Scottish Opera’s hugely popular Opera Highlights show is taking to the road this February, and it is heading to Ayr.
The tour kicks off on Valentine’s Day at East Kilbride Village Theatre, exploring love in all its forms in one enchanting evening.
Marking its 60th anniversary, Opera Highlights forms part of the company’s commitment to bring opera to over 60 communities across all points of the compass around Scotland this Season.
This beautifully crafted show travels to Crail, Garvald, Perth, Stonehaven, Boat of Garten, Invergarry, Wick, Orkney, Ullapool, Torridon, Skye, Oban, Campbeltown, Islay, Gretna, Hawick and Ayr.
The cast includes Scottish Opera 2022/23 Emerging Artist Colin Murray, alongside Annie Reilly who both recently performed in the five-star production of Ainadamar, as well as Andrew Henley (Thérèse 2022) and Holly Teague, led from the piano by James Longford.
The production also features the world premiere of a new piece by Scottish Opera 2021/22 Emerging Artist and composer Toby Hession, with libretto by Emma Jenkins. Enitled ‘Told By An Idiot’ it is a modern and humorous re-working of Macbeth.
Director Emma Jenkins said: "Four young singers in search of an identity find themselves, like Alice in Wonderland or the children of Narnia, propelled along an operatic rollercoaster of love and loss, devotion and desire, jealousy and jubilation.
"The overriding theme of the Opera Highlights is LOVE. Our singers put on and take off various roles as if possessed by the force of love in a fast-paced performance that celebrates not only the voice, but also ensemble work and physical theatre.
"All this against the backdrop of Janis Hart's stunning design which combines a retro 70s feel with an anarchic theatrical space in which one feels that anything could happen!"
Derek Clark, Scottish Opera’s head of music, added: "The programme is the usual mixture of music from familiar operas and the less well-known, so we are confident that there will be something for everyone to enjoy, whether you are an experienced opera goer, or coming to see us for the first time."
The production will be touring from February 14 to March 25, 2023.
The Ayr show is the final stop on the tour and takes place at The Gaiety at 7.30pm on Saturday, March 25.
Tickets are on sale now at thegaiety.co.uk or by calling the theatre on 01292 288235.
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