Theatre News

Opening: Rufus Wainwright’s Prima Donna

With the Manchester International Festival well under way, following premieres of Everyone Loves A Winner and It Felt Like A Kiss, Rufus Wainwright‘s brand new opera, Prima Donna opens at the Palace Theatre later this week.

The opera follows Régine Saint Laurent, once the world’s most revered soprano, as she prepares for her return to the stage after six years of silence. But Régine is haunted by the memory of her last performance: her finest hour, mysteriously cut short. Now, with her audience expectant and her supporters relying on her, can she defeat her demons and emerge triumphantly once more into the spotlight?

Prima Donna recreates the atmosphere of Paris in 1970 with the exhilarating direction of Daniel Kramer and striking design of Antony McDonald. An award-winning international team brings to life Rufus Wainwright’s moving and romantic debut opera.

Soprano Janis Kelly takes the lead role, Madame. Please note – Rufus Wainwright does not perform in this production.

Prima Donna runs at the Palace Theatre as part of the MIF from 10 – 19 July.