ENO Harewood Artist Samantha Price discusses her fourth week of creating the role of Perdita in a world premiere from ENO’s composer-in-residence Ryan Wigglesworth, The Winter‘s Tale.

Olivier-Award winning actor Rory Kinnear makes his directorial debut with this compelling new interpretation of Shakespeare’s tale of love, loss and reconciliation.

See The Winter’s Tale at the London Coliseum from 27 February – 14 March 2017

Here, Sam talks to Sophie Bevan and Anthony Gregory, playing Hermione and Florizel, about their experience of rehearsing The Winter’s Tale.

Sam Price (SP): What has been a highlight of the rehearsals so far?

Sophie Bevan (SB): Today was a highlight –  we ran the whole of Acts II and III in one go. I’d never seen Act II… and I was thoroughly moved. It was really wonderful.

Anthony Gregory (AG): I think the sitzprobe on Wednesday was a highlight – hearing the orchestra for the first time. It’s so different from the piano, obviously, and when we hear the full orchestration, it’s amazing.

SP: What are you looking forward to in terms of moving on from week 4?

SB: Getting on stage… really looking forward to seeing what the set looks like, singing it in the theatre, singing it with the orchestra. We’re at a stage now where we’re ready to do it – we’re ready to rock!

AG: I think we’re ready to get on stage and see how it all sounds in the Coliseum.

SP: Why should people come and see The Winter’s Tale?

AG: It’s a British extravaganza – British cast, British composer, British director – I think it’s the best of British!

SB: Everyone’s fantastic, everyone’s giving it their all and there’s such a wonderful feeling in the room! We all love the music, Rory and Ryan get on brilliantly and Rory’s a fantastic director! Everyone should just come and see what we we’ve spent the last few weeks doing!”