Throughout the centuries, composers have been influenced and inspired by Shakespeare’s work, and English Touring Opera return to Lighthouse on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 April with two pieces that have their origins in the works of Shakespeare and are bound to fire the imaginations of opera fanatics and newcomers alike.

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. Mixing puppetry with music by Purcell, Gerald Finzi and more, performed by a chamber ensemble, this new production explores the timeless appeal of Shakespeare’s words and characters for composers and audiences throughout history.

Songs performed in their original language with English surtitles and Valentina Ceschi, whose past work for ETO includes the charming and colourful Il viaggio a Reims from 2023, The Great Stink and the company’s film for families, The Firebird, returns to direct.

“What Dreams May Come is a brilliant bridge between the worlds of theatre and opera,” she says. “It explores many big themes like love, loss, meaning of life, death and what it means to be human.

“It uses an eclectic mixture of music – from art songs to mesmeric choral pieces – performed using puppetry and physical storytelling, all inspired by Shakespeare’s words, worlds and characters. In the piece, we show a day in the life of an older man recovering in hospital. We don’t know who he is or why he’s there, but we see him visited by the hospital staff and his family. As he drifts in and out of consciousness we see him dream about and remember moments from his life.”

The Capulets and The Montagues is a tale of two households at war and of two lovers in over their heads, doomed by the conflict between their families. A story of loyalty and love put to the test amidst political violence, Vincenzo Bellini’s gritty reworking of Romeo and Juliet remains a fresh, vital take on a well-loved story that brings the warring families’ emotional and political struggle to life with devastating power.

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. Performed in the original Italian with English surtitles, this new production is directed by Eloise Lally, who returns to ETO after directing 2023’s sumptuous Lucrezia Borgia.

“When approaching the piece, we decided that we wanted to challenge the story that Shakespeare has created, which lives in the imagination of the British people,” says Eloise.

“For us, the sense of violence as a means of survival that runs throughout the narrative evoked images of Italian-American New York, the Mafia, and the cinematic influence of Martin Scorsese. Our designer Lily Arnold has really brought this vision to life, creating a vibrant and visceral world, filled with character.

“Audiences can look forward to this design transforming as the story deconstructs. If you think you know Romeo and Juliet, think again.”

English Touring Opera

WHAT DREAMS MAY COME

FRIDAY 25 APRIL | 7.30pm (SHERLNG STUDIO)
Age guidance: 8+

BELLINI: THE CAPULETS AND THE MONTAGUES

SATURDAY 26 APRIL | 7.30pm (THEATRE)
Age guidance: 8+

Tickets and information 01202 280000 

www.lighthousepoole.co.uk