00:00Pubs, cafes and libraries across South London are to be turned into live opera theatres this summer
00:12as an inclusive theatre company brings surprise performances and vibrant storytelling to everyday spaces.
00:19Performances organised by Baseless Fabric Theatre will take place across towns in Croydon, Merton and Wandsworth
00:25over the next month, bringing opera to the masses.
00:28Their modern day retelling of the Elixir of Love aims to ignite interest in opera and take down the barriers commonly associated with the art form.
00:36We are a local arts charity, a professional opera company and we do the street opera concept where we do free performances in public spaces.
00:46So we take a classic opera, we adapt it, cut it and rewrite the music for three instruments who can move along the high street
00:54and the words and the stories as if it's happening today, so really kind of making the story about London life today
01:02and then performances happen in supermarkets, shopping centres, pubs, libraries, cafes and scenes pop up in those locations.
01:11Audiences can stay for just a little bit or they can follow the whole performance down the high street, whatever they want to do.
01:16The Elixir of Love tells a tale of Nemerino and his efforts to win over the hearts of Adina in modern day London.
01:23With free performances in high streets like Pearlie and Wimbledon as well as larger shows at the Arcola Theatre in East London,
01:30the group are trying to repurpose public spaces and inspire people to get involved or simply enjoy the art.
01:37It was mental, it was brilliant, but mental, not what you expect when you're coming in for an arts charity.
01:43I think we strip away all of the barriers that you often get for theatre, for opera, anything like that
01:50because we're doing it in pubs, we're doing it at bus stops, we're doing it in libraries
01:54and there's nothing between performers and audience so what you're seeing is exactly what you're getting.
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