Scottish Opera in Inverness with pop-up opera roadshow

As part of its second tour of Scotland, Scottish Opera’s Pop-up Opera Roadshow entertained audiences at Merkinch Community Centre, Inverness on Thursday 23 June with two fun-filled 25-minute shows for audiences of all ages: ‘A Little Bit of Northern Light’ for pupils from Merkinch Primary School and ‘A Little Bit of Figaro’ which was presented to the Friendship Club with a second performance for a general audience rounding off the visit.

The performances take place in a specially-adapted trailer – designed to look like a miniature Theatre Royal Glasgow inside with 1 storyteller, 2 singers, 3 instrumentalists and a series of colourful illustrations.

‘A Little Bit of Figaro’ – a bite-sized version of Mozart’s irresistible opera ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ – tells the tale of serving girl Susanna, her cheeky fiancé, Figaro, and their employer, Count Almaviva, who will stop at nothing to make Figaro and Susanna's big day end in disaster.

‘A Little Bit of Northern Light’ is a story for children and families of one lonely little lighthouse standing firm against the storms of the North Atlantic tide. Set in the not too distant future, it is an atmospheric tale of Scotland’s past, present and future, told from the perspective of the seas that surround us and the ships that sail in them.

Scottish Opera’s Director of Outreach and Education, Jane Davidson says, “The Pop-up Opera Roadshow offers audiences across Scotland a truly unique and intimate experience. With the trailer covering 1400 miles, and parking up in unexpected locations from festivals to car parks along the way, we hope to surprise both opera fans and those new to opera with our theatre on wheels.”

The Inverness performances were organised in collaboration with Highland Council’s Music Development Officer, Norman Bolton, who said that “Scottish Opera’s education and outreach work is always of the highest quality and this was an ideal opportunity to offer a unique experience to the local community.”