Directing L'Olimpiade: Interview with Daisy Evans

1. What drew you to Vivaldi's L'Olimpiade as a director, and what aspects of the opera do you find most captivating or challenging to bring to life on stage?

I find Vivaldi's L'Olimpiade to be an exciting opportunity to tell a Greek story through the lens of the Baroque era. Drawing on original Greek theatre principles, such as having a chorus and an ensemble, we aim to create a theatrical experience that is both simple and captivating. The challenge lies in using these theatrical techniques to convey the essence of the story, resulting in an energetic evening that moves swiftly, offering a blend of fun, seriousness, and madness that appeals to everyone.

2. Could you describe the overall concept or vision you have for this production of L'Olimpiade?

The overall concept for this production revolves around the idea of the performance itself being a game. We're situated in a highly theatrical space - the Olympics - where a group of players come together to tell a story using costumes, sets, and music, so the entire performance is treated as a playful game, and that's really exciting to watch. You're conscious of its theatricality but in an intriguing, exciting way.

3. How do you approach balancing historical authenticity with modern interpretation when staging a Baroque opera like L'Olimpiade or in general?

Our approach is heavily inspired by the Baroque era, reflected in the character’s costumes, and much of the presentation is historic, too, which will be complemented by the Baroque music. It's a piece that takes the classical world as inspiration and is using those techniques in a modern framework for a modern audience.

4. L'Olimpiade features a variety of characters with different motivations and relationships. How do you guide your cast in developing their characters and interactions to create a compelling narrative?

That is a massive question that I could write a dissertation on, but guiding the cast in their character development is central to my role as a director. We try and find the driving story for each character. What's their singular most important objective over the whole of the piece? How do they achieve it? What people do they chase, what intentions do they set? By delving into the driving force behind each character, we build a cohesive narrative that will captivate the audience.

5. L'Olimpiade explores themes of love, loyalty, and rivalry. How do you approach these themes in your direction, and what do you hope audiences will take away from the performance?

I think L’Olimpiade takes all those themes and puts them together in one giant expression of youthful passion. My aim is to present these themes as a tangled yet relatable expression of humanity, and what I want the audience to experience is this kind of explosion of humanity in a very Shakespearean way. Through the complexities of the characters' experiences, I hope the audience will witness the untangling of these emotions and gain insight into the resilience of the human spirit.

6. Finally, what excites you most about bringing Vivaldi's L'Olimpiade to the stage, and what do you hope audiences will experience or feel during the production?

I'm thrilled to present this production of Vivaldi’s L'Olimpiade because I think the version that we've created is really compelling and exciting. The cast is just so incredible, and they really work together as a team, and you will be able to feel this collaborative spirit when coming to see it. The production offers a unique perspective on “theatre as a game”, where the audience is invited to witness the storytelling process unfold in an engaging and thought-provoking way. Overall, I hope audiences will be captivated by the theatricality and excitement of the performance and will leave feeling enriched and revived.