What happens next in the iconic Puccini story? The son of Madam Butterfly has travelled to America to meet his father for the first time but he's brought the ghost of his mother too. The play blends the music and myths from the original opera with a new score by one of the UK's leading contemporary composers, Michael Finnissy (whose work was last heard in London at the Proms) and tells a new story using Japanese dance, masks, shadow work and physical theatre. Ignacio Jarquin sings and plays all the characters accompanied by an ensemble of four musicians on stage. Andrew G Marshall supplies the libretto.
Madam Butterfly Returns comes to the Landor Theatre for a strictly limited season in November 2015.
The show won 1st prize at the Scratch Night of the Casa International Latin American Theatre Festival and has been developed with Marlborough Theatre in Brighton, Tête-à-Tête Opera Festival, The Poly in Cornwall and Erin Arts Centre on the Isle of Man. Madam Butterfly Returns draws on Japanese Noh theatre for the dance and mask work and Naga Uta for the music.
Madam Butterfly Returns runs at the Landor Theatre from 4 November to 22 November 2015
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Douglas Mayo has had a life long love affair with musical theatre. He has authored several books on publicity and marketing for amateur theatre groups. He is in the process of developing a musical based on his original story concept.
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