Actress Stephanie Beacham, known worldwide for her role as Sable Colby in The Colbys and Dynasty, takes to the stage this season as the great diva Maria Callas, in the award winning Master Class by Terence McNally, directed by Jonathan Church.
Maria Callas remains one of the towering figures of the opera world. Larger- than-life and gorgeously glamorous she is as famous for her private life, her passionate love affair with the tycoon Aristotle Onassis, her rivalry with other opera singers and her untimely death in 1977, as for her extraordinary musical and dramatic talents.
Inspired by the master classes Callas gave in New York in the early seventies, MASTER CLASS invites you to observe the great diva in action as she puts three aspiring singers through their paces. Witty, bitchy, grandiose, demanding and insecure, she reminisces on the triumphs and tragedies of her life and career now that both her voice and her personal life have fallen apart.
STEPHANIE BEACHAM plays the iconic Callas. As well as The Colbys and Dynasty, Stephanie’s other major television credits include Tenko and Bad Girls. She also performed in series 6 of Strictly Come Dancing, played Martha, a love interest for Ken Barlow in Coronation Street and starred in Celebrity Big Brother 2010. Extensive stage work includes, most recently, Peter Hall’s production of Noel Coward’s Hay Fever.
MASTER CLASS was a huge hit on Broadway where it won both the 1996 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play and the 1996 Tony Award for Best Play. This new production is directed by Jonathan Church, the acclaimed artistic director of Chichester Festival Theatre. Multi Award-winning American playwright Terrence McNally’s work includes The Ritz, The Lisbon Traviata, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune and Love! Valour! Compassion! He has also written librettos for musicals including The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Ragtime and the USA version of The Full Monty.
MASTER CLASS is produced by Theatre Royal Bath Productions whose recent productions include The History Boys, Enjoy with Alison Steadman in the West End and on tour and Mrs Warren’s Profession with Felicity Kendall, also West End and on tour. Current productions include The Rivals with Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles and Blithe Spirit with Alison Steadman, Hermione Norris, Robert Bathurst and Ruthie Henshall, which will be touring before a West End transfer early next year.
Master Class
Tue 8 – Sat 12 February
7.30pm / Wed & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets: Opening Night & matinees £14.50 – £23.00 /Eves £16.50 – £27.50
Box Office – 0131 529 6000
