violetta’s highly emotional Aria in Act 1, È strano translates to “It is strange.” This reflects how the group first felt about opera.
- The È strano Line (Part 2): The piece then moves onto the main stage just before the opera begins; the promenade transforms into an ethereal, old-world “after-image of a distant party.” Blending movement with spoken word, the text charts the ensemble’s real-life journey into opera
- Gaanika: Taking place on stage immediately after the interval, dancers from Natyapriya will perform an emotive classical Bharatanatyam piece. Titled Gaanika, the Sanskrit word for an educated and sophisticated courtesan, the dance provides a parallel to the life of La traviata’s central heroine, Violetta.
Denise Pereira said: “I’m so proud to be part of a curtain-raiser that is a celebration of Indian and Western cultures; an opportunity to appreciate a classical dance form, Bharatanatyam, and Sanskrit.”
Chris Stevenson said: “I am challenged by each project to learn something new about myself and my capabilities. This project has opened my eyes and ears to opera as nothing has before. I’m proud to be part of La traviata and am grateful for the opportunity to continue my dramatic experience and personal growth. Pure joy!”
Miche Montague, Creative Communities Producer, said: “Through our Theatre Maker programme, we aim to give our community participants the tools to shape and deliver high-quality art. For La traviata, we wanted to capture the magic of discovering an entirely new genre and share what it feels like to connect with an art form steeped in history. Seeing people from completely different cultures come together to build these creative pathways has been an absolute joy.”
Adrian Kelly, La traviata’s Conductor, said: “Opera has the power to connect with people, and seeing how the group has responded to La traviata with such passion is amazing. Our workshop at Norwich Theatre Playhouse was all about bringing opera closer, demystifying it and breaking down barriers, and this group has taken that spark and run with it.”
La traviata is a Norwich Theatre and Buxton International Festival co-production which heads to Norwich Theatre Royal between 31 Jul – 2 Aug.
Step into the glittering world of nineteenth-century Paris as one of opera’s most unforgettable love stories takes centre stage. La traviata is Verdi at full brilliance, weaving a tale that shimmers with glamour, passion and heartbreak.
At its heart is Violetta, a woman adored by society yet living a life defined by fragility and compromise. When the earnest and hopeful Alfredo enters her world, she dares to imagine a future shaped by love rather than expectation. Their romance is intoxicating, but the world they inhabit is quick to judge, and their happiness is threatened by the very forces they long to escape.
Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
For more information or to book, visit norwichtheatre.org or call the Box Office on 01603 630 000.
