OperaUpClose brings a radical reimaginging of Wagner’s ‘The Flying Dutchman’ to the SS Great Britain

The south west-based national touring opera company OperaUpClose are dedicated to “improving the availability, relevance and reach of opera by taking high-quality, affordable productions to places and people across the UK not otherwise well-served by the arts”.

By commissioning new cross-disciplinary pieces, creating contemporary versions of classic operas, as well as helping to elevate new voices and emerging artists, their aim is to cement the future value of an often misunderstood artform.

A key aspect of their approach is to diversify audiences, both in terms of age – making work with and for very young children – and by engaging people of all genders, ethnicities, backgrounds and economic positions in opera, on and off stage.

Artwork: courtesy of Mobius

Their newly touring work is a radical reimagining of Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman, made in partnership with Manchester Camerata, which comes to the SS Great Britain for two nights on July 4-5.

Based on an original concept by Lucy Bradley, this new English libretto is written by poet and novelist Glyn Maxwell, with an eight-piece chamber orchestration by Laura Bowler, in association with Robin Wallington.

The narrative is pitched as “a haunting political tale exploring the displacement of people and the psychology and realities of living on an island with hardening borders, bringing an urgent and contemporary relevance to the fable of the ship’s captain cursed to roam the sea forever”.

Glyn Maxwell – photo: courtesy of Mobius

Opening in Southampton before its Bristol dates, the production will tour the UK to a series of unique performance spaces in waterside locations.

Breaking the fourth wall and immersing the audience directly in the story, the traditional barriers between pit, stage and orchestra are dismantled, as all performers, instrumentalists and singers are brought together.

Laura Bowler- photo: Robin Clewley

The singing talent featured in The Flying Dutchman includes pre-recorded voices from a national network of community choirs, alongside its principal cast of internationally-renowned opera singers.

Flora McIntosh is artistic director of the production. “This Dutchman is a meeting of classic material with strong, contemporary voices creating a powerful dialogue between the old and new,” she explains.

“Reconceived as a tale of paranoia, propaganda and people smuggling, performed in places and spaces that connect directly to the material, this production takes a highly theatrical and innovative approach to musical storytelling.”

OperaUpClose: The Flying Dutchman (age recommendation 12+) is at the SS Great Britain on July 4-5 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at www.bristololdvic.org.uk.

Main photo: Mobius

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