OperaUpClose Announces Casting And Extension For LA BOHEME At The Cock Tavern Theatre

LA BOHÈME is transported to the gritty realism of vibrant modern day North London from 1830s Bohemian Paris. The inspirational experience of Puccini's music is brought to an intimate staging with a young cast and chorus. This production has been conceived to make LA BOHÈME as visceral, funny, accessible and emotionally engaging for audiences as its first performance in 1896.

"Honest, perceptive, unpretentious and intelligent" Anna Picard INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

The timeless story of LA BOHÈME begins on Christmas Eve and revolves around Mimi and Rodolfo, profoundly in love but unable to find a way to make their relationship succeed. Mimi has moved to England from Romania and is working as a cleaner. She lives alone in a North London bedsit, amid a group of middle-class boys who are indulging in a carefree, artistic, Bohemian lifestyle; spending the little money they have on nights out and parties. When Rodolfo falls for Mimi, the group discover the complexity of living for love and art. Puccini's score is a rollercoaster of human emotion that juxtaposes comedy with deep love and underlying tragedy.

"Here's to the democratisation - and Kilburnisation - of opera." Stephen Moss GUARDIAN

This is the inaugural production from OperaUpClose who are dedicated to presenting new, difficult and classic operas in intimate spaces using young world-class trained singers and directors. Artistic Director Adam Spreadbury-Maher formed the company to bring opera to life for new audiences, and to offer the extraordinary opportunity to experience the dramatic and musical event of opera up close.

"A whole new genre: pub opera. Don't bet against it being a terrific success." TIME OUT

Under the artistic direction of Adam Spreadbury-Maher The c*ckTavern Theatre has established itself at the forefront of the London Fringe by winning the prestigious Dan Crawford Pub Theatre Award at the Peter Brook Empty Space Awards.

"An amazing theatrical coup" Aline Waites HAM & HIGH *****

Director Robin Norton-Hale studiEd English at Oxford University and trained at The King's Head Theatre on their Resident Assistant Director programme. Opera directing credits include: Spirit of Vienna (English Touring Opera); Pimpinone (Colourhouse Theatre); Revival Director on Ariodante (English Touring Opera); Assistant Director on Katya Kabonova and The Abduction from the Seraglio (both English Touring Opera). Theatre directing credits include: Best Man Speech (UK tour) and Pick 'n' Myths (Lyric Hammersmith and UK tour); Associate Director on Cloudcuckooland (Edinburgh Fringe, UK and European Tour) and Assistant Director on Sweet Charity (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane).

Conductor Andrew Charity trained at the Royal College of Music and London Opera Centre and has won the Ricordi Prize For Conducting. He has coached at the National Opera Studio and has a long-standing relationship working as Musical Director and singing teacher at ArtsEd and RADA (Chorus Master since 1990).

Andrew has conducted Opera Galas at LSO St Luke's, concerts with Camerata of London, Loki Orchestra, Corelli Orchestra and Co-Opera Co. and at the Aldeburgh, Almeida, and Arcola Festivals.

Conducting credits include: Pierrot Lunaire (Arcola), Cosi Fan Tutte (European Chamber Opera) and Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Guildhall School of Music and Drama). Premieres conducted include: Martinu's Concerto for Violins and Piano. He has worked as Musical Director for the National Theatre, RSC and Peter Hall and as Associate Director for London Opera Group and Divertimento Opera.

RICHARD LATHAM - Marcello

Studied at Emmanuel College Cambridge, the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

CREDITS INCLUDE: King Hermann Augustus Candide (Edinburgh International Festival, BBCSO under Robert Spano); The Guide, Death in Venice (The Philharmonia under Richard Hickox); Onegin Eugene Onegin; Papageno The Magic Flute(both Dartington); Father Hänsel und Gretel (Julita Festival, Sweden); Baritone, Aventures and Nouvelles Aventures (Charles Court Opera); Harlekin Ariadne auf Naxos; Guglielmo; Pantalon, L'Amour des Trois Oranges; Le Geôlier Dialogues des Carmélites (all RSAMD). He has also worked with René Jacobs and Collegium Vocale on L'Orfeo at the Aix-en-Provence Festival.

ANNABEL MOUNTFORD - Musetta

Studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and is currently a postgraduate scholar at the Royal College of Music.

CREDITS INCLUDE: Amy, Jacko's Hour (Opera Engine); Agilia cover Teseo; Dalinda Ariodante; Clizia cover Teseo (all English Touring Opera); La Bohème (Longborough Festival Opera); Ophélie Hamlet, Anna Anna Bolena; Adèle Die Fledermaus (all Royal College of Music); Polly The Beggar's Opera, Gabriella La Rondine, Cockerel The Cunning Little Vixen; Miranda The Dancing Master (all RNCM).

CLARE PRESLAND - Musetta

Studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama

CREDITS INCLUDE: A Night at the Opera (Opera UK); Jennifer and Sam Norton The Office: The Opera (Proud, Camden); Second Witch Dido and Aeneas (Opera Project); Peaseblossom A Midsummer Night's Dream (Longborough Festival Opera); Opera Gala Concerts (Opera UK); Adina L'Elisir D'Amore (Suffolk Opera); Countess Le Nozze di Figaro; Rosalind Die Fledermaus; Louise La Vie Parisienne; first Knaben Die Zauberflöte, (all the GSMD); Chorus The Rake's Progress, (Britten Pears Young Artists' Programme).

BRETT BROWN - Schaunard

Graduated from RADA in 2009

CREDITS INCLUDE: Lorenzo in Our Theatre (Shakespeare's Globe), James in Gentleman (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Son in Last Seen (Almeida) and most recently Ferdinand in The Tempest (Gdansk Shakespeare Festival).

MATTHEW DUNCAN - Schaunard

Studied at the University of Hull and Royal Northern College of Music.

CREDITS INCLUDE: Gugliemo Cosi fan Tutte; Dr. Falke Die Fledermaus (both European Chamber Opera); Junius The Rape of Lucretia, Count Marriage of Figaro (both Dorset Productions); Masetto Don Giovanni (Opera Anywhere); Ivan Die Fledermaus (Alternative Opera Company); Schaunard (cover) La Boh?me (Co Opera Co); Herr Frank Die Fledermaus; Billy Budd Billy Budd; Sid Albert Herring; Conte Nina, o sia La pazza per amore (all RNCM).

ALISTAIR SUTHERLAND - Colline

Studied Music at King's College London and was previously Head Chorister at Winchester College. Recently he has studied with Glenville Hargreaves, and Alex Ashworth at the Royal Academy of Music

CREDITS INCLUDE: Aeneas Dido And Aeaneas (King Opera); solo performances with the King's Singers; choral work with Christ Church Choir, Knightsbridge.

David Freeman - Alcindoro

Trained at Rose Bruford.

CREDITS INCLUDE: Don Basilio The Barber of Seville; Calchas La Belle Helene; Marchese di Calatrava Force of Destiny; Lillas Pastia Carmen (all Court Opera Productions); Sarastro The Magic Flute (Blackheath Opera and Beaufort Opera); Commendatore Don Giovanni (Hampstead Garden Opera); Ramfis Aida (Opera East); Maestro Spinelloccio Gianni Schicchi (Broomhill Opera Festival); Benoit/Alcindoro La Boh?me (New London Opera); Pasha Selim Abduction from the Seraglio (London Opera Players); Iwan Die Fledermaus (European Chamber Opera); Mayor of Santo Maid of the Mountains (Finborough Theatre); Specialist Chorus Semele (Theatre des Champs-Elysees); Chorus La Boh?me; Iolanthe; Le Roi Malgre Lui (all Grange Park Opera).

**RUN EXTENDED BY 1 MONTH UNTIL 20th FEBRUARY**

Following sell-out houses, Critics' Choice in THE TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES and INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY and coverage on REUTERS.

Venue The c*ckTavern Theatre, 125 Kilburn High Road, London, NW6 6JH.

Dates & Times 8th December - 20th February

Tuesday - Saturday at 7.30pm

Saturday matinee: 2pm (9th, 16th, 23rd January only)

Sunday matinee: 3pm

No show from 25th December - 4th January, except New Year's Eve at 5pm.

Box Office 08444 771 000 / www.cocktaverntheatre.com

Tickets £15 (£10 concessions) LIMITED NUMBER OF £5 TICKETS AVAILABLE EVERY NIGHT

Transport Kilburn Park (Bakerloo Line). Five minutes from Tricycle Theatre.