Grimeborne Festival, Arcola Theatre, 2nd-6th August 2022
Cervantes Theatre, 20th-24th September 2022
Exiled from a country immersed in civil war, two clowns find themselves in the heart of the Parisian underworld at a time of revolution. Black, el Payaso / Black, the Clown is one of Pablo Sorozábal‘s most ambitious and wide-ranging work. An ingenious allegory of art and nationalist politics, its sharp and political edge that remains relevant today. The libretto is based on the French novel La princesse aux clowns by Jean-José Frappa.
- Director: Paula Paz
- Music Director and music adaptation: Ricardo Gosalbo
- Set and costume designer: Caitlin Abbott
- Lighting Designer: Lucía Sanchez
- Makeup Artist: Guy Common
- Assistant Director: Monica Cox
- Libretto’s adaptation: Ignacio García
- Translation: Simon Breden
- Performers: Raphaela Papadakis, Juliet Wallace, Michael Lafferty-Smith, Giuseppe Pellingra, David Powton, Simon Bundock
- Piano: Ricardo Gosalbo
- Violin: Elena Jáuregui
”In Paula Paz’s tight, bittersweet production, which uses a text adapted by Ignacio García, the sung lyrics remain in Spanish while the dialogue is in English.”
– The Stage, ★★★★
”This staging – the first ever in the UK – is brilliant, atmospheric, moving and one of the most satisfying productions I’ve seen this year.”
– LondonTheatre1, ★★★★★
”The Cervantes company have been true to Sorozábal, capturing much of his special acerbity and wit, as well as his generous vein of sentimental romance.”
– Zarzuela.net, ★★★★★
”It’s packed with stimulating ideas, innovative music and in wrapped in a form that resists easy classification for those (and that’ll be most of us) unfamiliar with the traditions of Spanish opera.”
– Broadway World, ★★★★
”Captivating singing, kinetic and exciting performances and interesting ideas from around the creative table all combine here. It’s a chance to see something unusual, stimulating, and vastly rewarding: a fantastic addition to this year’s Grimeborn.”
– Reviews Hub, ★★★★
MONICA COX 