The ugly sisters provide as much visual entertainment as they do vocal delight. Photograph © Chris Parker

Cenerentola returns to Hastings

If you missed the debut of Cenerentola at St Mary in the Castle just before the building closed in Novemeber 2022, you will be delighted to hear that the production will be on tour through the summer, including a performance in St Leonards on Thursday 27 July. Erica Smith recommends booking tickets to see this amazing performance of Rossini’s take on the Cinderella fairytale.

Jenny Miller, Barefoot Opera founder and director, says, ‘We were thrilled last autumn to bring together brilliant young singers, local community groups and Bexhill College in a sizzling Rossini mix, and now, thanks to the Arts Council grant, we can carry on buzzing with new participants, and ‘opera virgins’.’

Cenerentola returns to the local area with performances at St John the Evangelist in Pevensey Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, next Thursday, and at Rye Creative Centre on Saturday 19 August. There are also performances in London as part of the Grimeborn Opera Festival at Arcola Theatre, 1–5 August, and at Crowhurst Place in Lingfield on Sunday 3 September.

It’s a reflection on how much the singers enjoyed their roles that the cast remains very close to last autumn’s line up. Rachel Deatherage plays Angelina (the Cinderella character) with Elora Ledger and Jessica Wise as her sisters. James Beddoe plays Prince Ramiro with Toki Hamano as his bodyguard Dandini, while Andrew Sparling balances the role of Alidoro as well as playing clarinet in the pared down orchestra. The one new cast member is Denver M Smith, taking over the role of Angelina’s step-father.

Rachel Deatherage as Angelina brings warmth and depth to the role. Photograph © Chris Parker

Speaking about the challenges of her character, Rachel Deatherage says, ‘Angelina has a large range and a lot of coloratura (which is when you sing a lot of notes very quickly). But she also requires honesty in your acting and a sort of range there as well, to go from the poor girl who shrinks away from her family to a self-assured and forgiving queen in a believable manner takes a fair bit of versatility.’

Barefoot Opera has been awarded an ACE (Arts Council of England) grant for the upcoming Young Artist’s Tour of Cenerentola. A sparkling retelling of the classic tale of Cinderella, this is Rossini’s effervescent comedy with a contemporary twist. This grant will help Barefoot Opera work with an outstanding international young cast who will perform alongside members of local choirs and young people in venues across London and the South East.

Olivia Shaw, chair of Barefoot Opera Trustees, says, ‘The grant from the Arts Council will make a tremendous difference – it means that we are both able to involve more members of the community in the tour to work alongside our young professional singers and provide an amazing experience for both the audience and the performers’.

Tickets for all performances of Cenerentola are available via the Barefoot Opera website www.barefootopera.com

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