Vibrant and unconventional opera company Gothic Opera returns to the stage this Halloween with Rip Van Winkle, a neglected operetta which has fallen into oblivion since its success in the 1880s. Taking supernatural and gothic fiction as their starting point, Gothic Opera is dedicated to unusual, atmospheric operatic works, and is committed to opening opera up to new audiences, inspiring people to come and experience rarely-heard operas in spooky, evocative locations.

The Gothic Opera team are working with a talented group of young singers to bring Rip Van Winkle back to life. They will be joined by stage director Evangeline Cullingworth, conductor Robin Wallington, and set and costume designer Elliott Squire. Leon Haxby, the composer whose previous work for the company was praised in Opera magazine for its “haunting magic” and “compassionate insight,” has created a new chamber orchestration of the opera for six instruments.

Rip Van Winkle premiered at the Comedy Theatre in London in 1882, running for almost 300 performances – but although popular at the time, it has not been seen in its English version since the nineteenth century. Described by director Evangeline Cullingworth as “a kaleidoscopic romp through the chaotic construction of the United States of America, exploring the fools who forged on in spite of the horrors they’d left behind,” the operetta is set in a community of settlers in the spooky Catskill mountains, and is based on two stories by the famous writer Washington Irving – Rip van Winkle and Sleepy Hollow.

The operetta tells the story of Rip, the work-shy protagonist whose greed becomes his undoing. Gothic Opera’s version emphasises the juxtaposition of playful, charming music on the one hand, and unearthly phantoms, the unthinking destruction of the natural world perpetrated by interlopers, and a folk horror-esque colonial community on the other.

Gothic Opera are delighted to be making a return visit to Hoxton Hall, the intimate former music hall which became a firm Gothic Opera audience favourite after 2021’s La Nonne sanglante was performed there. As Evangeline Cullingworth explains, Rip Van Winkle promises to “bring Hoxton Hall back to its music hall glory days and embrace the origins of operetta as a riotously popular night out.” This year’s performance follows on from Gothic Opera’s critically-acclaimed double bill Le Loup-garou + Le dernier sorcier in 2022, and their 2021 UK premiere of Gounod’s La Nonne Sanglante, which won the Opera Production category at the Off-West End Awards.

Adventurous audience members will be able to choose cabaret-style seats at the heart of the action for a more immersive experience, and as usual, Gothic Opera will be providing a wide range of ticket prices, allowing audiences to access the show at a number of price points.

Newly-written dialogue brings the opera up to date while responding to the humour of the original and there will also be surtitles for the sung text. With a stellar creative team and cast of brilliant, passionate musicians, Gothic Opera’s 2023 Halloween production is set to achieve the highest artistic standards, opening this neglected work up to a wider public, and challenging audiences to experience something brand new this Halloween.

Rip Van Winkle performance details:

Hoxton Hall, London, N1 6SH
Friday 27 October, 7.30pm
Saturday 28 October, 7.30pm
Monday 30 October, 7.30pm
Tuesday 31 October, 7.30pm
Wednesday 1 November, 7.30pm

Sung in English with English surtitles and original spoken dialogue in English.

Tickets cost from £5 to £45 plus booking fee. They are available at hoxtonhall.co.uk from 9am on 1st September.