IN THE PRESS

“If any director has earned the right to take risks with this repertoire, it’s Savournin, and it’s marvellous… The new book are lyrics are snappy and hilarious… We’re in good hands - better than that, inspired ones.”

“A beautiful production… It’s great fun, looks fabulous and works a treat…a clever and delightfully silly cross between a commedia dell’arte farce and an episode of The Sopranos…”

“…a dizzying theatrical tsunami… rarely has a Scottish Opera audience laughed so much, or so heartily.”

“…it’s hard to imagine a more sunlit, summery experience than this new production of The Merry Widow… It works remarkably well because Savournin appreciates that the key to a successful updating is to go the whole hog, so he and his design team hurl themselves into the mafioso world with relish…”

“A sparkling update” - The Guardian

“Direction was slick and tight-knit” The Telegraph

“Relentlessly entertaining” The Scotsman

“Bubbles with witty lightness” The Times

“I can’t remember a production of The Yeomen of the Guard that so effectively judged the balance between farce and romance, happiness and heartbreak, grand spectacle and music-hall song and dance.”

“He is a force of nature.”

“John Savournin’s direction is pitch-perfect.”

“John Savournin has crafted a daft but tight script, and directs with a sure hand.”

“John Savournin’s production was bright, fast and funny, with playful choreography, whip-smart choral singing and a fresh-voiced cast with real comic chops.”

“…as polished a Gilbert and Sullivan show as you could hope to see.”

“Savournin’s work in the skill of the reimagining and the projection of the text is perfection itself. You won’t see a better opera production this year.”

“John Savournin’s joyous, multi coloured production for Opera Holland Park (is) exuberant, inventive and touching.”

“It’s rare in London to see and hear Gilbert and Sullivan performed with such dazzle and panache as this.”

“Pasticcio is alive and well in the hands of Savournin…This is very much Savournin’s show…arranging, writing and directing three singers and two puppets, accompanied by violin and piano…an extremely valuable tool to encourage future audiences”