Opera and Dance Collide in ‘Susanna’
Susanna is a bold new collaboration between Opera North and Phoenix Dance Theatre set against some of Handel’s most memorably melodic music. Opera and dance combine in this story with a dark heart and strong contemporary resonance.
Directed by acclaimed opera director Olivia Fuchs and choreographed by Marcus Jarrell Willis, the production breathes new life into George Frideric Handel’s oratorio Susanna, transforming its 18th-century narrative into a visceral exploration of gender-based violence, institutional power, and societal complicity.
Inspired by a biblical story, the piece tells the tale of a young married woman, Susanna, who attracts the attentions of two powerful men from the community. After she resists their advances, they falsely accuse her of promiscuity. It is a story that has it all: gender imbalance, the corruption of power and the question of where truth lies and who we choose to believe.
“This is not just a retelling – it’s a reckoning,” said Olivia Fuchs. “Handel’s music is sublime, but the story beneath it has always carried a dark undercurrent. We’re bringing that darkness into the light, using dance and choral force to amplify the emotional and political stakes.”
The production features Opera North’s renowned chorus in thunderous, emotionally charged sequences, alongside tender solo arias performed by a cast of leading vocalists. Dancers from Phoenix Dance Theatre weave through the drama, embodying tension, resistance, and collective outrage in movement that is both athletic and deeply expressive.
Critics who attended early previews have been unequivocal in their praise. The Times described the work as “stunning… most striking when singers are animated by choreography – emotionally overwhelming.” The integration of vocal performance and physical storytelling has been hailed as a bold innovation in opera-dance crossover.
Susanna will be at Theatre Royal, Nottingham Fri 21 Nov at 7pm. Tickets are on sale from £34 to £79. Book now.
Anna Dennis as Susanna with Dancers from Phoenix Dance Theatre and members of the Chorus of Opera North. Photo credit Tristram Kenton