Drillalians: Episodes 1 & 2

La Traviata

All Ages • 2h 15m

Verdi’s best-loved work is performed by a star cast in a revival of Richard Eyre’s highly acclaimed 1994 production. Alfredo and the courtesan Violetta fall passionately in love. But Violetta is seriously ill and Alfredo’s father disapproves of their relationship – can their love overcome such obstacles?

Hansel and Gretel

All Ages • 1h 50m

Diana Damrau and Angelika Kirchschlager star in this acclaimed 2008 production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s famous fairy tale opera. With a libretto based on the Brothers Grimm story, this classic opera features a host of characters including the Sandman, the Dew Fairy, and the Witch.

Eugene Onegin

All Ages • 2h 33m

Director of The Royal Opera, Kasper Holten, made his directorial debut at Covent Garden with this new production of Tchaikovsky’s poignant opera. When Tatyana is introduced to the dashing, unconventional Onegin, she believes that he is the hero of her dreams but he carelessly rejects her – with tragic consequences.

Peter Grimes on the Beach

All Ages • 2h 20m

Fisherman Peter Grimes is an outsider in the community of misfits and eccentrics who populate the Borough, a fictionalised version of the village of Aldeburgh in Suffolk. Is Grimes responsible for the death of his young apprentice? Is he mad, evil or a misunderstood visionary?

La bohème

All Ages • 1h 53m

A lost key and an accidental touch of cold hands in the dark – so begins one of the great romances of all opera. When Rodolfo, a penniless poet, meets Mimì, a seamstress, they fall passionately in love. But their happiness is threatened when Rodolfo learns that Mimì is gravely ill in John Copley's striking production.

Don Giovanni

12+ • 2h 43m

Mozart’s Don Giovanni was first performed in 1787, and was based on the story of the Spanish lothario, Don Juan. The title character seduces, deceives and murders his way through the opera, doing his utmost to experience life, and all that it has to offer, to the full. This production, captured by Digital Theatre at the Grand Theatre and Opera House in Leeds, was Opera North’s first Don Giovanni for seven years. It was critically commended for its ”refreshing” update and “outstanding” performances. It was directed by Alessandro Talevi and conducted by Tobias Ringborg.

Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World

Guidance 14+ • 1h 29m

Blurring a true crime podcast with a thrilling ride down the rabbit hole of Wikipedia, Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World delves into the unsolved murder of Iranian pop star Fereydoun Farrokhzad. Javaad Alipoor’s gripping production explores violence, digital culture and postcolonialism, revealing the limits of search engines in solving a decades old case.

All's Well That Ends Well

Guidance 13+ • 2h 41m

Set against the backdrop of the First World War, this Stratford Festival production reimagines Shakespeare’s comedy of unrequited love. In a daring adaptation by Scott Wentworth, Helen will go to any lengths to win the acceptance of the man she loves. Filmed live at the Tom Patterson Theatre in September 2022, this version explores the moral ambiguities in Shakespeare’s classic tale of devotion.

Hamlet

Guidance 13+ • 2h 45m

This bold adaptation of Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy explores identity, family, and revenge through a modern lens. Directed by Peter Pasyk and starring Amaka Umeh, the first artist of African descent and liminal gender experience to portray Hamlet at the Stratford Festival, this production shines a light on contemporary issues of selfhood and morality. Captured live at the Festival Theatre in October 2022.

Kinky Boots

Guidance 12+ • 2h 1m

Winner of six Tony awards and featuring hit songs by Cyndi Lauper, this huge-hearted musical by Harvey Fierstein follows an unlikely pair who learn to embrace their differences. Factory owner Charlie is struggling to save his family business, and Lola is an entertainer with a wildly big idea. As they work to rescue the factory, they discover that when you change your mind, you can change the world. Captured live at the Adelphi Theatre in 2018.