Ellen Kent’s a-show-a-night opera tour with Ukrainian and other eastern European performers is back. Last year we saw Carmen, La Traviata and Madama Butterfly (see reviews here); this year it’s La Boheme, La Traviata and Madama Butterfly.
The tour has already visited Hull, Blackpool and Liverpool; next it's at Manchester's Opera House (February 21-23) with other venues to follow - see below.
True to her policy of working with children and animals whenever possible, the long-time magician of popular productions is looking for someone whose dog has operatic ambitions. A pooch with stars in its eyes is required to join the cast of La Boheme for the Manchester performance, and it seems it won’t be the only one: leading character Musetta has a dog too in this production, which the publicity says will be making an entrance.
Ellen Kent said: “People say never work with children or animals, but I love to do both. The first time was 20 years ago, when my pet cat, Holly Go-Lightly, was in one of my productions and was an instant hit.
"Since then, we’ve had horses, dogs, goldfish and even a golden eagle with a six-foot wingspan on stage. We even used a rescue dog once - and found him dozens of potential new owners!”
Potential canine stars need to be well-behaved and medium to small; owners need to be prepared to go on stage in costume to look after them. Send photographs of your dog to Ellen Kent at ellen@ellenkent.co.uk, including your contact number and address as well as the dog's breed, height, weight, age and name. The producers will be in touch if you are successful.
There have been experiments in this vein before. I remember one opera where the aspiring doggie star took to the acting business with such enthusiasm that it completely stole the scene by repeatedly twining its lead around its minder’s legs. And you never know, some hounds like to howl the high notes themselves if they really like the music. What could possibly go wrong?
Ellen Kent’s opera tour continues at York Grand Opera House (February 28-March 1)- La Boheme and Madama Butterfly); Sheffield City Hall (March 8, May 1) - Madama Butterfly and La Boheme; Darlington Hippodrome (March 13-14) - La Boheme and Madama Butterfly; Sunderland Empire (March 17-18) - La Traviata and Madama Butterfly), and Bradford Alhambra (April 15-17) - La Boheme, La Traviata, Madama Butterfly.