This spring, join us for a season of Shakespeare! English Touring Opera is touring three new productions inspired by the words, worlds and stories of William Shakespeare.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Bellini’s The Capulets & The Montagues

Two households at war. Two lovers in over their heads.

The Capulet’s & The Montagues is a gritty re-working of Romeo & Juliet, a well-loved story that brings the warring families to life with devastating power.

You’ll love this opera if you’re a fan of star-crossed lovers, bel canto music, and political drama.

The characters at the centre of the action:

• Romeo: leader of the Montecchi family

• Giulietta: Romeo’s lover from the opposing Capuleti family

• Tebaldo: Giulietta’s fiancé

• Capellio: Giulietta’s father

• Lorenzo: A chef, Capellio’s best friend

Composed by Vincenzo Bellini

Composed in just six weeks, Bellini took an old libretto by his friend Felice Romani and created a tragic masterpiece that catapulted him back to international renown after the failure of his previous opera.

The Capulets and The Montagues will be performed in Italian with English surtitles.

What Dreams May Come

Throughout the centuries, composers have been influenced and inspired by Shakespeare’s work. What Dreams May Come is a new studio piece drawing on hundreds of years of music inspired by and adapted from Shakespeare’s plays and poetry to depict the joys and sorrows of a long life, well-lived.

You’ll love this piece if you’re a fan of poetry, puppetry, and chamber music.

Featuring music composed by Purcell, Finzi, Amy Beech, and more

This new production explores the timeless appeal of Shakespeare’s words and characters for composers and audiences throughout history.

What Dreams May Come features music by various composers and will be performed in original languages with translations available in paper booklets.

Michael Betteridge & Jonathan Ainscough’s The Vanishing Forest

Do you remember what happened in the Forest of Athens?

Written as a continuation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Vanishing Forest uses spells, puppetry and mystical flowers to educate and inspire children on the issue of deforestation, through a brand-new Shakespeare infused opera.

You’ll love this opera if you’re a fan of magic, puppetry, and nature.

Who you’ll meet:

• Puck: A fairy working to protect the forest

• Theo, Cassie, and Mylas: Three siblings on a camping trip

• Oberon and Titania: The King and Queen that are key to restoring the forest’s magic

Join our characters in their quest to find Oberon and Titania, stop the felling and restore the wonder to the beautiful forest.

Composed by Michael Betteridge and written by Jonathan Ainscough

The Vanishing Forest is the third and final installment in English Touring Opera’s climate change trilogy, preceded by The Wish Gatherer (Best Opera at YAMAwards 2024) and The Great Stink.

Recommended for ages 7-11.

The Vanishing Forest will be performed in English.

Book now for Spring 2025!

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