Gianni Speaky: PJ Harris, Director
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 stop on the UK tour before our final performance in Plymouth this weekend.
PJ is a multi-award-winning British stage director and theatre-maker originally from the Midlands. Since being listed as “one to watch” by the BBC in 2015, his work has taken him across Europe including the Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne, Royal Swedish Opera, Opéra de Lyon, Norwegian National Opera, Scottish Opera and Polish National Opera.
You can watch our Gianni Speaky interview with PJ Harris on YouTube or scroll down to give it a read:
What is your role in the production of Gianni Schicchi (or Where There’s A Will)?
I’m PJ Harris, Stage Director for Gianni Schicchi (or Where There’s A Will) with OperaUpClose. It's my job to bring all the pieces of the jigsaw together. So, the new libretto, the re-orchestration that's been made, and all the performers on stage.
What makes this production different to a traditional opera?
This version of Gianni Schicchi is very fresh. It's very contemporary. It's set in a fictional British town, a town called Harmouth. So, I think it will resonate with audiences in a way that's very different to how the piece might typically resonate with you.
How do interpretations like this benefit the overall perception of opera?
I think that this opera offers the landscape of our art form something new but honouring the legacy and traditions of opera. So, this is an amazing score by Puccini but being told for the present day and for contemporary audiences
What can audiences new to opera expect?
With this opera, a lot of the influences for it have been some contemporary TV series like White Lotus, things like Knives Out. So, it has a murder mystery feel to it. It's light hearted, it's fun, it's comedy, it's absurd. So, I think it will be a very, it will be a brilliant introduction to opera, because it's very dynamic and it's not too heavy or serious.
What are you looking forward to the most?
I am, as a stage director, particularly excited about working with instrumentalists on the stage. Normally, the instrumentalists in opera are in the pit but in this production, four instrumentalists are on the stage. They're gonna be playing characters and roles, and we’re going to get to see all of their amazing musicianship on the stage. I get to stage that and that’s really exciting.
There has been a wonderful response from audiences and press alike. Tickets are selling fast but there's still time to bear witness to the hype on this production in London or Plymouth. Book your tickets while you still can here.