The Coronation of Poppea is an Italian opera by Claudio Monteverdi. Presented by Opera Theatre Company of Ireland, opening in Dublin in September 2005, and then an Irish tour. It was revived at the Buxton International Festival in 2006.
Opera Theatre Company was founded in 1986 and toured professional opera to venues throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic. In 2017 it merged with Wide Open Opera to form Irish National Opera.
| Director | Annilese Miskimmon |
| Designer | Nicky Shaw |
| Lighting | Simon Corder |
The Coronation of Poppea was nominated Best Opera at the 2006 Irish Times Theatre Awards.
“Miskimmon fleshes out her vision of the fate of what her introductory note calls “the terrible twosome” with finely-controlled detail and genuine theatrical flair. Nicky Shaw’s designs, abstract set and a mixture of modern and not-so-modern costumes with lots of deshabille, all resourcefully lit by Simon Corder, match her every step of the way.” – Michael Dervan, Irish Times
“Annilese Miskimmon turned Monteverdi’s baroque masterpiece about Nero and his scheming moll into a modern-day gangster saga where a chainsaw can come in handy for pruning things, particularly living things. …this was an unrelenting and gripping piece of theatre that will lodge – somewhat uncomfortably, perhaps – in the minds of all who saw it. An excellent stage setting and lighting provided great scope for the players.” – Dick O’Riordan, Business Post, 17 September 2005
photos: Opera Theatre Company