UCOpera revive Dick Whittingon

UCOpera are to stage the first production of Jacques Offenbach's Whittington in over 100 years.

The opera tells the story of Dick Whittington who, as legend has it, found fame and fortune after his cat rid an island of a plague of rats.

The production was a big hit in 1875 but the opera was overtaken by the overwhelming popularity of Gilbert and Sullivan, and subsequently forgotten. What turned out to be the only known surviving score lay hidden in a Paris bookshop until its recent discovery by UCOpera. Now audiences will be able to enjoy such swashbuckling numbers as 'Great at Colonizing is England, Understand?' and the wistful 'Kickaboo'.

Since its formation in 1951, UCOpera has brought many rarely-performed operas back into the public eye, causing many neglected works to be re-evaluated. In total it has staged 12 British premieres and three world premieres, including the first performance of Beethoven's Leonora in 1969 and more recently, in 2004, the British premiere of Dvorak's Vanda.

Whittington will be staged at the Bloomsbury Theatre from 23 to 26 March 2005, with a premiere on 21 March. For more information on the production and to purchase tickets, use the link below or telephone +44 (0)20 7388 8822.

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Link:
UCL Bloomsbury