Imagine popping into your local pub for a casual drink and stumbling upon a breathtaking opera performance! That's exactly what happened to Cat Wellington at The Charles Holden in Colliers Wood.
This summer, unexpected venues across Merton, Croydon, and Wandsworth are becoming intimate opera stages. Trained opera singers are breaking down barriers, bringing the magic of opera to new audiences in everyday spaces.
Baseless Fabric Theatre, a Wimbledon-based troupe, is behind this innovative initiative. Their modern take on "The Elixir of Love" promises accessible, high-quality performances for everyone to enjoy throughout July and August. Experience opera like never before!
00:00Pubs, cafes and libraries across South London are to be turned into live opera theatres this summer
00:12as an inclusive theatre company brings surprise performances and vibrant storytelling to everyday spaces.
00:19Performances organised by Baseless Fabric Theatre will take place across towns in Croydon, Merton and Wandsworth
00:25over the next month, bringing opera to the masses.
00:28Their modern day retelling of the Elixir of Love aims to ignite interest in opera and take down the barriers commonly associated with the art form.
00:36We are a local arts charity, a professional opera company and we do the street opera concept where we do free performances in public spaces.
00:46So we take a classic opera, we adapt it, cut it and rewrite the music for three instruments who can move along the high street
00:54and the words and the stories as if it's happening today, so really kind of making the story about London life today
01:02and then performances happen in supermarkets, shopping centres, pubs, libraries, cafes and scenes pop up in those locations.
01:11Audiences can stay for just a little bit or they can follow the whole performance down the high street, whatever they want to do.
01:16The Elixir of Love tells a tale of Nemerino and his efforts to win over the hearts of Adina in modern day London.
01:23With free performances in high streets like Pearlie and Wimbledon as well as larger shows at the Arcola Theatre in East London,
01:30the group are trying to repurpose public spaces and inspire people to get involved or simply enjoy the art.
01:37It was mental, it was brilliant, but mental, not what you expect when you're coming in for an arts charity.
01:43I think we strip away all of the barriers that you often get for theatre, for opera, anything like that
01:50because we're doing it in pubs, we're doing it at bus stops, we're doing it in libraries
01:54and there's nothing between performers and audience so what you're seeing is exactly what you're getting.
