The first Irish opera film ‘The Lighthouse’ to screen in cinemas for one night only on Tuesday 16th November

A new production of Peter Maxwell Davies’s chamber opera THE LIGHTHOUSE directed by Irish filmmaker Edwina Casey is set to screen in cinemas across Ireland next month.

The filmed opera which will screen for one night only on Tuesday 16th November marks the first time an Irish opera film has been released in Irish cinemas.

Presented by Irish National Opera, conducted by Nil Venditti and starring Brenton Ryan, Ben McAteer and John Molloy THE LIGHTHOUSE is based on an actual event in December 1900, when a visiting supply ship to a Scottish lighthouse finds the building in order but the keepers vanished without a trace.

The three singers who play multiple roles, explore the psychological state of the fractious men, relive an official investigation and project a supernatural explanation. The composer, who based the structure of the opera on the Tower of the Tarot, leaves no simple answers.

Speaking about the film, director Edwina Casey said: “For some time it has been an interest of mine to put opera on the big screen so I was delighted when the Irish National Opera approached me about directing "The Lighthouse" for stage and screen. Written in 1979,“The Lighthouse” in its simplest form is a chilling horror story about keepers going mad due to isolation. We shot the production over two weeks in Draíocht Theatre, Blanchardstown while everyone was locked-down in their homes. I can’t help but feel some of that eeriness crept into what we made! I am delighted that this project is getting a cinema release and I hope audiences find connection with Maxwell Davies’ operatic masterpiece on a whole new scale."

Diego Fasciati, Executive Director of the Irish National Opera added: “An Irish-produced opera film screened in Irish cinemas is another first from Irish National Opera. Over the summer, we screened The Lighthouse in eight outdoor locations, from Fanad Head to Valentia Island. Now that cinemas are reopened, we are excited to make our debut on the silver screen, this will allow us to reach audiences far and wide”.

The filmed opera will screen in cinemas ahead of the stage production, also directed by Casey who was the winner of the Bingham Ray New Talent Award at the Galway Film Fleadh, going on tour nationwide with live performances in venues from Saturday 20th November.