Anna Dowsley on Dido and Aeneas

Interview - July 15, 2024

This production is very special as it marks my first outing for not only Dido, but the Sorceress and the Lament. An absolute honour to perform this iconic role and aria. 

I have learnt a lot about how I work within the process of rehearsal and piece creation. Working with the incredible acrobats has been a completely different experience, where there is less “blocking” and “creating” and more enigmatically feeling through the emotions of the scenes. Before you know it, a scene is “blocked” but less from character motivation and more from general expression of story and emotion.

 It makes the process much more fluid, sometimes more challenging, but ultimately allows for a greater sense of improvisation and freedom on the stage. I have definitely learnt a lot about myself from this different process!

“Audiences should expect a visually and expressively stunning night in the theater. The beauty that the acrobats (with their tremendous skills and bravery) add to this deeply passionate and tragic opera is powerful.”

Image by David Kelly