Ancient Greek Drama Goes to Caribbean in Opera, 'Medea Gosperia'

Thee Black Swan brings the Ancient Greek tale of Medea to the Caribbean in the opera, Medea Gosperia.

The opera is based on Euripides' tragedy, Medea, where the eponymous character marries Jason and bears his two children. After Jason abandons her to marry Glauce, Medea executes a plot to take revenge. Her story comes in the aftermath of Jason's famous quest for the golden fleece.

The forthcoming adaptation is set in the Caribbean, and uses the region's original place names, Becouya, or Island of the Clouds, and Aloi, or Cashew Island. It also incorporates traditional Caribbean dance styles, and music that infuses lovers rock, gospel, jazz and opera written by composer Stephen Cole and librettist Kay Hammond.

The cast includes sopranos Natasha Agarwal and Namrata Shah alternating as Medea, tenor Sandeep Gurrapadi as Jason, and Livi Wollaston and Hannah Neilson-Bonini as their children, Memerus and Pheres.

Joseph Charles, founder of Thee Black Swan and music director of Medea Gosperia, said "Euripides wrote a play thousands of years ago which is as relevant today as it was then. I wanted to work with the ensemble to represent our different rhythms, to show that all music is equally valuable and should be accessible to all. Medea is a complex and powerful character at the helm of this dramatic and emotional theatrical voyage."

Several composers have adapted Euripides' tragedy for the operatic stage, including Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Luigi Cherubini, Simon Mayr, and Mikis Theodorakis.

Medea Gosperia was previously mounted last year in a special workshop performance at the Upstairs at the Gatehouse in London. It will run from July 2 to 20 at the Cockpit.