Paisley Opera are reimagining a classic tale through a distinctly Scottish lens.
The company are preparing to stage Georges Bizet’s Carmen with an updated setting in 1960s Paisley, swapping the original Spanish backdrop for Scotland’s thread mills, dance halls, and football culture.
Simon Hannigan, founder of Paisley Opera, said: “Carmen is the most popular opera of all time, originally set in Spain.
“We decided that as bullfighting and scorching hot, dry weather aren’t really a thing in Scotland, we should move our action to 1960s Paisley and obviously make our hero St Mirren’s star striker.
“St Mirren have always featured in our opera productions, always including lines about them winning but little did we know when we started planning this more than a year ago, life would be imitating art, or now more a case of art imitating life with St Mirren’s through to the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.”
In this new version, the famous toreador character becomes Escamillo, a fictional star player for St Mirren FC, with the opera’s dramatic finale taking place at a Scottish Cup final.
The production is deeply rooted in the community and features a cast of professional guest artists, pupils from three primary schools, right2dance performers, and the Paisley Opera Community Chorus.
This chorus, made up of around 60 people from the area, performs alongside the Orchestra of Scottish Opera.
Simon said the inclusive nature of the project is central to Paisley Opera’s mission of making the art form more accessible.
He said: “Our strapline is Passion Not Posh and our mission is to make great music drama available to as many different people as possible and break down the barriers around the word opera.
“Our chorus members come from so many walks of life and come along for so many different reasons, but not having to audition or having any requirements of knowing how to read music has made it so much easier for people to take part.”
Carmen marks the company’s fifth and biggest production to date.
The music will be performed in a Paisley-Scots dialect using a newly commissioned translation by Lindsay Bramley.
Alistair Digges will serve as musical director, with Simon directing.
The lead roles will be performed by Rosie Lavery (Carmen), Xavier Hetherington (Joe), Ross Cumming (Escamillo), and Catriona Clark (Mhairi, the equivalent of Micaela).
Additional cast members include Rachael Brimley, Heather Ireson, Douglas Nairne, Matthew Kimble, Martin Higgins, and Jonathan Forbes-Kennedy.
Simon said: “People who never thought opera was for them have given it a go, and the results – both musically and personally, from the perspectives of sheer enjoyment, or benefits to the health and wellbeing of our members – have been just wonderful.
“Everyone's enthusiasm and love of the music and the company shines through in every rehearsal and performance.”
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The opera will be performed at the Tannahill Centre in Ferguslie Park on May 16, 19, and 21, with a matinee on May 24.
To improve accessibility and ease parking demand, a free minibus shuttle will run to and from the venue from Paisley Gilmour Street railway station.
Spaces must be reserved in advance when booking tickets.
Tickets are priced at £25, with concessions at £18, and can be purchased via EventBrite at www.paisleyopera.org or at the door.
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