Bring me the head of John the Baptist! NI Opera’s Salome: a collision of religion and sex … in Belfast

Oliver Mears rejects the notion that opera has to seen as elitist, incomprehensible and alienating. NI Opera’s artistic director explained to me that the four-year old company choose “the most dramatic” works to perform to challenge people’s preconceptions and prejudices, and always sing in English. listen to ‘Oliver Mears from @NIOpera talking about #SalomeBelfast coming to @GrandOperaHouse in February’ on audioBoom Their next performance opens in the Grand Opera House on Friday 6 February. [Update – review posted.] Salome is …

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Schaubühne’s “An Enemy of the People” – an incredible political thriller coming to Belfast Festival #BelFest

Dirty politics, abandoned loyalties, live music, paint thrown around and questions about the role of individuals and the state … The plot of An Enemy of the People could be a big screen thriller in the cinema. Instead this is probably the best of a new generation of theatre that will play on the island of Ireland this year, courtesy of the Belfast Festival. It’s also the only time you’ll ever see a paint fight in the Grand Opera House. …

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