Christopher Sly

Synopsis

A contemporary stage at the Royal Court Theatre, where Shakespeare’s world collided with modern opera

Christopher Sly finds himself at the centre of a musical reimagining of a pre-Shakespearean poem. Presented by the English Opera Group, this adaptation sidestepped the familiar Taming of the Shrew to explore its lesser-known predecessor, raising questions about the suitability of farce for operatic treatment and the problematic nature of the story’s gender dynamics.

Ronald Duncan’s libretto, set to Eastwood’s music, attempted to navigate the fine line between comedy and cruelty, with mixed results. The production’s “dramatized concert performance in modern dress” approach created an intriguing juxtaposition of period narrative and contemporary staging.