Culture
REVIEW: WNO Death in Venice at Mayflower Theatre
The Welsh National Opera (WNO) is back at Mayflower Theatre with their exciting collaborative telling of ‘Death in Venice’. This is so much more than just an opera. Exploring several themes 50 years after its premiere, Benjamin Britten is a British titan in 20th-century opera, and his final operatic piece of work is brilliantly brought to life by WNO. Inspired by the original novella by Thomas Mann, and with a 1971 film of the same name following, this English sung opera explores when imagination collides with reality and the battle between opposing personality traits.
This is my third WNO opera now, and it was completely unlike the other two productions that I had seen (in a very good way of course). With it being sung in English, it automatically made the story that much easier to follow. There were also surtitles above the stage still, for if you couldn’t quite understand how they were enunciating. This opera was actually in collaboration with NoFit State, a circus company casting ‘Tadzio’ and his family with circus performers, acrobats and dancers. Because these particular characters never talk to the protagonist of the story, what better way to accentuate their performances than through another individual art form. It’s almost ‘Cirque du Soleil’ meets opera. Director, Olivia Fuchs, has done a great job orchestrating a smooth collaboration not only between multiple art forms, but also collaboration between the production team and cast.
There were so many layers to this cast and they were all fantastic.
As a quick summary, the story follows renowned author ‘Gustav von Aschenbach’ in his search for beauty and meaning as he travels to Venice. In the middle of a cholera epidemic, not all is lost as he falls in love with a youthful aristocrat who happens to be staying in the same hotel (‘Tadzio’). As ‘Aschenbach’ projects his loneliness and love upon him, he starts to merge his fantasy and imagination with reality before becoming increasingly divorced from his reality.
There were so many layers to this cast and they were all fantastic. The main man ‘Aschenbach’ was played by the brilliant Mark Le Brocq. His passion and the way he told the story, not only through the power in his voice but also in his stage presence and direction was perfect. He basically never left the stage, and the moments after it was just him, his voice, and the music, you could literally hear a pin drop. Bravo! Another shout out also needs to go to Roderick Williams, who plays more characters and wore more hats (almost literally) than I have fingers. Amazingly energetic performance.
Talking on highly energetic performances, ‘Tadzio’ was played by the incredible Antony César. The things that Antony was doing with his body, and the way he wasn’t only doing them but was telling a story through movement was sublime. The mixture of dance, gymnastics and acrobatics was pinpoint perfect, especially the spinning splits and rings routine. Antony’s pieces with Riccardo Saggese were also ridiculously impressive, and the strength and power shown leaves you speechless. Circus director, Firenza Guidi, has directed all of the circus performers (Selma Hellmann, Diana Salles, Vilhelmiina Sinervo) to bounce perfectly off of each other (sometimes literally), but also off of the impressively grand ensemble. The ensemble heightened the overall scale and meaning to certain scenes making it feel more theatrical and cinematic at the same time. Each individual section was so cohesive in coming together from telling their own version of events, to tell the final version of this story. Hugely impressive in multiple different ways.
When it comes to the set, well there actually wasn’t much of one. But there didn’t need to be. There were little bits of set that were brought on, as well as 4 pillars and flight attachments for the acrobats but that was it. This worked really well because the cast became the set. The mix of lights with where the cast were placed, or where/how the acrobats were moving was extremely effective. I particularly liked how they did all of the boat scenes throughout act 1 – very minimal with maximum effect. There was a full length projection screen at the back of the stage showing things to help set the scene like the beach or rain. From where I was sat, it wasn’t too noticeable in all fairness but it was nice to see an added bit of movement when there wasn’t any. Lighting designer, Robbie Butler, has clearly worked very closely with Olivia Fuchs (director) and Nicola Turner (designer) to ensure that the the light movement helped project the story as much as the cast and company on stage were. I remember thinking that the light was indicating direction throughout the piece, whether this was intentional or not it didn’t go unnoticed.
There is little bit of something for everybody in this opera and if you’re new to it – it would be a perfect introduction.
Britten’s brilliantly cinematic score was played out by the WNO orchestra who never fail to add an extra layer to WNO’s operas. Mixed with the impactful singing, the orchestra are the cherry on top of the cake. You actually ended up forgetting that it was live music being played, it just felt like we were watching a movie. The opera is told in two acts, with act 1 almost setting the story up with context and information and act 2 being the rest of the bulk of the story. Personally I thought that act 1 started a little slowly, but this was quickly rectified and before you knew it 80 minutes had already passed and it was the interval. I particularly liked how all of the individual arts had their moment in the spotlight. There were moments where it was purely operatic with ‘Aschenbach’. There were times of musical interludes from the orchestra. There was times when it was just the circus performers from NoFit State, and there were times when it was just the chorus/ensemble doing their bit. When they all came together, the collaboration created a beautiful piece of art.
‘Death in Venice’ wasn’t just an opera. It was theatre, cinema, and the circus all rolled into one thought provoking story. The chorus moments gave off similar vibes to musicals such as ‘Les Miserables‘, the score played by the orchestra was straight out of a Hollywood movie, and the circus – well that speaks for itself. There is little bit of something for everybody in this opera and if you’re new to it – it would be a perfect introduction. The fact that this is also performed in English, makes it that much more accessible. It would be really great to start seeing a younger audience make their way to operas around the country, and WNO are doing all the right things in aim of this – so keep an eye out for when they’re touring to a theatre near you and maybe give it a try yourself.
If something looks perfect from the outside does it mean it actually is?
That’s the concept that director Jay Roach brings to life in the new movie The Roses released in August 2025.
The Roses is a reimagining of the 1989 film The War of the Roses which was originally based on Warren Adler’s 1981 novel.
Although unlike the novel the characters instead are shown to struggle with their different careers either rising or falling.
It has been adapted, in my opinion, to make it resonate with women a lot more as in both the novel and first film the women were stay at home mothers who felt unsatisfied.
This appears to be one of the main reasons for the divorces with Barbara (Kathleen Turner) eventually turning to a catering business.
However, within the new modernised version Ivy’s (Olivia Colman) successful career is a point of contempt for Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch).
While it starts off with a more realistic depiction of parents struggling with the loss of a career and a start of a new one, it slowly divulges itself away from the typical divorcee movie.
I watched this movie at the Everyman (luxury I know!) and the grip it had on me as an audience member was outstanding.
With the selection of actors involved in this movie it’s no surprise that there is a mix of comedy and drama making it a satirical black comedy.
While it was delightful to watch, I feel that some audience members might criticise the realism of the movie.
Yet I go to the cinema to be transported from real life so the mix of realism and shock factor was highly entertaining.
A contrasting mix of comedy and darkness
The performances from the actors was exactly what the movie needed.
The chemistry, or lack thereof, between Colman and Cumberbatch was so believable that you would think that they were married in real life.
Their delivery of both the comedy and the rage was again so believable that it sucked me as the audience into what was the “dirty laundry” of their personal lives.
With a supporting cast including Andy Samberg, Allison Janney and others their characters mostly brought the comedy relief needed in to break the movie up.
They also gave us a contrast to the main relationship being shown which helped us recognise how some of the actions were exaggerated for our benefit.
However, some critics online have noted that while it is undeniably a satirical dark comedy, the dark comedy seemed to be held back some times, therefore not always giving it the edge it needed.
I think that for a 15 certificate movie it had just the right amount to stretch over its wide audience.
Another criticism that The Roses received was that the contrast between the comedy and cruelty was sometimes so abrupt that it didn’t hit as hard as it could have.
At some points the comedy seemed out of place which almost gave the film a sort of jarring feel as they changed between the emotions.
The ending is ambiguous which can have mixed reactions from the audience.
Some may like to have the movie tied up neatly at the end whereas others like that they can believe what they want to believe.
I am the latter in the case of this movie as I enjoyed the fact that I could believe either the more macabre ending or not.
To me the ending, without giving any spoilers, had me on the edge of my seat with a real 360 turn.
Again it had the perfect amount of shock factor and comedy which highlighted the overall tone throughout.
I felt that it drew the entire film together nicely especially with the ending performance from Coleman and Cumberbatch.
Winchester original artist Sam Bishop has been releasing music for almost a decade but after not releasing a new song for the last two years, Just a Little is set to be release this Friday, February 7th.
Sam first got into music when he was in secondary school, after watching Imagine Dragons in the O2 he fell in love with their support act.
As an only child he has always been a creative person, writing stories and songs in his free time.
The first thought has never been how can I perform live but how can I write?
Sam also enjoyed:”I enjoy feeling nervous but eventually acting felt like second nature, so I decided to give music a go.”
After getting into music in school Sam released his first song in 2016.
“It has been trial and error since with each year getting better and better performing and writing more.”
I asked him whether he has always written his own songs, and he explained: “The first thought has never been how can I perform live but how can I write?
“That’s the angle I attack music with.”
For Sam music has always been a way to express how he feels.
But what’s the best part of the writing process?
Well, for Sam it’s the feeling of a song coming together as a whole, he compared the writing process to a tap, that it slowly drips until it starts to flow.
“You get a melody and a good lyric. It feels amazing when it all comes together it’s so special, it’s definitely a process it takes time and trial and error.”
Sam’s new single Just a Little, is no different, going through this same process, and has now come together ready for its release this Friday.
It all started in last summer, when Sam was on a flight from Miami to LA, he wasn’t interested in watching the typical films you find on airplanes, and felt creative, this is where the chorus for Just a Little was born.
Being away from family for a prolonged amount of time through working away and travelling gave Sam the feeling of wanting to be connected and keep in touch with people’s lives whilst being away.
Just a Little is about questioning whether you’re enough.
It’s a song full of vulnerability and expressing that and truly allowing yourself to feel those feelings.
After Sam’s travels he got home and revisited the song, from there it started to take off and really build.
He sent the song to his friend Toby who he describes as an unbelievable guitarist, and an excellent musician.
Toby then worked on the song as a production, whilst Sam worked on the lyrics.
Just a Little was kind of a one off, as a process it was very natural.
By mid-November the song was finished and now is the time for its release.
This song has a different sound to Sam’s previous songs, and he’s excited for people to hear this new style of music from him.
“It’s a very personal song washed under happy and jolly music.
“It’s very current and popular; something you’d expect to hear on the radio.”
Sam hopes that that the release allows people to connect with not just the lyrics but how the song feels.
Following the release Sam has big plans for the next year.
This is the start of a new sound for him, and he hopes more songs like this will follow with maybe one or two before the end of the year.
There are also a number of gigs to be announced for the next three months that he is looking forward to performing.
At the end of our interview Sam said: “Songs will happen, it’s what I love to do it’s so expressive as an art form and it’s something I will always want to do.
“Just a Little was kind of a one off, as a process it was very natural.
After not releasing a song for two years, once the lyrics were finished and he got the song back from Toby he knew this was the one that this would be the re-release of his music as an original artist.
Just a Little is out at midnight February 7th.
For announcements of new music and dates of performances you can follow Sam on Instagram @sambishopmusician.
The wait is over for Winchester’s burger lovers, as a new Five Guys restaurant has opened in the heart of the city centre.
The American burger chain, world famous for its customisable smash burgers and seemingly bottomless fries opened on Monday, December 2nd.
It was a soft launch without any ceremony for the restaurant, but the new staff and management immediately had a growing queue of customers on their hands.
Five Guys has taken one of three units from the former Debenhams department store. The other two are Nando’s which opened last month and Pizza Express.
Founded in Virginia in 1986, Five Guys launched in the UK in 2013 and has become a popular choice for burger lovers, including celebrities such as Tommy Fury, Mollie King, Ed Sheeran, and Maya Jama.
There are now 1,800 restaurants worldwide including 171 in the UK.
The new Winchester branch is expected to be a popular addition to the city’s food scene.
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