THEATRE: CURTAIN CALLS
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Those of you with long memories will recall that the designer Hildegard Bechtler won the coveted Golden Lifebelt Award, this column's prize for keeping afloat while everyone else on a production sinks without trace, drowning in ignominy. She won for her beautiful sets on the mistitled musical Always but I'm glad to report that nearly everything else she has worked on has had a much longer shelf-life.
Take the magnificent Peter Grimes, starring Robert Brubaker (above), at English National Opera. Tim Albery's production premiered in 1991 and it's back again, looking as good as ever. And "looking" is the correct expression. Bechtler realises Britten's gripping vision of a man at war with the people around him with a rare visual intensity, aided by Jean Kalman's scorching white light which sculpts and intensifies the dense, deep colours and stark textures of her design. This is opera as unmissable theatre.
London Coliseum, London WC2 (0171-632 8300) 25, 27, 30 Nov, 2 & 7 Dec
David Benedict
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments