Catholicism and the appeal of dictatorship are never far from the surface in Puccini’sTosca.Can revolution or religion change human nature? Can art be the agent of either or does it merely passively record the process? Becoming Toscarelocates the action to an unspecific Latin American setting in the second half of the 20thcentury; a nation founded on Jesuit colonisation, where religion now jostles with the politics of capitalism and self-interest. It is a society dominated by the struggle to exchange poverty for influence, still seeking solutions to all-pervasive inequalities and oppressions. Does the church love repentance or does it prefer punishment? Is brutality a necessary weapon to control a turbulent population? Even now, we do not have answers and until we do, these questions must continue to be examined.

An evening of revolution, romance and tragedy, combining newly composed music with a tango flavour and an abridged version of Puccini’s sumptuous score,will entertain you from the opening chords to the dramatic finale, challenging your preconception of both the original piece and the artform of opera itself. Standard tickets – £15 only, concessions available.

Cast & Creatives

Tosca – Anna Sideris

Scarpia – Brendan Collins

Cavaradossi – Anthony Flaum

Spoletta – Jonathan Cooke

Angelotti – Harry Gentry

Original Director, Script & Translation – Christopher Cowell

Original Designer – Viva Halton Wright

Revival Company Stage Manager – Charlotte Tingley

Revival Wardrobe Supervisor – Erin Gregory

Revival Lighting Designer – James Dean

Composer – Frank Moon

www.prologueopera.com

Note – Adult language, smoking. Age guidance – 12+.