David Sulkin has directed plays, musicals and opera for worldwide audiences. The London based director will be swapping the city life for Cornwall as he spends most of the next few months rehearsing with the Duchy Opera company. Founder of the Baylis Programme at English National Opera, he is highly acclaimed for his directing work.
 | | Warming up the vocal chords |
"We are extremely lucky to have secured David as the director for The Wreckers," said Claire Drakeley, Duchy Opera’s Company Manager. "He has an impressive history of success in this country, across Europe and in Australia. Rehearsals have already begun and with David's commitment and enthusiasm to establish The Wreckers as a work of the standard British repertoire, this production is going to be one of the best Duchy Opera has ever produced." Mr Sulkin founded the ENO's Baylis Programme which aims to take opera out into the community and make it more accessible to a wider audience. He has also directed some outstanding productions with the company - including Carmen and Hansel & Gretel with David Pountney.
 | | Rehearsals are underway |
He spent five years as the director of the Royal Court Young People’s Theatre, in London, four years as associate director of the Janáček Festival in the Czech Republic and was co-founder of the international Festival of Young Playwrights in Australia. Currently, as well as directing The Wreckers, he is a visiting lecturer at RADA and director of Policy and Programmes at Youth Music. "I am so very pleased to have been invited to work with Duchy Opera," said Mr Sulkin. "There are just five operas I still aspire to direct and Ethel Smyth's The Wreckers is one of them. It's a fascinating work which deals with a controversial issue close to the hearts of many Cornish people and I hope that will encourage many first time opera-goers to come along."
 | | Script for The Wreckers |
The production will enjoy a short stay in Truro during November 2006. "I want people to leave the Hall for Cornwall after seeing The Wreckers fired up and arguing about whether the Cornish were brutal wreckers or not. If we can get the audience debating and disagreeing, the opera will have done its job. That's the function of art, to arouse." The Wreckers, which is being supported by a £50,000 grant from The Arts Council England, will be performed at the Hall for Cornwall on 8, 10 and 11 November 2006. The appearance on the 11 November is a gala performance and the exact centenary of the opera. Tickets are now available by ringing 01872 262456 or by emailing: boxoffice@hallforcornwall.org.uk | 
