Dr Dee at London Coliseum
When
25 June 2012 -
07 July 2012
7.30pm
Where
London Coliseum
Cost
£15.00 - £79.00
Age Restrictions
n/a
See Dr Dee at London Coliseum when Damon Albarn's acclaimed English opera arrives in the city after last year's world premiere at the Manchester International Festival.
English opera
Hailed as a spectacular achievement when it made its grand debut at the Manchester International Festival in 2011, the performances of Dr Dee at London Coliseum means that opera lovers and music fans can see the production as part of the London 2012 Festival, the city-wide festival which is the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad and the artistic counterpart to a summer of sporting endeavour in London. Dr Dee is the second opera by Albarn to grace the stage in the capital, after Monkey: Journey to the West pulled in huge audiences at The O2 arena over the Christmas of 2008.
Dr John Dee
At the centre of the opera is the hugely influential yet largely forgotten historical figure of Dr John Dee, the 16th century mathematician, astrologer, astronomer, alchemist and imperialist. An all round Renaissance Man, Dee bridged the gap between magic and science and was a key adviser to Queen Elizabeth I before he was disgraced and died in poverty. The production of Dr Dee at London Coliseum retells this incredible life story through the traditional medium of a masque, a courtly form of entertainment incorporating music, dancing, singing and acting within an elaborate and creative stage design.
Musical medley
The result of a unique collaboration between Blur and Gorillaz musician Damon Albarn and director Rufus Norris, the production of Dr Dee at London Coliseum features contemporary orchestral music performed on 16th century period instruments. Along with the orchestral music, the score also includes pop vocals, some of which are performed by Damon Albarn live on stage.
Three levels
Those lucky enough to get their hands on tickets to see Dr Dee can expect to be confronted with an elaborate staging of the opera, which is performed on three levels. At stage level is earth, the realm of Dr Dee while below is the pit of hell where the orchestra performs. At the top is heaven, where singers perform using a mixture of Renaissance and traditional African musical instruments to comment on the events taking place below.
The performances of Dr Dee at London Coliseum take place from 7.30pm, Monday 25th June - Saturday 7th July 2012. Tickets cost £15.00 - £79.00. For further information and to buy tickets, click on the link below.
London Coliseum Official Site
London 2012 Festival
Free Summer Festivals in London
Queens Jubilee London
World Shakespeare Festival London
Regents Park Open Air Theatre
Festival of the World at Southbank Centre
West End Live
Exhibition Road Festival
Shakespeare Exhibition at British Museum
Carnaval del Pueblo
What's near London Coliseum?
Below are the nearest 5 venues within 500 metres of London Coliseum.
The Box
11-12 Walkers Court, Brewer Street, Soho, London, W1F 0ED
Luxx
3 New Burlington Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 2JF
Egg
200 York Way, Kings Cross, London, N7 9AP
Content updated: 02/06/2012 11:07