TALES OF APOLLO AND HERCULES
Tales of Apollo and Hercules was produced as part of the London Handel Festival 2025
Shoreditch Town Hall
March 2025
Direction: Thomas Guthrie
Musical Director: David Bates
Choreographer: Valentino Zucchetti
Costume Designer: Francisco Rodriguez-Weil
Lighting: Emma Chapman
Photos by Craig Fuller
“Particularly striking throughout both pieces is the lighting, designed by Emma Chapman. Apollo e Dafne begins with the dancers lit only from one side, creating a painting-like tableau that mirrors the framed artwork covering the back of the stage. The artistry is admirable, a reminder of how impactful lighting choices can be, and elevates the performances of dancers and singers alike.”
Lucy Carter, Everything Theatre
“Francisco Rodriguez-Weil’s elegant-yet-simple designs wrapped the dancers in glittering grey unitards that turned magical shades of green or blue under Emma Chapman’s subtle lighting. Flitting round and about the singers, they brought to life a cornucopia of images, from the writhing python slain by Apollo to a rainy street scene with twirling umbrellas that morphed into carriage wheels. ”
Clive Paget, The Guardian
“All, illuminated by Emma Chapman’s careful lighting. A triumph.”
Colin Clarke, Opera today
“With their partially neoclassical references, Francisco Rodriguez-Weil’s designs were imaginatively lit by Emma Chapman and matched well with the striking venue itself – the grand 19th-century Shoreditch Town Hall, whose acoustic turned out to work superbly for Handel’s music.”
George Hall, Opera Now