Going for Rhinegold

Rhinegold: broken contracts, greed and corruption

There’s an operatic flavour to the programme at The Yard this month with the opening of Rhinegold, a radical retelling of the first part of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

Director Martin Constantine and scriptwriter Alan Harris are promising a massive overhaul of the German maestro’s masterwork. The new production follows the success of their dance opera Manga Sister last year, with techno and even some karaoke on the cards.

“We’re keen on making work that can appeal and bring in a new audience for opera and move it forward a bit,” says Constantine.

“It’s a classical world of gods and giants we’re portraying, but it’s been brought close to home. We’re actually setting it in The Yard itself.”

“I hope people will be pleasantly surprised,” says Harris. “We worked with about five or six actors and did a week’s workshop a couple of months ago, which helped us move away from the original libretto and find pieces of the opera we found interesting.

Wagner’s opera is the story of a magical ring, made from gold found at the bottom of the Rhine, whose owner is able to rule the world — but only if they renounce love.

“There were a number of ideas that really appealed to us about this story. The main one is this idea that by giving up love, by giving up any idea of hope or fear, you can become stronger,” says Constantine.

He has previous form with Wagner, having assisted with the direction of Rhinegold for the English National Opera. “It’s not a stodgy piece,” says Harris. “It’s a shortish, sharpish shot of adrenaline rather than something long and drawn out.”

Rhinegold
The Yard Theatre
E9 5EN

13 – 30 June, 8pm.
Sunday matinees 4pm.
Tickets £9, £4 on Tuesdays