Production shots by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan (www.tommygakenwan.com)
Rehearsal shots by Bartosz Madejski (bartphoto.co.uk)

Herald Review
Scotsman Review

Theatre Royal Glasgow
Fri 25 Jul 2014
Sat 26 Jul 2014
Sun 27 Jul 2014

Part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme

Supported by British Council Scotland and The Scottish Government

"credit to all those involved, conductor Chris Gray, and directors Lissa Lorenzo and Martin O'Connor, for pulling off a show that was both heart-warming and professionally executed" ★★★★ (The Herald)

"If the purpose of Anamchara – Songs of Friendship was to embrace the universal spirit of Glasgow’s “Friendly Games”, it did so in the most charming of ways" ★★★★ (The Scotsman)

Music Pippa Murphy
Words Alexander McCall Smith
Conductor Chris Gray
Head of Singing (Connect) Laura Baxter
Directors Lissa Lorenzo and Martin O'Connor
Set Design Robbie Sinnot
Costume Design Mandy Bryan
Lighting Design Stevie Powels
Visual Design Iain Piercy
Choreography Janis Claxon
Associate Director Col Cseke

This new family opera, written by acclaimed Scottish novelist Alexander McCall Smith and composer Pippa Murphy, is an audio-visual fusion of opera, dance, music and film.

A community made up of people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds gathers together to create a new garden. As the space grows around them, they reflect on their lives and arrive at a universal truth – that life is always better when you share it with others.

Anamchara has been created for Festival 2014, the cultural celebration running alongside the sporting action of the Commonwealth Games. Based on themes of friendship, it explores the ties that bind people together, whatever their age and wherever they make their home. Seven songs symbolising seven different kinds of friendship move from day to night and through the circle of life – from childhood to teenagers in love and from adulthood to the golden years.

The multi-cultural cast of over 100 performers includes young professional singers, dancers and musicians from Scotland, India, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and Botswana, Scottish Opera’s Connect Chorus and Orchestra, and a community choir made up of children, adults and students from Commonwealth countries living and working in Glasgow.