If you are looking for a more relaxed theatre experience, come along to our new Access afternoon shows of Don Giovanni this May and June! Everyone is welcome, particularly those who are living with dementia, recovering from an operation, have breathing difficulties, have a young baby, can only travel to the theatre in the daytime, or would simply benefit from the laid back and spacious nature of these productions.
These fully-staged, shorter versions of Mozart’s masterpiece run alongside our full-length performances directed by Sir Thomas Allen at Eden Court Inverness, Festival Theatre Edinburgh, His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen and Theatre Royal Glasgow.
With doors opening 45 minutes before the start, there is time to get settled in before the performance begins. The brighter lighting levels in the auditorium allow for audiences to come in and out as they please, and there is no need to keep quiet or sit still during the show. Quiet areas will also be made available if audience members need a break during the performance, with the option to watch from TV screens around the theatre if they do not wish to sit in the auditorium. There are wheelchair spaces and extra staff on hand to help. Sung in Italian with English supertitles, the Don Giovanni Access performances are narrated by Assistant Director Mark Burns, helping guide audiences through the story as it is performed.
While we have performed Dementia Friendly shows in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow previously, this is the first time we have offered this type of performance — which have the same values at their core — at Eden Court Inverness.
With music curated by our Head of Music Derek Clark he also conducts The Orchestra of Scottish Opera and a full cast of singers. These include our former Emerging Artists Arthur Bruce (The Gondoliers 2022) and Shengzhi Ren (Opera Highlights 2022), along with Tim Dickinson, Elena Xanthoudakis (Elisir d’amore 2009), Edwin Kaye, Katherine Crompton, Annie Reilly (A Midsummer Night’s Dream 2022), and Colin Murray.
Tickets for Access performances, which are kindly supported by The Scottish Opera Syndicate, are priced £10, and are free for school groups (booking fees may apply.)
To find out more, visit www.scottishopera.org.uk/shows/access-don-giovanni/