OperaUpClose

02/04/2026

There is nothing more rewarding for the team at OperaUpClose than seeing a project reach the stage and make an impact. It is a measure of the tremendous passion, commitment and hard work of all involved, especially the creative team and cast, that this latest Reinvention has proved such a joyful hit with press and audiences alike. So, in our latest blog we take a moment to appreciate the show by reflecting on some top press and audience responses…

There is nothing more rewarding for the team at OperaUpClose than seeing a project reach the stage and make an impact. It is a measure of the tremendous passion, commitment and hard work of all involved, especially the creative team and cast, that this latest Reinvention has proved such a joyful hit

20/03/2026

On our way to Plymouth for our last stop on the UK Tour of Gianni Schicchi (or Where There's A Will) 🚌

Tomorrow (Sat 21 March) at The Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth, is your last chance to bear witness to this incredible reinvention of Puccini's classic on for matinee and evening at this beautiful venue 🎟

We hope to see you there 🎭🎼🎻

20/03/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who made it along to our only London performance of Gianni Schicchi (or Where There's A Will) last night at artsdepot and took part in our Q&A. The reception from audiences and press alike has been absolutely remarkable - witnessing all of the hard work from our incredible creative team and talented cast come into fruition has been so wonderful 🤗🥰

There's just one more stop left on our UK Tour. One last chance to experience this incredible reinvention of Puccini's classic in new English by Hannah Kumari, re-orchestrated by Vahan Salorian at Theatre Royal Plymouth The Drum this Saturday 🥂🙌

We hope to see you there 🎟🎭

https://www.operaupclose.com/giannischicchi

Puccini’s classic in a new English version by Hannah Kumari, re-orchestrated by Vahan Salorian. A brilliantly subversive and satirical take on Puccini’s enduringly popular family farce. A modern twist on a classic set to delight both opera lovers and curious newcomers alike.

18/03/2026

Gianni Speaky is back ▶️ At the very beginning during our first read-through, we spoke to the Director, PJ Harris, for his perspective on our reinvention, Gianni Schicchi, (or Where There’s A Will), which is now making its way to London for the penultimate stop on our UK tour before we land in Plymouth this weekend.

You can watch and read the full interview in our latest blog following the link below.

Tickets are selling fast but there's still time to bear witness to the press hype on this production in London or Plymouth.

At the very beginning, during our first read-through, we spoke to PJ Harris for his perspective on Gianni Schicchi (or Where There’s A Will), which is now making its way to London for our penultimate performance on the tour before our final stop in Plymouth this weekend…

17/03/2026

We're on our way to Blackpool Grand Theatre for tonight's performance of Gianni Schicchi (or Where There's A Will) 🎉🎭 A brilliant reinvention of Puccini's classic in new English by Hannah Kumari, re-orchestrated by Vahan Salorian.

There's still time to get tickets for tonight before we head off to London and then our final destination Plymouth.

14/03/2026

A wonderful review from Opera Today 🎼😍

"In short, this is a must-see staging, and while this show is very much an interpretation in a “not as we know it” kind of way, OperaUpClose has created a corker of a production. Never more appropriate is this touring company’s tag line “Intimate in Scale Mighty in Impact”. Without a doubt, OperaUpClose is a class act."

On the road to Cambridge for our next stop Arts Theatre Cambridge Sun 15 March - we hope to see you there 🎻🪗🎭

Dead bodies are the stuff of operas. No less so with Puccini in this vividly reimagined Gianni Schicchi which begins with a just dead but still-warm co**se lying in a swimming pool. It’s tempting to mangle a phrase from Star Trek: “It’s Puccini, Jim, but not as we know it”. That said, the es...

12/03/2026

Our full trailer for Gianni Schicchi (or Where There's A Will) is now available on YouTube ▶️🎼

We are so happy to finally be able to share live performance footage of our reinvention of Puccini's classic in new English by Hannah Kumari, re-orchestrated by Vahan Salorian.

There's still time to get a ticket for a venue near you on our website at operaupclose.com 🎟

Our first performances complete in Southampton, we are very pleased to share footage from the live show in our 2026 Tour Trailer for Gianni Schicchi (or Wher...

11/03/2026

The response from press and audiences alike so far has been overwhelming. The heart of our reinvented Gianni Schicchi "Where There's A Will" beats from the reimagined writing and orchestration of Hannah Kumari and Vahan Salorian - so here are a few more highlights from our first reviews.

You can read more and find the links to the full reviews on our latest blog post at https://www.operaupclose.com/discover/first-reviews-operaupclose-reinvention-gianni-schicchi

We can't wait to perform to a near sold out audience at Chichester Festival Theatre (Minerva Theatre) tonight 🎼🪗🎻

10/03/2026

HOT OFF THE PRESS 🗞 Early reviews are rolling in for Gianni Schicchi (or Where There's A Will) after opening in Southampton at Mayflower Studios last weekend. We're absolutely delighted with the response - here's a few highlights, go to our latest blog for excerpts and links to read the full articles at https://www.operaupclose.com/discover/first-reviews-operaupclose-reinvention-gianni-schicchi

A huge thank you to everyone who made it along to our premiere and first performances in Southampton. We’re now on the road to Chichester Festival Theatre’s Minerva Theatre for our next stop on the UK Tour (11-12 March). Many venues are close to capacity, so please do book your tickets while you still can at a venue near you.

07/03/2026

Our first two performances at Mayflower Studios in Southampton have been a roaring success and we're very happy to share photography from the opening night 📸🥂🎉

This is why we do what we do - the audience response and beauty of witnessing opera reinvented really is an experience like no other. We have one final performance in Southampton this evening before we are on the road to The Minerva Chichester Festival Theatre which is almost sold out! 🎟

VIew the full gallery of photos and get your tickets while you still can at https://www.operaupclose.com/giannischicchi



Photography by Rich Southgate