Welsh National Opera tour in Bristol during April
Posted on: 20 Mar 2014The Welsh National Opera (WNO) have been bringing opera to audiences in Bristol since 1968 and this year will be here once again with their spring season of Fallen Women operas.
When WNO go on tour it’s a hard work that requires a lot of trailers (in general between 11 and 14 trailers depending on the show), a lot of time and, of course, a lot of people. Indeed approximately 180 people are involved but if the production includes dancers, actors and extra orchestra players this number can increase up to 250.
Taking on tour more than one show means that sets need to be turned around at the venues and where storage place backstage is not too big they need to be taken out of the theatres between performances. The Bristol Hippodrome, for instance, is on a very busy street with no lifts inside so that much more time is required to prepare the equipment. As Technical Manager David Flinn explains: “La traviata is the biggest and heaviest of the three productions this season, so will take the longest to set up. Manon Lescaut has lots of flown pieces, so the rigging will be done on the Monday before the shows begin.”
Costumes are another fundamental part of the opera company. Transported in “pans” (the technical term for a wardrobe on wheels), they are packed by the wardrobe department in order of principals and chorus. The number of pans depends on season and this spring, the opulent and classical La Traviata costumes will require nine pans whilst for Manon Lescaut the quantity is lower. A team of four, headed up by Judith Russell, look after this huge wardrobe taking laundry equipment with them since each costume needs to be laundered after performances in order to remove every kind of stain. Joining this team a number of local dressers help the singers put on and off their costumes in the dressing rooms, or, when there is no time to waste, on the side of the stage.
Wigs and make up, finally, create characters. Behind this work, there is a four team people, headed by Sian Mccabe, looking after wigs,as they need special treatments, and making up performers with specific products like bottles of artificial blood used to depict cuts and wounds.
For WNO touring represents their past, present and future and the company is proud to bring its productions to audiences across the UK, both new productions and much-loved favourites. WNO Company Manager, Ian Douglas, says: “I get a huge sense of history as I walk into The Bristol Hippodrome. It is as if Frank Matcham (the architect) is still there in the Stalls in what he described as “The pearl in his provincial crown”.
Friday 11th April – Manon Lescaut at 7.15 pm
Saturday 12th April – La traviata at 7.15 pm
Tickets: £7.50 - £43.90 (concessions available) are available online here or call the Box Office on 0844 8713012.
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Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
