MADAM BUTTERFLY RETURNS – a one man opera

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.

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 Returnsdraws on Japanese Noh theatre for the dance and mask work and Naga Uta for the music.

Fast forward thirty years from the end of Puccini’s iconic opera, Tomisaburo, Butterfly’s son has travelled to America to meet his father for the first time. However Pinkerton, the former US naval officer is now Governor of Atlanta and in the middle of an election campaign: “purity of race and Christian family values” is his bill. The last thing he needs, in thirties America, is the arrival of his illegitimate mixed race son. How much does Tomisaburo know about the true nature of his parent’s marriage or his mother’s death? Will Governor Pinkerton reject or embrace his only child and how will his son react? Is Butterfly really only a far memory left in a far-away world?

“Heartrending..” Camden Review

“Good tale excellently told…” Ham Life

“Jarquin is a great singer and a natural story-teller.” The Scotsman

“…a work of genius..” thelatest.co.uk

For production pictures, promotional video clip and more information about the show visit:http://madambutterflyreturns.com

Landor Theatre, 70 Landor Rd, SW9 9PH

Performances: Wednesday – Saturday 8.00pm, Saturday and Sunday matinees 3pm & 6pm

Tickets: £16/£14 Final week £18/£16 (Previews £12)

Box Office: www.landortheatre.co.uk| 020 7737 7276

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