When I was at school for one week at Easter, we used to spend four days on a performance workshop at Stagecoach theatre arts school. In just four days we memorised lines, song and dance routines, learned how to get along with lots of new children. The team of Directors; Sue, Jo, Zoe and Jan worked hard together with us all to create a final show. It was absolutely brilliant. It was also fantastic training for my memory, a great introduction to stage craft and allowed me to quickly learn dance routines. We put on abridged versions of The Wizard of Oz, Oliver and Mary Poppins to name just three.
I thought of this on Saturday when I was called by the Director of the RCS Opera Project to ask to stand in to perform the part of ‘The First Witch’ in the Henry Purcell opera ‘Dido and Aeneas’ as the girl playing the role had an unfortunate accident. The RCS Opera Project performances are from the 4th March to 7th March, next week! My first thought was I’ve got an essay due in this week that I just have to finish! Then I thought, what a great opportunity go for it. I immediately set about learning the words and music to try to get it off score by the weekend 😊. Then into rehearsal whilst completing as many of my usual classes as physically possible. Today I’ve been there from 10am to 9pm with a couple of breaks to eat which also reminded me of long days of rehearsals at school when the musical theatre productions were under final rehearsal, I absolutely love it.
There are two operas in the Event – Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Poulenc’s Les Mamelles de Tiresias fusing Baroque and 20th century repertoire.
Tickets are just £13.50 from the box office, two shows for the price of one.
You can see a great pictorial synopsis of Dido and Aeneas on the Classic FM website, it really helps to visualise the story.
So if you have any positive energy to spare send it my way ready for the performances 😀. To sign off I just want to say a big thank you to my Dad for sorting out the pictures for me tonight. Anyway I am off to get some rest now ready for tomorrow zzz.
