The annual community production at Buxton Opera House has become a firm staple in the programme, and this year over four thousand audience members joined us for the ever-loved classic musical, Evita.
Directed by Paul Kerryson and supported by our in-house creative and technical teams, the production process offered members of the High Peak and surrounding areas the opportunity to experience a professional theatre environment and provided them with guidance and support from industry experts.
“Evita was a great experience for me. The director of a big musical “holds the reins” and everything came together - amazing lighting, sound, design and fantastic orchestra. The cast were exceptional in this musically challenging show. The full houses and wonderful reviews made it all worthwhile!”
Paul Kerryson
The community cast was made up of thirty-two amateur performers and dancers, some of which had previously taken part in Buxton Opera House productions, others brand new to the world of showbiz. Many participants are in full time employment in other industries, and this production gave them the opportunity to engage with the arts in a new and exciting way.
As the experience came to an end, one cast member explained, "I’ve gained a lot of professional experience… being on a proper theatre stage has been really good for my own growth in performing." Participants rated the overall experience as excellent, and used words such as ‘challenging’, ‘thrilling’, ‘exciting’ and ‘mesmerising’ to describe their involvement.
Awarded 5 stars by North West End UK, the project not only presented the incredible talent rooted in the High Peak, but thrilled audiences and local press equally. Audience members commented that the show was, ‘one of the best community productions I've ever seen’ and were ‘blown away’ by the talent on stage.
Thanks to support from Arts Council England, the theatre can and will continue to offer these experiences to the local community. We are proud to facilitate this work, acting as a cultural hub in the heart of the Peak District, and providing opportunities for individuals to explore the world of theatre and utilise our stage to build experience, confidence, and a passion to develop careers within the industry.
A big thank you to our ever-supportive audiences who attended performances of Evita. Projects like these are the reason that we can continue to serve the community as a successful receiving and producing theatre, maintaining over one hundred and twenty years of history.
If you would like to get involved and want further information about our upcoming projects, visit our Take Part page here.
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