Bernstein Double Bill

Trouble in Tahiti / West Side Story Symphonic Dances

16 October – 20 November 2021

This event has passed.

Dreams of a better life

American composer Leonard Bernstein was a major influence on the Broadway musical stage and this double bill brings together two of his pieces in a thrilling evening of music, dance and drama.

The curtain goes up on Sam and Dinah living a charmed life in their little white house in 1950s suburbia. But look more closely and you’ll see the cracks starting to appear in this couple’s American Dream… The satirical Trouble in Tahiti brings the sounds of jazz, musical theatre and the movies together, with a moment of full Hollywood pizzazz in Dinah’s showpiece number ‘Island Magic’.

West Side Story is a landmark of musical theatre and Bernstein’s stand-alone Symphonic Dances extracted from the show are packed with mambos, waltzes and cha-chas. Inspired by the events of his native South Africa, Phoenix Dance Theatre’s Dane Hurst creates an entirely new dance work which responds to these rhythms as dancers navigate the rough edges and walls of city life, exploring conflict and the need to connect.

The double bill will be complemented by a short, spoken word performance, Halfway and Beyond, a poetic dialogue between nature and consciousness, the concept of identity and the notion of belonging. Writer/performer Khadijah Ibrahiim.

“…offers a compelling emotional crescendo… flamingly impassioned”
★★★★ — The Times

“an emotionally powerful, lucid production… plenty of zip and pizzazz…”
★★★★ — The Arts Desk

#BernsteinDoubleBill

Price
From £15*

Running time
Approximately 2 hours

Language
Trouble in Tahiti is sung in English with English titles

Save with…
Season Ticket Packages
Under 30s membership
New to opera discounts

*Prices vary by venue. Booking fees may apply.

Symphonic Dances in association with Phoenix Dance Theatre

Read our COVID-19 guidance here

Story

In a little white house in 1950s suburban America, Sam and Dinah are having breakfast. Aware of the growing separation between them, they agree to discuss their relationship problems that evening.

Sam arrives at the office, late from their bickering. Meanwhile, Dinah is at her therapist’s office recalling a dream.

It’s lunchtime, Sam and Dinah accidentally run into each other. Rather than eating together, they both make up imaginary commitments with others and go on with their days separately. Both parents miss their son’s play in favour of their own pursuits – Sam plays a handball tournament with a colleague, Dinah goes to the movies.

After dinner, Sam decides the time has come for their talk. Yet neither of them know where to begin. Sam suggests they go see a new movie about Tahiti, Dinah agrees even though she saw the very same film that afternoon. The couple wonders whether it’ll ever be possible to rekindle their love, for now, they opt for the magic of the silver screen.

Audio notes

These audio notes give detailed information about the story, the sets and costumes, the cast list, and the dates and venues of the performances.

These are to aid customers who are blind or partially sighted. Please note, the story and the details of the sets and costumes contain spoilers, so avoid them if you would prefer not to know what happens!

Introduction – 0:00
Trouble in Tahiti: Synopsis – 0:31
Trouble in Tahiti: Set & Costumes – 1:32
Trouble in Tahiti: Cast – 4:19
Halfway and Beyond – 4:54
West Side Story Symphonic Dances – 5:50
Further information and dates – 7:50

Cast & creative

Trouble in Tahiti

Quirijn de Lang

SAM

Black and white headshot of Sandra Piques Eddy
Sandra Piques Eddy

Dinah

Laura Kelly-McInroy

TRIO

Joseph Shovelton

TRIO

Nicholas Butterfield

TRIO

Antony Hermus

CONDUCTOR (EXC. 4, 6, 11, 13 NOV)

Martin Pickard

CONDUCTOR (4, 6, 11, 13 NOV)

Matthew Eberhardt

DIRECTOR

A man with cropped hair wearing a black shirt.
Charles Edwards

SET DESIGNER

Black and white headshot of Hannah Clark
Hannah Clark

COSTUME DESIGNER

Symphonic Dances

Natalie Alleston
Natalie Alleston

DANCER

Aaron Chaplin
Aaron Chaplin

DANCER

Alana Cowie

DANCER

Megan Lumsden

DANCER

Seirian Griffiths

DANCER

Charlie Nayler

DANCER

Stephen Quildan

DANCER

Melina Sofocleous

DANCER

Yuma Sylla

DANCER

Matthew Topliss

DANCER

Shawn Willis

DANCER

Antony Hermus

CONDUCTOR (EXC. 4, 6, 11, 13 NOV)

Martin Pickard

CONDUCTOR (4, 6, 11, 13 NOV)

Dane Hurst

DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER

A man with cropped hair wearing a black shirt.
Charles Edwards

SET DESIGNER

Hannah Postlethwaite

ASSOCIATE DESIGNER

Ana Inés Jabares-Pita

COSTUME DESIGNER

Kieron Johnson

LIGHTING DESIGNER

Bernstein Double Bill
×
Close

Search our site