The Okavango Macbeth, a fully staged production with soloists from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and musicians from Mr McFall’s Chamber.

Libretto by Alexander McCall Smith
Music by Tom Cunningham
Directed by Nicholas Ellenbogen

The Macbeth story as played out in a troop of baboons in Botswana? This fanciful idea inspired the writer Alexander McCall Smith and the composer Tom Cunningham to come up with their first opera, The Okavango Macbeth. Set in the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana, the opera deals with the efforts of an ambitious female baboon, Lady Macbeth, to encourage her husband, Macbeth, to murder the dominant baboon, Duncan.

The opera was premiered in the No 1 Ladies’ Opera House, a tiny opera house in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, in a production mounted by the celebrated Cape Town director and producer, Nicholas Ellenbogen. The reception it received was ecstatic, and a charity performance of the opera was subsequently given in Edinburgh. The response again was extremely enthusiastic, leading many to conclude that in this extraordinary and unusual tale a new operatic gem has emerged.

‘Wonderfully entertaining... memorable and moving.’ (BBC)
‘A marvellous piece of dramatic entertainment.’ (The Economist)
‘A spellbinding and unique entertainment experience.’ (Midweek Sun Vibe, Botswana)

www.okavangomacbeth.com

Listen to Alexander McCall Smith on BBC Radio Scotland talking about his opera