Madama Butterfly and The Mikado at the Hackney Empire – preview

A production picture from one of Co-Opera Co’s previous productions of Hansel and Gretel. Photograph: Co-Opera Co

The Hackney Empire is turning Japanese next in September for productions of two classic operas by noteworthy company Co-opera Co.

The masterpieces in question are Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic romp The Mikado and Puccini’s story of romance and sacrifice Madama Butterfly, and they are being performed over just five days.

Apart from the fact that both are set in the Land of the Rising Sun, these two operas have little in common, but Co-opera Co’s co-founder Kate Flowers said she and her team had quite simply exhausted the other examples of what she calls “the popular operas”.

“Besides, we can’t do Aida because we don’t have the elephant space,” she adds, referring to the fact this particular opera has been staged over the years using real live pachyderms.

The Mikado and Madama Butterfly can’t promise elephants – or any other live animals for that matter – but they are chock full of escapist pomp and emotion – the two key components of the artform.

Founded in 2008 by Ms Flowers, a soprano, and lighting designer Paul Need, Co-Opera Co exists to provide apprenticeship opportunities to singers at a crucial juncture in their careers.

Opera is synonymous with big casts and razzmatazz, and the various obstacles – financial and physical – involved in staging such extravaganzas means that many young people who are starting out and have a passion for this medium find that either they are asked to work for no fee or that there simply are no opportunities for them to practice the craft they so love.

Co-opera Co is distinctive in that it gives a select group of talented young singers who are starting out chances to perform alongside big name cast members and be paid for their work.

“With the casts for these two productions we have a real mix of experience,” says Ms Flowers. “We have John Rawnsley in The Butterfly, who sang the role of Rigoletto in the groundbreaking English National Opera production by Jonathan Miller.

“The Mikado is played by Martin Nelson, and another big name we have got is David Phipps-Davis.

“Butterfly is directed by Jacopo Spirei, an Italian director who has a wonderful, deep emotional tie to this opera. And then we have those cast members who are just starting out.

“When I was starting out I found the apprentice aspect of learning from older and more experienced singers extremely useful. We want to build for the future of opera, and audience building is part of our remit as well. What we want to do is to create an audience for the future and break down a few of those barriers to show how exciting opera is and get a spark going.”

Though in the past opera has been viewed as an exclusive, even snobby, artform, that view is changing, as evidenced by the success of Grimeborn, the grittier alternative to Glyndebourne, which is taking place in Hackney this month.

With its reputation for fresh and youthful productions Co-Opera Co is part of that trend.

“Hackney for us this year is going to be a magic week,” says Ms Flowers. “It’s going to be totally different from what we’ve done before.”

Madama Butterfly and The Mikado are at the Hackney Empire on alternate days from 3 September until 7 September. For tickets call 020 8985 2424 or see hackneyempire.co.uk