This September, prepare for an unforgettable opera double bill at Norwich Theatre that explores the raw complexities of love, loss, and human connection, featuring Leonard Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti and Francis Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine.
Whether you’re an opera enthusiast or just a lover of music and drama, this double bill promises you an exciting night out.
Established partners
The Opera Double Bill is the third collaboration between Norwich Theatre and Buxton International Festival, two institutions committed to bringing world-class opera to audiences across the UK.
The partnership began with the co-production The Land of Might-Have-Been, which was met with critical praise and standing ovations in both venues. This success has paved the way for last year’s La Tragédie de Carmen, continuing the shared vision of making opera more accessible by touring to regional destinations.
Speaking about the partnership, Stephen Crocker, Chief Executive & Creative Director at Norwich Theatre, said: “We want to try different things and we really care about putting great work, and not just the stuff you would expect in front of audiences.”
“I think we quite like to challenge audiences, get them to try things new,” added Stephen.
A tale of two operas
But how did the idea of combining these two operas come together? A blank piece of paper! They knew they wanted two short stories that worked well together, “but also jarred a little bit.”
“It’s fair to say Buxton came up with one and Norwich came up with the other. I’m not going to tell you which, but that’s how we got to it,” comments Stephen.
And for the two organisations, this is where the challenge lay, in combining two very distinct operas into one seamless night of opera. “We could have ended up with an evening in two parts, whereas actually we have a whole evening of opera because of the cleverness of how it’s been designed together.”
That is thanks to award-winning Director Daisy Evans, who has stitched the two shows together “in a way that just works”. Daisy has received praise for how these two operas have been interlinked in recent reviews of the show.
The fact that these two operas have not been positioned together means that this show is a rare treat for opera fans. “I have never seen work like this!” said Stephen, who is a self-confessed opera fan.
It is all about the drama
This show is really for the drama lovers. “What you’re watching is humanity in front of you, you know, and it’s real. I’m going to say it. It’s kind of like if somebody took a bit of Coronation Street and one of the Doof Doof moments from EastEnders and welded them together.”
Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti paints a vivid picture of a young couple, Dinah and Sam, who, from the outside, appear to have it all, the very embodiment of the American Dream. Yet, beneath this shiny veneer, their marriage is quietly falling apart. Throughout the story, a lively, jazz-infused trio offers witty commentary, much like a playful group of friends discussing the pressures of life.
In stark contrast, Poulenc’s La voix humaine brings us into an incredibly intimate and heart-wrenching moment. It’s a one-woman opera that unfolds entirely through a final phone call between a woman named Elle and her lover. Alone in her apartment, Elle waits, hopes, and finally speaks, navigating a rollercoaster of emotions – from flirtation and desperate love to boiling anger and profound despair.
Stylish staging
Both operas were written in the 50s, and the creative team has leaned into the 50s styling. “You are absolutely absorbing that ’50s vibe. And actually, that’s quite comforting. You know, you look at 50s America and, you know, there’s that homeliness,” said Stephen, who saw the show last month at Buxton International Festival.
With its Mad Men feel, it is instantly relatable. “You expect to see a kind of 50s Smeg fridge because part of it is in a kitchen,” comments Stephen.
Stephen adds: “I think that’s what the design has done really well, giving you a sense of generation and place that is almost familiar to us.”
Epic scale
It is not the combination of the two operas that makes this performance unique. The performers are joined by a 38-piece orchestra, making these intimate operas feel grand and luxurious. “Like the set, the orchestra really weld these two shows together, and the sound that comes from them is on an epic scale,” said Stephen.
Don’t miss Trouble in Tahiti and La voix humaine: Opera Double Bill at Norwich Theatre Royal between 2 – 3 Sep.
For more information or to book, visit norwichtheatre.org or call the Box Office on 01603 630 000.
