Scottish Opera puts on outdoor performances by the canal

Scottish Opera, part of the Glasgow Canal Co-op, have announced a programme of outdoor performances for this September at locations across Scotland, including the carpark of their Edington Street Production Studios by the canal.

Following the Scottish Government’s update on 20 August to the route map out of the Covid-19 crisis, Scottish Opera were thrilled to announce the programme of seated outdoor events.

Tragic love story

Scottish Opera’s production studios at Edington Street, right by the canal, have a car park which has been selected as the home for a five-night run of Puccini’s La bohème.

Kicking off on Saturday 5 September, Puccini’s tragic love story La bohème will be given a powerful reinterpretation inspired by the current pandemic reality by Director Roxana Haines.

The production uses Jonathan Dove’s abridged score with a running time of around 1 hour 35 minutes and just seven singers and a reduced orchestra.

With its grand theatrical and emotional sweep, this very special production of Puccini’s heartbreaking operatic weepie is a celebration of love in all its forms: from passion to affection, friendship to fraternity. And it’s a poignant love letter to theatre, opera and live performance itself – to singers, instrumentalists, backstage and, of course, audiences.

Safety guidelines

In response to the ongoing physical distancing guidelines, La bohème will be presented with the audience seated in appropriately distanced ‘bubbles’ outdoors, ensuring they can once again safely enjoy the live music experience. Customers can only book a maximum of four tickets per performance.

Safety for all audience performers and backstage crew has also been built into the production’s underlying conception from the start, with physical distancing observed at all times by performers, backstage staff and the audience.