The Gentleman Magazine Issue 14 | April 2019 | Page 65

FREE CULTURE ON YOUR DOORSTEP
- FROM ABERDEEN TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT -
ENJOY THE BEST OF BRITISH CULTURE, FREE THIS SUMMER
Des Violaris, Director – UK Arts and Culture at BP said:
“Each summer we look forward to the BP Big Screens and
taking free culture to people all over the country. This year we
screen live world-class opera and ballet from Aberdeen to the
Isle of Wight and build on over 30 years of partnership work
between BP and the Royal Opera House”
The first Royal Opera House BP Big Screens was in 1987
showing free ballet and opera to audiences across the UK.
In 2018, 41,500 people saw a free opera or ballet performance
at one of 40 screenings in 20 different locations.
The Marriage of Figaro will also be live streamed on the Royal
Opera House’s Facebook, YouTube and OperaVision.
Share on social using @royaloperahouse and #ROHromeo,
#ROHcarmen and #ROHfigaro.
The Royal Opera House BP Big Screen locations:
On 11 June, the first 2019 BP Big Screen is live from the
Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. Kenneth MacMillan’s
celebrated ballet Romeo and Juliet movingly depicts the love
and heart-break endured by literature’s most renowned couple.
On July 2, award-winning director Barrie Kosky’s exuberant
take on Bizet’s Carmen will be screened. With cabaret
ensemble numbers and high-kicking dancers, this production
is a beloved masterpiece. On July 9, the Royal Opera’s The
Marriage of Figaro is screened. Mozart’s greatest comedy is
given a sumptuous staging by David McVicar, its stunning
score is fast-moving in this hilarious production with ravishing
duets and emotionally potent arias.
Gok Wan, who will present the BP Big Screens in July said:
“As a huge opera and ballet fan, I love the BP Big Screens. As
a child I would have loved watching Carmen for free with my
friends! It’s fantastic that 24 sites across the UK become opera
houses or ballet stages for the night and share in the magical
performances live from London’s Covent Garden. Outdoor
cinema is now one of the nation’s favourite summer pastimes
and each summer the Royal Opera House BP Big Screens
give everyone access to free culture on their doorstep, a great
experience for free!”
Alex Beard, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House,
commented:
“The BP Big Screens are a much-loved highlight of the summer
calendar across the UK, and I am delighted that we once again
beam the best the Royal Opera House has to offer to an ever-
wider audience. Over the years, our collaboration with BP has
enabled more than half a million people to experience ballet
and opera – many for the first time – and together we bring this
summer highlight to people all over the UK.”
Romeo and Juliet, 11 June 2019: Trafalgar Square (London);
Cressing Temple Barns (Essex); Trinity Square (Hull); Sandy
Balls Holiday Village, The New Forest (Hampshire); Television
Centre, White City (London); Walton Hall and Gardens
(Warrington); Arena Square Wembley Park (London); Alnwick
Castle (Northumberland); Big Screen Bristol, Millennium
Square; Queen’s Drive Space (Exmouth); General Gordon
Square, Woolwich (London); Guildhall Square (Portsmouth);
Castle Square (Swansea); University of Warwick (Coventry);
The Oast House, Spinningfields (Manchester).
Carmen, 2 July 2019: Duthie Park (Aberdeen); Trafalgar
Square (London); Lyric Square, Hammersmith (London);
Millennium Square (Leeds); Tattershall Lakes Country Park
(Lincolnshire); Television Centre, White City (London);
Arena Square Wembley Park (London); The Village Square,
(Brighton Marina); Big Screen Bristol, Millennium Square;
Queen’s Drive Space, (Exmouth); General Gordon Square,
Woolwich (London); Guildhall Square (Portsmouth); Castle
Square (Swansea); University of Warwick (Coventry); The
Oast House, Spinningfields (Manchester)
The Marriage of Figaro, 9 July 2019: Trafalgar Square
(London); Lyric Square, Hammersmith (London); Millennium
Square (Leeds); The Forum (Southend-on-Sea); The Scoop at
London Bridge City (London); Television Centre, White City
(London); Arena Square Wembley Park (London); Whitecliff
Bay Holiday Park (Isle of Wight); The Village Square, Brighton
Marina (Brighton); Big Screen Bristol, Millennium Square;
Queen’s Drive Space (Exmouth); General Gordon Square,
Woolwich (London); Guildhall Square (Portsmouth); Castle
Square (Swansea); University of Warwick (Coventry); The
Oast House, Spinningfields (Manchester)
All the Royal Opera House BP Big Screens are rated 12A
The Gentleman Magazine | 65