The Belfast Carmen
Production Year & Locations:
2002, Grand Opera House
Starring:
James Ellis, Conor Grimes, Joseph Crilley and UK opera singers Victoria Byron and Alan Oke
Key Creatives:
Sam McCready (director), Martin Lynch (writer), Mark Dougherty (writer and musical director) and Elena Zlotescu (designer)
Community cast: Maureen Harkins (Ballybeen), Moya O’Hara (Short Strand), Patricia Anderson (Ballybeen), Mary O’Connor (Short Strand) and more.
The Belfast Carmen opened as part of the 40th Belfast Festival at Queen’s featuring a community cast of 12 and a choir of 20 people, it tells the story of a visiting English opera company rehearsing an adaptation of the opera Carmen.
However, the production is thrown into chaos when the local cast and crew object to the ‘Troubles’ interpretation and down tools. They’re backed by the star of the show Carmen (Victoria Byron) who sides with the locals, against her own director and a major confrontation ensues.
The play featured ugly sectarian clashes combined with the beautiful music of Carmen, to create an exhilarating evening of explosive drama and music.
What does the Holy Cross school have to do with Carmen? Can Belfast ever look to the future?
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