Rip Van Winkle (2023) | Gothic Opera

This Halloween, Gothic Opera brought a forgotten operetta back to London over 140 years after its premiere.

RIP VAN WINKLE

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⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Neither director nor cast took itself too seriously, allowing the singers to take risks and explore their comedic potential" - Opera Now

⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Fans of operettas will be at home with the optimistic characters, jolly tone and utter absurdities on display here....The ebullient performances from the cast and intelligent use of the intimate space add to the sheer joyfulness" - Broadway World

⭐⭐⭐⭐ "The revival of Planquette’s rarely-seen work is a treat from a talented small opera company. Given how enjoyable it is, it’s a real shame it has such a short run" - The Reviews Hub

⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A most interesting evening with some gorgeous singing from highly talented young artistes!" - Londontheatre1.com

Rip Van Winkle is an English-language operetta by Robert Planquette based on two stories by Washington Irving - Rip van Winkle and the famous Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The piece premiered at the Comedy Theatre in London in 1882, running for around 300 performances – but although popular at the time, it had not been seen in its English version since the nineteenth century.

With a cast of exceptional singers, Gothic Opera approached this charming piece with fresh eyes, reinvigorating it with a new chamber arrangement and newly-written dialogue.