Britain's What's On Event Guide
Besse: Water, Rye, and Hops
Besse is an operatic triptych (presented as three acts) that fights the patriarchy
with fermentation. It takes the audience on a musical journey through the rich
and forgotten history of women and beer from the comfort of a seat in a local
craft brewery taproom. The production centres around the fictional brewster
Besse who is living through the Black Death and battling the changing trade of
brewing from domestic to commercial, alongside the growing fear of witchcraft.
The characters behave as personifications of the beer ingredients (yeast, water,
rye and hops), the fate of each mirroring the reactions and outcomes that lead to
the brew.
This unique event, that emphasises the quirky and creative industry of craft beer,
was created by Birmingham based Infinite Opera which comprises
composer/conductor Daniel Blanco and librettist/soprano Roxanne Korda. The 8
piece cast and 6 piece ensemble are all alumni of the Royal Birmingham
Conservatoire, and have been regularly performing this piece since its debut at
Digbrew Co. in 2019. This time they will be joined by the Peking Opera specialist,
dancer, and choreographer Jingya Peng, and the Iranian dramaturg Mahana
Narimani.
Expect a black comedy involving feminist activism, rhyming couplets and the
unpredictable effects that a single beer can create!
It will be performed at Signature Brew’s brewery and venue on Blackhorse Rd 24,
25, 26 July.
with fermentation. It takes the audience on a musical journey through the rich
and forgotten history of women and beer from the comfort of a seat in a local
craft brewery taproom. The production centres around the fictional brewster
Besse who is living through the Black Death and battling the changing trade of
brewing from domestic to commercial, alongside the growing fear of witchcraft.
The characters behave as personifications of the beer ingredients (yeast, water,
rye and hops), the fate of each mirroring the reactions and outcomes that lead to
the brew.
This unique event, that emphasises the quirky and creative industry of craft beer,
was created by Birmingham based Infinite Opera which comprises
composer/conductor Daniel Blanco and librettist/soprano Roxanne Korda. The 8
piece cast and 6 piece ensemble are all alumni of the Royal Birmingham
Conservatoire, and have been regularly performing this piece since its debut at
Digbrew Co. in 2019. This time they will be joined by the Peking Opera specialist,
dancer, and choreographer Jingya Peng, and the Iranian dramaturg Mahana
Narimani.
Expect a black comedy involving feminist activism, rhyming couplets and the
unpredictable effects that a single beer can create!
It will be performed at Signature Brew’s brewery and venue on Blackhorse Rd 24,
25, 26 July.
24-26 July. Doors open 7pm. £20 + booking fee.
Signature Brew, Unit 15, Uplands Business Park, Blackhorse Lane, London E17 5QJ
Wed 24 Jul to Fri 26 July
Website:
www.infiniteopera.com