Opera impresario Ellen Kent has recreated an amphitheatre in which to set her world-famous productions, with classic columns curving around the shows' backdrops to reproduce ancient Rome on the Buxton stage.

"It's a bit of a wow," said Ellen, who is presenting La Boheme in the "amphitheatre" at the Opera House on October 12.

It is based on the Coliseum at Rome, and Ellen said "quite a few designers ran off in terror" when she approached them - but Almeida Theatre founder Will Bowen rose to the challenge with a structure which will be used behind the sets for a range of different operas.

The curve of the auditorium completes the circle so the audience gets the full "coliseum effect."

And Ellen pointed to Buxton's Crescent, itself based on classical designs, as an example of how architecture can provide drama.
"It completes the full circle of history," she said.

This new production of La Boheme is performed by a large company starring handpicked international soloists alongside the full Chisinau National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus.

This new production will be directed by Ellen Kent with the amphitheatre set designed by Will Bowen, who is now a theatre consultant with the Royal Albert Hall.

In La Boheme the beautifully recreated amphitheatre set will be converted to depict the attics and backstreets of Bohemian Paris and highlights the grandeur of Paris against the impressive Coliseum structure.

With the most romantic music Puccini ever wrote, La Boheme will include the famous aria Your Tiny Hand is Frozen.

It is sung in Italian with English surtitles.

Ellen Kent and Amphitheatre Productions is also returning with Tosca to the Buxton Opera House on Sunday 30th November.

For further details or to make a booking please call the Box Office on 0845 127 2190 or visit www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk.