R'Otello the rugby opera: 2019 September
R'Otello the rugby opera returns to the London stage in September 2019. Read on to learn more about this extraordinary piece of theatre.
'The way GAFA approach everything is refreshing, from the venue, to the style, to the representation of women in Shakespeare, to breaking all of the pre-conceived ideas about opera and the classics'
Amie Taylor LGBTQ arts and culture review Oct 5 2015.
World Premiere R’otello – the Rugby Opera.
Based in London, GAFA (pronounced Nga-Fah) is Europe’s first Samoan Arts Collective, their work primarily focused on Samoan Art practice and culture. Their most recent piece – R’otello – the Rugby Opera, performed at Caius House in South London on the 3rd and 4th Oct, was written and directed by Sani Muliaumaseali’i, and featured the operas of Carmen, Otello and Tosca.
Performed in a sports hall, which felt fitting for an opera about rugby, GAFA had extraordinarily managed to fit a fifty piece orchestra as well as a six piece band and a pianist in to the hall. I like these non-traditional venues, I have to admit to not being a regular opera attendee – and even as someone who is familiar with visiting the theatre on a regular basis, I still find places like the Royal Opera House a little intimidating, so for me, seeing an opera in a more familiar, public space, put me immediately at ease.
Based around the story of Othello, Otello is the captain of the national rugby team of Samoa; the action picks up at the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup. Mona, Otello’s wife, awards Tasio (who has been crowned Man of The Match) with a new I-Phone, which sets up the premise for a device used throughout the show in which characters communicate by text message. We see all of the characters from Shakespeare’s original, but re-thought and reborn in to new scenarios all based around the Rugby World Cup. A favourite of mine was The Headliner: F Tosca, (played by Eddie Muliaumaseali'i) a Drag-Queen superstar, who steals a large part of the show when performing at a karaoke night at her club, co-owned along with the Baroness (played by Lori Isley Lynn) who also gave a particularly memorable performance, glittery and seductive – highly enjoyable.
'I'd like to see you try and stop me' R'Otello
Tom lowe, Tenor as DJ and Louise Callinan, Mezzo Soprano as Nurse Carmen.
The nurse, Carmencitta (played by Louise-Callinan) also gave an enjoyable performance, her solo numbers performed in the club shining out as a highlight of the show, she had developed a strong and incredibly likeable character, who always bought a burst of new energy to the stage. As well as a strong cast of principle characters, there was also an incredibly tight ensemble, who carried us fluidly through the scenes and across the story with clarity.
R’Otello speaks loudly about misogyny and scrutinises domestic violence. Through short scenes interspersed amongst the action, we hear women speak accounts of domestic violence. They are powerful voices, and bring a woman’s perspective to sit amongst the traditionally more male-centred story of Othello.
These also parallel Mona’s (Desdemona’s) death at the end of the show, there is a powerful image of the women in circle, in which Desdemona dies – at this moment I suddenly recalled the statistics of how many women per week in the UK are killed as a result of domestic violence – there was something incredibly disturbing seeing it presented so bluntly on stage.
As far as I’m concerned Trevor Nunn can keep his all white (for historical accuracy) Shakespeare, and Propellor can keep their all male casts – there is something beautifully refreshing watching Shakespeare told in this vibrant, new and never seen before style. In fact, the way GAFA approach everything is refreshing, from the venue, to the style, to the representation of women in Shakespeare, to breaking all of the pre-conceived ideas about opera and the classics, hopefully it will return next year, so keep your eyes on their twitter (@gafasamoa) for updates.
© Amie Taylor 2015
R'OTELLO the rugby opera returns for the Opera in the city festival September 2019.
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Written and directed by Sani Muliaumaseali'i
2019 Company: featuring world class pacific and UK opera singers, The Rosenau Sinfonia conducted by Stephen Anthony Brown, Andy Philip and the Jazz Band, The Leo Gafa voices. Lighting: Dominic Warwick, Choreography: Jasmine Leota.
Photos: Foetini Christofilopoulou ©2015
