Werther: a “tragic masterpiece” directed by Aylin Bozuk, costumes by Bora Aksu

Massenet’s tragic masterpiece, based on Goethe’s Sorrows of the Young Werther, is a passionate and thrilling tale of forbidden love.

A young poet, Werther, falls passionately in love with his beautiful muse, Charlotte. He learns that she has promised her dying mother to marry another man, Albert.

When the melancholy poet Werther escorts Charlotteto a ball, he realises she still has feelings for him. But then Albert returns home unexpectedly and some troubling emotions begin to take hold…

Staged at the Arcola until Saturday, this scintillating short-run production has been created especially for Grimeborn 2014. The annual month-long celebration of alternative opera is now in its eighth season and is described by The Daily Telegraph as “the best fringe opera in London”.

Werter is written by Jules Massenet and directed by Aylin Bozok, who was voted Best Newcomer in the 2013 WhatsOnStage Opera Poll for her production of Pelléas et Mélisande at last year’s Grimeborn festival. Original costumes have been crafted by top Turkish designer Bora Aksu.

Theatre Details

Title: Werter

Show dates: 19-23 August 2014 (no show on Thursday 21)

Venue address: Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, Dalston, London E8 3DL

Starts: 7.30pm

Tickets: £15 (£12 concessions) – further reductions with the Arcola Passport scheme

For tickets & info: arcolatheatre.com/grimeborn-werther

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