Free opera screening brings French production of Robinson Crusoe to Guernsey
- Free screening of Jacques Offenbach's opera Robinson Crusoé at Princess Royal Centre for Performing Arts on 21 July
- Partnership between Opéra de Rennes Angers and Guernsey Arts brings French production to island audiences
- Laurent Pelly's contemporary production transforms the opera into social satire exploring themes of exclusion, migration and consumerism
- Part of Opera on Screen initiative, now in sixth edition, co-produced by five French opera houses
- Event open to viewers aged eight and above, with tickets available online
A free screening of Jacques Offenbach's opera Robinson Crusoé will take place on 21 July at The Princess Royal Centre for Performing Arts, following a partnership between the Opéra de Rennes Angers and Guernsey Arts.
The production, performed in French with French subtitles, is part of the Opera on Screen initiative, a regional programme championed by the Brittany and Loire regions to make opera accessible to all audiences.
Rebecca Booth, chief executive at Guernsey Arts, said: "It's great to be partnering once again with the Opéra de Rennes to share this 2026 performance from some of France's leading operatic talents. The Guernsey Arts team are grateful to the Bureau des Iles Anglo-Normandes & Opéra de Rennes for their ongoing support in delivering this free screening - ensuring access to the arts for everyone. We're also pleased to be collaborating with the Princess Royal Centre for Performing Arts, who deliver excellent year round programming of theatre and operatic screenings."
Laurent Pelly's production transforms Offenbach's opera into a contemporary social satire. The staging moves from a 1950s British family setting to a modern urban landscape resembling Manhattan, exploring themes of exclusion, migration and consumerism through inventive scenography and dark comedy.
"With its contemporary perspective and incisive social analysis, this production presents a vibrant and thought-provoking reinterpretation, inviting audiences to consider the excesses of contemporary society," said Véronique Boudier.
The production reimagines the familiar story of Robinson Crusoe with imaginative character transformations, questioning whether Robinson will choose solitude over a return to conventional life.
Opera on Screen, now in its sixth edition, is co-produced by Angers, Nantes, Rennes, Toulon and Nancy. The initiative shares free screenings recorded from the Opera d'Angers Nantes and the Opera de Rennes, with events open to viewers aged eight and above.
Tickets for the screening are available at www.prcpa.gg/event/112762. Further information is available from [email protected] or by telephoning 01481 220711.
Guernsey Arts is a not-for-profit organisation working to make the Bailiwick of Guernsey the most vibrant artistic community possible across all art forms. The organisation supports projects and creatives in photography, film, live music, theatre, sculpture, visual arts, poetry and literary works, with the aim of ensuring everyone has access to the arts regardless of age or background.
Q&A
Q: When and where is the opera screening taking place?
A: The screening of Robinson Crusoé will take place on 21 July at The Princess Royal Centre for Performing Arts in Guernsey.
Q: Is there a charge for attending the screening?
A: No, the screening is completely free thanks to the partnership between Opéra de Rennes Angers and Guernsey Arts, with support from the Bureau des Iles Anglo-Normandes.
Q: What age group is the opera suitable for?
A: The Opera on Screen event is open to viewers from the age of eight and above. The opera is performed in French with French subtitles.
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