A man holds a phone aloft in blue light while a bald performer kneels beside him and a woman sings in the background.

Arcola Theatre, Studio 12022

Carmen

The Production

Baseless Fabric’s contemporary re-imagining of Bizet’s Carmen placed the story on today’s London high street, with a new English libretto and a re-scored arrangement for violin, accordion and bassoon. Presented at Arcola Theatre’s Grimeborn Opera Festival and in street performances across Merton and Wandsworth.

21 photographs in the curated edit

Director: Joanna Turner
Musical Director: Leo Geyer
Lighting Design: Joe Price
Set Design: Marina Hadjilouca
Photography: Steve Gregson

A wide view shows a blue-lit stage with musicians seated at the back and a performer standing at the side.

A woman sits beside a table while a man in a security vest stands in front of her and other performers watch on a brick-walled stage.

A seated woman in a sleeveless top looks to the side as musicians sit behind her against a brick wall.

A man and woman face each other closely beneath a projected social media icon while musicians play behind them.

A woman in a patterned dress looks forward with a startled expression under bright stage light.

A man holds a woman by the shoulders as she looks up at him in front of a brick wall and neon-style projection.

A man in sunglasses takes a selfie with a smiling woman while standing close together onstage.

A man in a security vest stands in the foreground as a woman with luggage speaks beside him and musicians sit behind them.

A man in a security vest gestures toward a woman in a light coat while another performer sits behind them.

A man in a security vest grips a woman's hair while another man stands beside them on a brick-walled stage.

Musicians sit and play on a stage with a bench, music stands and a brick wall behind them.

A woman in a patterned dress performs beneath a projected neon-style sign reading Lilla's with musicians behind her.

A woman sits on a bench and sings or speaks while musicians play behind her under a projected Lilla's sign.

A bald man stands between two women as one reaches toward his chest beneath a projected Lilla's sign.

A man and woman face each other in the foreground while other performers and musicians are spaced across the stage.

A wide shot shows several performers spread across the stage during a confrontation beneath the Lilla's projection.

In deep blue light, a woman sings or shouts while one performer crouches and another lies on the floor.

Under blue lighting, a woman reaches toward a kneeling performer as a man approaches from the side.

A man grips a kneeling performer from behind while a woman reaches toward them in blue stage light.

A performer points outward while another holds a kneeling figure and a woman stands singing in the background.

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