Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav
Basket
Sign In

Scottish Opera Main Menu

  • Home
  • What’s on
    • What’s on overview
    • Season 2022-23 brochure
  • About Us
    • About Us overview
    • About Scottish Opera
    • The Orchestra of Scottish Opera
    • Emerging Artists
    • The Board of Scottish Opera
    • Staff
    • Annual Reports
  • Support Us
    • How you can support Scottish Opera
    • Memberships
    • Corporates
    • Trusts & Foundations
    • Supporter Events
  • Join in
    • How to get involved
    • CANDIDE COMMUNITY CHORUS
    • Community Choir
    • Scottish Opera Young Company
    • Memory Spinners
    • Opera for Schools
    • Fox-tot online
    • Breath Cycle
    • Sweet Sounds in Wild Places
  • Discover
    • All about Opera
    • Opera on screen
    • FAQs
    • UNDER 26s
    • A to Z of Opera
    • History of Opera
    • Spotlight On...
  • Access
    • Access overview
    • Audio Description
    • RELAXED PERFORMANCES
    • Venue Information
  • News
  • Contact Us

Scottish Opera Utility Menu

    • Facebook page link
    • Instagram pictures link
    • Twitter feed link
    • Spotify playlist link
    • Youtube videos link
  • Vacancies
  • Press
  • For Hire
  • Sign up for news
Make a donation to Scottish Opera
×Close

Help us celebrate 60 fabulous years

Find out how you can get involved by becoming a Supporter of Scottish Opera, or continue to make a one-off contribution below.

Make a gift today and help us do what we do best, for this Season and many more to come.

£
Thank you for your donation
Something went wrong, please contact the box office.
Back to Listings
  • The Telephone on-page menu

  • About the show
  • Watch
  • Cast & Creatives
  • Programme
  • Production images
  • Behind the scenes
  • What the press said

Menotti

The Telephone

A Scottish Opera film

A Scottish Opera film commissioned by Edinburgh International Festival

★★★★★ The Times   ★★★★★ The Scotsman   ★★★★★ Bachtrack   

Indispensable 21st-century communication device, or bane of real-world relationships? With video chat, texting, social media and more, mobile phones connect us as never before. But they demand so much of our attention that we may end up disregarding those dearest to us… 

Lucy and Ben are two young lovers squeezing in time for a swift drink before Ben must dash for his train. He’s about to pop the most important question in his life – but can he compete with the relentless demands of Lucy’s mobile phone?

Gian Carlo Menotti’s exquisite 1947 opera is a romantic comedy in one act, written for just two singers and a hand-picked chamber ensemble of instrumentalists. Its colourful, witty score brings together piquant humour with sly nods to the classics of grand opera.

This new digital adaptation by pioneering young director Daisy Evans (director of Autumn 2018’s Opera Highlights tour) relocates Menotti’s mismatched lovers to the Edinburgh of today. Starring Soraya Mafi as Lucy and Jonathan McGovern (Flight 2018) as Ben, The Telephone reminds us that forgotten joys lie in the real world around us – not on the screens of our mobile phones.

The Telephone has been created as part of Edinburgh International Festival's My Light Shines On project – a series of video works and light installations across Scotland’s capital to mark the beginning of the festival season and celebrate the enduring spirit of the Festival City. Through these digital commissions, the Edinburgh International Festival is partnering with Scottish artists and national arts companies, spanning the worlds of theatre, music and dance, to film original performances in spaces throughout the Festival Theatre, Kings Theatre, Leith Theatre, The Hub and Queen’s Hall. All films premiere on Edinburgh International Festival’s YouTube channel on Saturday 8 August at 9.30pm.

We are happy to offer you this film free of charge. However, if you enjoy your time with us and would like to make a donation to Scottish Opera,  you can do so here, with our sincere thanks.

 

Running time approx.  25 mins
Sung in English with English supertitles

 

Watch

EIF 2020: The Telephone

EIF 2020: The Telephone (audio described version)

Cast & Creatives

Lucy
Soraya Mafi

Ben
Jonathan McGovern

Music Director
Stuart Stratford

Director
Daisy Evans

Designer
Loren Elstein

Producer
Andrew Lockyer

Programme

Get behind the scenes of The Telephone - featuring exclusive articles and interviews with the creators.

Read more

Production images

Jonathan McGovern (Ben) and Soraya Mafi (Lucy)in The Telephone. Credit James Glossop. (3).JPG

The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop.

Jonathan McGovern (Ben) and Soraya Mafi (Lucy)in The Telephone. Credit James Glossop..JPG

The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop.

Jonathan McGovern (Ben) and Soraya Mafi (Lucy) in The Telephone. Credit James Glossop..JPG

The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop.

Jonathan McGovern (Ben) and Soraya Mafi (Lucy)in The Telephone. Credit James Glossop. (2).JPG

The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop.

Jonathan McGovern (Ben) and Soraya Mafi (Lucy) in The Telephone. Credit James Glossop. (2).JPG

The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop.

Jonathan McGovern (Ben) and Soraya Mafi (Lucy)in The Telephone. Credit James Glossop. (3).JPG
Jonathan McGovern (Ben) and Soraya Mafi (Lucy)in The Telephone. Credit James Glossop..JPG
Jonathan McGovern (Ben) and Soraya Mafi (Lucy) in The Telephone. Credit James Glossop..JPG
Jonathan McGovern (Ben) and Soraya Mafi (Lucy)in The Telephone. Credit James Glossop. (2).JPG
Jonathan McGovern (Ben) and Soraya Mafi (Lucy) in The Telephone. Credit James Glossop. (2).JPG

Behind the scenes

telephone8.JPG

Behind the scenes of short film The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop

telephone7.JPG

Behind the scenes of short film The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop

telephone2.JPG

Behind the scenes of short film The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop

telephone3.JPG

Behind the scenes of short film The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop

telephone1.JPG

Behind the scenes of short film The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop

Filming of The Telephone, a co-production between Scottish Opera and Edinburgh International Festival. Credit James Glossop. (6).JPG

Behind the scenes of short film The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop

Filming of The Telephone, a co-production between Scottish Opera and Edinburgh International Festival. Credit James Glossop..JPG

Behind the scenes of short film The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop

Filming of The Telephone, a co-production between Scottish Opera and Edinburgh International Festival. Credit James Glossop. (4).JPG

Behind the scenes of short film The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop

Filming of The Telephone, a co-production between Scottish Opera and Edinburgh International Festival. Credit James Glossop. (5).JPG

Behind the scenes of short film The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop

Filming of The Telephone, a co-production between Scottish Opera and Edinburgh International Festival. Credit James Glossop. (3).JPG

Behind the scenes of short film The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop

Filming of The Telephone, a co-production between Scottish Opera and Edinburgh International Festival. Credit James Glossop. (2).JPG

Behind the scenes of short film The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop

Members of The Orchestra of Scottish Opera in rehearsal for The Telephone.  Scottish Opera 2020. Credit Noel Mann..jpg

Behind the scenes of short film The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop

Members of The Orchestra of Scottish Opera in rehearsal for The Telephone.  Scottish Opera 2020. Credit Noel Mann. (2).jpg

Behind the scenes of short film The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop

Members of The Orchestra of Scottish Opera in rehearsal for The Telephone.  Scottish Opera 2020. Credit Noel Mann. (3).jpg

Behind the scenes of short film The Telephone 2020. Credit James Glossop

telephone8.JPG
telephone7.JPG
telephone2.JPG
telephone3.JPG
telephone1.JPG
Filming of The Telephone, a co-production between Scottish Opera and Edinburgh International Festival. Credit James Glossop. (6).JPG
Filming of The Telephone, a co-production between Scottish Opera and Edinburgh International Festival. Credit James Glossop..JPG
Filming of The Telephone, a co-production between Scottish Opera and Edinburgh International Festival. Credit James Glossop. (4).JPG
Filming of The Telephone, a co-production between Scottish Opera and Edinburgh International Festival. Credit James Glossop. (5).JPG
Filming of The Telephone, a co-production between Scottish Opera and Edinburgh International Festival. Credit James Glossop. (3).JPG
Filming of The Telephone, a co-production between Scottish Opera and Edinburgh International Festival. Credit James Glossop. (2).JPG
Members of The Orchestra of Scottish Opera in rehearsal for The Telephone.  Scottish Opera 2020. Credit Noel Mann..jpg
Members of The Orchestra of Scottish Opera in rehearsal for The Telephone.  Scottish Opera 2020. Credit Noel Mann. (2).jpg
Members of The Orchestra of Scottish Opera in rehearsal for The Telephone.  Scottish Opera 2020. Credit Noel Mann. (3).jpg

What the press said

'There’s a delicious warmth about this film... Worth an Oscar' ★★★★★ The Scotsman

'The Telephone is a little comic gem.' ★★★★★ The Times

'A delicious bite-sized chunk of romantic opera... We all need a bit of cheering up in these times. EIF and Scottish Opera have achieved that with aplomb.' ★★★★★ 
Bachtrack
 

  • About Us

  • About Scottish Opera
  • The Orchestra of Scottish Opera
  • Emerging Artists
  • The Board of Scottish Opera
  • Staff
  • Venue Information
  • Annual Reports
  • Support Us

  • Memberships
  • Corporates
  • Trusts & Foundations
  • Supporter Events
  • Join In

  • Candide Community Chorus
  • Community Choir
  • Scottish Opera Young Company
  • Memory Spinners
  • Opera for Schools
  • Breath Cycle
  • Sweet Sounds in Wild Places
  • Discover Opera

  • Audio Description
  • FAQs
  • Under 26 Tickets
  • A to Z of Opera
  • History of Opera
  • Spotlight On...
  • Information

  • Privacy Statement
  • Sitemap
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Settings
  • Under 26 cheap tickets
  • The Scottish Government
Scottish Opera 39 Elmbank Crescent Glasgow, G2 4PT

Tel: 0141 248 4567

Company Registration Number SC037531.  A charity registered in Scotland Number SC019787.

© 2022 Scottish Opera.