Susannah

Carlisle Floyd
Conducted by Matt Scott Rogers
Directed by Isabelle Kettle
Produced by Rory Benton & Harry Robinson

A full strength UCOpera welcomes you back for our staging of an Opera immensely popular in the United States, but little known and performed over our side of the pond, which we are very excited to share with you: Carlisle Floyd’s Magnum Opus Susannah. Adapted from the apocryphal story of Susannah and the Elders, It is the dramatic tale of injustice and ostracization of an innocent woman, Susannah, in the conservative religious community of New Hope Valley, Tennessee.

Written at the height of the McCarthy nightmare in 1953, with the premiere of the piece in 1955, UCO reimagines the story in the present-day. Floyd investigates themes of repression, hypocrisy and innocence in the face of a vicious witch-hunt, propagated unfairly by those in positions of power in order to hide their own shortcomings. Contemporary resonances abound, not least within the context of Susannah’s abuse at the hands of the charismatic preacher Olin Blitch. Set against a musical backdrop of a mix of Appalachian-inspired music, along with some more deliciously demonic and dramatic motifs, Susannah is infused throughout with an extraordinary dramatic and musical intensity, leading to a shocking climax. We look forward to seeing you at one of the performances, and thank you for your continued support.

Performances: 24th and 25th March 2023, Bloomsbury Theatre, WC1H 0AH