A classic, a collaboration, and a crime to solve: Opera North's new season at Newcastle Theatre Royal

This November, Opera North invites audiences to experience two timeless stories through the magic of music and live performance; and is also enlisting the help of younger theatre goers to solve an operatic crime.

Opening the 3 shows over 4 days at Newcastle Theatre Royal is one of Opera North’s most enduringly popular productions, La bohème from the director behind Mamma Mia!, Phyllida Lloyd (Wed 5 Nov, Thu 6 Nov, Sat 8 Nov.) First performed by the company in 1993, this revival, directed by James Hurley, is set to entrance a new generation of opera goers, as well as delighting those who have previously fallen under its spell.

Set in Paris, the production perfectly captures what it is to be young, carefree and in love, while not shying away from the harshness of reality when disaster strikes.

The two international casts include many singers making their Opera North debuts, with Isabela Díaz and Olivia Boen sharing the role of Mimì, Anthony Ciaramitaro and Joshua Blue as Rodolfo, Elin Pritchard and Katie Bird as Musetta, Grisha Martirosyan and Josef Jeongmeen Ahn as Marcello, Seán Boylan as Schaunard and Han Kim as Colline. Opera North Music Director Garry Walker conducts.

On Fri 7 Nov, there is a chance to catch a new production which sees Opera North collaborating with fellow Leeds arts organisation, Phoenix Dance Theatre. Together, the two companies tackle Susanna, Handel’s retelling of the biblical story of Susanna and the Elders in which two men set out to destroy a woman’s reputation after she refuses their advances.

Through the combination of opera and dance, director Olivia Fuchs and choreographer Marcus Jarrell Willis are looking to explore the contemporary issues the work exposes: violence against women, gender-based injustice and the challenges of creating an inclusive and equitable society.

Johanna Soller makes her Opera North debut conducting Handel’s beguiling score, with a cast including Anna Dennis in the title role, Matthew Brook as Chelsias, Claire Lees as Daniel, James Hall as Joacim, Colin Judson as First Elder and Karl Huml as Second Elder. To engage the D/deaf community with the work in a creative way, the performance also incorporates integrated visual vernacular – physical performance drawing on sign language, mime and theatre techniques.

Building on the success of last year’s The Big Opera Adventure and offering an entertaining introduction to opera for everyone, The Big Opera Mystery (Sat 8 Nov) is a 50-minute interactive family show, written and directed by Jonathan Ainscough. It invites would-be detectives of all ages to help catch an expert thief, with the main suspects being a host of characters from different operas. Jack Ridley conducts the Orchestra of Opera North with soprano Julia Mariko, tenor Trystan Llŷr Griffiths, mezzo Lauren Young and bass Frazer Scott.

Laura Canning, General Director, Opera North, said: “This year, we are taking a trio of works on tour which are designed to appeal to anyone looking to enjoy a popular classic, a dialogue between two art-forms or a family show.”

She added: “Our full-time Orchestra and Chorus are at the heart of the everything we do. Some of our Chorus members will once again be stepping into named roles, and we are also looking forward to welcoming opera singers who have caught our eye on both the national and international stage. We believe opera is a life-enhancing – and often surprising – art-form and are very much look forward to sharing this exciting season with everyone in Newcastle.”

To enable as many people as possible to enjoy opera, the company is offering a choice of start times, and £10 tickets for Under 30s. Subtitles are displayed on both sides of the stage to ensure everyone can always keep up with the action and a BSL-interpreted and audio-described performance of La bohème is offered on Thu 6 Nov.