Falstaff
Giuseppe Verdi’s operatic comedy Falstaff receives a brand-new staging by Sir David McVicar, conducted by Stuart Stratford.
Incorrigible rake, freeloader, past-it playboy – Sir John Falstaff needs a ruse so that he can continue his life of excess. He decides to try his luck with two of Windsor’s upstanding married women, writing them identical love letters in the hope of seducing them – and of bagging some cash from their rich husbands. But sly Alice Ford and shrewd Meg Page quickly spot his scheme and resolve to teach the drunken rogue a lesson he won’t quickly forget.
Adapted from Shakespeareʼs The Merry Wives of Windsor, Verdi’s final opera Falstaff is a fast-paced, life-affirming comedy; a boisterous send-up of larger-than-life excess, but also an affectionate celebration of the irrepressibility of the human spirit.
Scottish Opera returns to the International Festival with a new production by Glasgow-born director Sir David McVicar, specially adapted from the outdoor presentation. His new staging gets to the bones of Falstaff, balancing the laugh-out-loud moments with a poignant tale of a childlike man who has outlived his own time – full of experience and regret, but ultimately a glorious celebration of life itself.
Written when the composer was nearing 80, Falstaff is Verdi’s big belly laugh of a sign-off to the operatic world, with a quicksilver score that bubbles with wit and revelry – a riotous comedy that’s as wise as it is witty.
Sung in English with English supertitles
a joyous, hilarious and luxurious Falstaff
Supported by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown
Scottish Opera
A new co-production with Santa Fe Opera
Stuart Stratford Conductor
Sir David McVicar Director & Designer
Lizzie Powell Lighting Designer
Andrew George Choreographer
Hannah Postlethwaite Assistant Set Designer
Lorna Price Associate Costume Designer
Amanda Holden Translation
Cast includes
Roland Wood Sir John Falstaff
Elgan Llŷr Thomas Fenton
Phillip Rhodes Ford/ Mr Brook
Aled Hall Dr Caius
Jamie MacDougall Bardolph
Alastair Miles Pistol
Elizabeth Llewellyn Alice Ford
Gemma Summerfield Nanetta
Sioned Gwen Davies Meg Page
Louise Winter Mistress Quickly
Lauren Ellis–Steele, Jamie Francis, Caleb Hughes, Josh Kiernan, Allan Othieno and Sally Swanson Actors
Verdi Falstaff
Sung in English with English supertitles
Concessions
During priority booking, under-18s and disabled people are entitled to a 30% concession discount.
In our general sales period, recipients of pension credit, universal credit, employment and support allowance or jobseeker's allowance, full-time students, under-26s and disabled people are entitled to a 30% concession discount.
Booking tickets
To minimise physical contact, our box office is closed. We encourage customers to book online or by phone, and to select the electronic ticket option when booking to facilitate contactless interactions with staff at our venues. In-person ticket collection will not be available.
We have introduced socially distanced seating plans to allow households and support bubbles to sit together while remaining at a safe distance from others. When you book online you will be asked to select a seating ‘bubble’ with the correct number of seats for your group. Disabled people may be accompanied by a support person outside of their household or support bubble.
Traceability will be especially important this summer to help prevent community transmission. For 21 days after your visit, we may be asked to share your name and contact details with NHS Test & Protect to help them identify people who may have been exposed to COVID-19.
Your safety
The International Festival is working with the Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council and other relevant authorities to implement appropriate measures to ensure the safety of our audiences, artists and the International Festival team. These include shorter performances without intervals, physical distancing, regular cleaning, and contactless ticketing. Plans will be adjusted in response to public health measures as they evolve.
Venue experience
We ask that you arrive no earlier than 30 minutes before a performance begins. If you are using e-tickets please download them in advance so that they are available offline and ensure that your phone is sufficiently charged.
Our outdoor venues are covered with open sides, so you should come dressed appropriately for the weather; including suitable footwear for walking across grass.
International Festival staff will be available to assist you throughout your visit and to ensure that COVID-19 safety protocols are being met. Please bring your own mask with you to performances and wear it as directed by staff and signage. Hand sanitiser stations will be located around our venues.
In the interest of eliminating places where people can congregate, no food or drink will be available on site. Performances will run without an interval; with most lasting no more than 70 minutes. Toilets will be available and will be cleaned regularly.
At the end of each performance we will direct you to leave our venues swiftly from multiple exits to avoid congestion.
We appreciate your patience and ask that you please be mindful of others throughout your visit.
Ticket exchanges & refunds
We call upon each person’s sense of civic responsibility to do their part. If you or anyone in your household has had any recent COVID-19 symptoms, however fleeting, please stay home for everyone’s safety.
If you are unable to attend any event at the 2021 Edinburgh International Festival for any reason related to COVID-19, we will refund the full cost of the ticket to the lead booker. Refunds must be requested at least 24 hours in advance of the performance. Postage fees are non-refundable.
For extra peace of mind we’ve teamed up with Secure My Booking to offer Ticket Protection, which allows you to recoup 100% of the money you paid for your tickets if you are unable to attend an event that hasn’t been cancelled or rescheduled. Ticket Protection covers illness, accidents, travel delays, adverse weather, strikes and more. This optional extra costs £1.50 per ticket and is only available at the time of booking. For more information, please visit securemybooking.com