BUXTON INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL’S SELL-OUT OPERETTA, CINDERELLA, TOURS TO THE LOWRY THIS FEBRUARY

Buxton International Festival’s sell-out production of Pauline Viardot’s miniature operetta, Cinderella, is to tour in February 2023, the festival’s first ever touring production.

The elegant retelling of the classic fairy-tale, which received five-star reviews at Buxton International Festival in 2021, will visit The Lowry in Salford Quays (Friday 3 and Saturday 4 February),  Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry (Tuesday 7 February), Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield (Thursday 9 and Friday 10 February) and Norwich Theatre (Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 February).

The family-friendly chamber opera, which stars seven singers and a pianist, will be directed by Laura Attridge and conducted by Iwan Davies with Nikki Martin in the title role and Camilla Seale as her Prince Charming.  The simple but inspired production, designed by Anna Orton, is sung in French (with English surtitles) with English dialogue.  Power house composer Pauline Viardot has only recently come back into vogue, but she was revered in her lifetime, as Berlioz put it, as “one of the greatest artists in the history of music”. She sang, she played the piano, she hosted artistic soirees and, after retiring from the stage, she focused on composing. Two hundred songs and several operettas later, Cinderella is thought to be one of her finest.

Commenting, Buxton’s CEO Michael Williams said: “Cinderella was an absolute knock out with audiences at the 2021 Buxton International Festival. It has a score where sumptuous melodies abound, vocal lines soar, and the Cinderella tale is told with a smile.   We are immensely proud to take it out on the road next year, the first time the festival has been in a position to tour a home-grown show, and feel certain it will be loved by all who see it.”

CAST

La Fée (Fairy Godmother) – Erin Gwyn Rossington

Marie, called Cendrillon – Nikki Martin

Le Prince Charmant – Camilla Seale

Maguelonne – Olivia Carrell

Armelinde – Flora MacDonald

Le Baron de Pictordu – Christopher Cull

Le Comte Barigoule – David Horton

CREATIVES

Laura Attridge – Director

Iwan Davies – Music Director

Anna Orton – Designer

Michelle Bristow – Costumes Designer

Rachel E Cleary – Lighting Designer

Shona Wright – Stage Manager

BOX OFFICE

3 – 4 February – The Lowry (thelowry.com). Tickets £12.