The Merry Opera Company staged productions of its opera ‘Troy Boy’ at two Wetherspoon pubs, as part of its national tour.
The Opera House, in Royal Tunbridge Wells, staged the first night opening of the opera, the fifth year in succession that the pub has hosted an opera.
The opera tour, which runs until October, then transferred to Upstairs at The Gatehouse (above The Gatehouse pub, in Highgate, north London) for almost a month – the longest period at one theatre.
Troy Boy is directed by Kit Hesketh-Harvey and is the translation of Offenbach’s La Belle Hélène, the story of Helen of Troy.
La Belle Hélène was first performed in Paris, in 1864, when its innuendo and suggestive lyrics, wrapped up in a parody of one of the most famous Greek legends, made it an instant success.
It is based on the story of Helen of Troy, whose elopement with Paris, the Prince of Troy, started the Trojan Wars.
For more information: www.merryopera.com