Audio Description & Touch Tours
Designed for those with a visual impairment, our audio-described performances feature a live commentary describing what’s happening on stage without compromising the music. Touch Tours also available.
Janáček
The Makropulos AffairNew production
Theatre Royal Glasgow:
15, 19 & 22 February 2025, 7.15pm
Festival Theatre Edinburgh:
27 February & 1 March 2025, 7.15pm
★★★★★ - The Telegraph
★★★★★ - The Times
★★★★ - Bachtrack
★★★★ - The Guardian
‘Olivia Fuchs’s new production convinces me that this is Janáček’s most powerful and innovative, if not greatest, stage work’ - The Arts Desk
Hailed as an ‘unmissable triumph’ (The Telegraph) and nominated for a 2022 Southbank Sky Arts Award, this co-production of Janáček’s mature masterpiece returns to Scottish Opera in its first full staging since 1993.
Emilia Marty is a stylish, enigmatic diva with a secret. For over three centuries, she has lived many lives, in a quest to become a great opera singer. Emilia - also known as Elina Makropulos, or simply E.M. - captivates minds and hearts along her journey through time and across Europe. Her existence raises questions of science and nature, reality and fantasy, and life and death. But as the elixir she was given begins to lose its power, the secrets of her lives and loves begin to come to light. She can no longer escape from these essential human tensions.
Olivia Fuchs’ ‘emotionally driven direction’ (The Telegraph) is supported by Nicola Turner’s multi-layered, poetic designs. Sung in English, Orla Boylan (Marx in London! 2024) leads as Emilia Marty, with Ryan Capozzo (Scottish Opera debut) as Albert Gregor. Joining them are Henry Waddington (Greek 2018) as Doctor Kolenatý, and Mark Le Brocq (Nixon in China 2020) as Vitek. The Orchestra of Scottish Opera, conducted by Martyn Brabbins, brings out every dramatic nuance.
New co-production with Welsh National Opera
Kindly supported by The Alexander Gibson Circle
Part of Scottish Opera's 2024/25 Season
Show Details
Running time:
Approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes including a 20-minute interval
Language:
Sung in English with English supertitles
Translation by David Pountney
Ticket price:
From £22.75 to £98.75 – prices vary by venue
Concessions:
£15 tickets for Under 26s >>
Concessions vary by venue
In Rehearsal
Mark Le Brocq (Vítek), Orla Boylan (Emilia Marty) And Henry Waddington (Doctor Kolenatý) In The Makropulos Affair. Credit Mihaela Bodlovic.
Alasdair Elliott (Count Hauk Šendorf) And Orla Boylan (Emilia Marty) In The Makropulos Affair. Credit Mihaela Bodlovic.
Catriona Hewitson (Kristina) In The Makropulos Affair. Credit Mihaela Bodlovic.
Orla Boylan (Emilia Marty) And Catriona Hewitson (Kristina) In The Makropulos Affair. Credit Mihaela Bodlovic.
Ryan Capozzo (Albert Gregor) And Mark Le Brocq (Vítek) In The Makropulos Affair. Credit Mihaela Bodlovic.
Orla Boylan (Emilia Marty) In The Makropulos Affair. Credit Mihaela Bodlovic.
Ryan Capozzo (Albert Gregor) In The Makropulos Affair. Credit Mihaela Bodlovic.
Mark Le Brocq (Vítek) In The Makropulos Affair. Credit Mihaela Bodlovic.
Michael Lafferty (Janek Prus) In The Makropulos Affair. Credit Mihaela Bodlovic.
Orla Boylan (Emilia Marty) And Roland Wood (Baron Jaroslav Prus) In The Makropulos Affair. Credit Mihaela Bodlovic.
Roland Wood (Baron Jaroslav Prus) In The Makropulos Affair. Credit Mihaela Bodlovic.
Watch
The Makropulos Affair | Trailer | Welsh National Opera Production
Venue information
Find out more about box office opening hours, travel information and access within the building in all venues.
Related Events
Pre-show talk: The Makropulos Affair
Get closer to the action and see into the minds of the creatives behind the production by attending a pre-show talk
From Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Touch Tour: The Makropulos Affair
For patrons with a visual impairment - free touch tour of the set, scenery, props and costumes
From Saturday, 22 February 2025
Cast & Creatives
Emilia Marty
Orla Boylan
Albert Gregor
Ryan Capozzo
Doctor Kolenatý
Henry Waddington
Vítek
Mark Le Brocq
Kristina
Catriona Hewitson
Baron Jaroslav Prus
Roland Wood
Janek Prus
Michael Lafferty
Count Hauk-Šendorf
Alasdair Elliott
Stage Technician
Edward Jowle*
*2024/25 Emerging Artist
Poklizecka, a cleaning lady
Heather Ireson
Komorna, a chambermaid
Lea Shaw
The Orchestra of Scottish Opera
The Chorus of The Makropulos Affair
Conductor
Martyn Brabbins
Director
Olivia Fuchs
Designer
Nicola Turner
Lighting Designer
Robbie Butler
Video Designer
Sam Sharples
Audio-described Performances & Touch Tours
Mention opera and most people think of singing and music – but this is only part of the overall experience. What about scenery, costumes, lighting, direction and choreography?
For those living with sight loss, our audio description service provides a live commentary describing the action on stage without compromising the music. As part of the experience, a recorded introduction to the opera is available in advance and there is a live audio introduction before the start of the performance.
Patrons with a visual impairment can also book onto a free touch tour – an opportunity to go backstage and become more familiar with the set, scenery, props and costumes.
Please book in advance for audio-described performances and touch tours by calling the venue box offices:
Theatre Royal Glasgow:
22 February 2025, 7.15pm - touch tour at 6pm
Book now
Festival Theatre Edinburgh:
1 March 2025, 7.15pm - touch tour at 6pm
Book now
Listen to the audio-described Resources
Listen to a recorded introduction of The Makropulos Affair:
2024/25 Season
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The Merry Widow
Lehár
Wednesday, 30 April - Saturday, 28 June 2025
Trial by Jury / A Matter of Misconduct!
Gilbert & Sullivan
Wednesday, 14 May - Thursday, 26 June 2025