Genesis Foundation

Joe Hill-Gibbins makes his directorial debut at English National Opera

Joe Hill-Gibbins makes his directorial debut at English National Opera

Thursday, 3 April 2014

Former Young Vic Genesis Fellow Joe Hill-Gibbins will direct his first opera, Thomas Adès’s acclaimed 1995 chamber opera Powder Her Face, at Ambika P3. The performance in ‘one of the capital’s hidden and most exciting new spaces’ (Guardian) is a new site-specific ENO production with Olivier Award-winning soprano Amanda Roocroft in the lead role as the infamous Duchess. The opera charts the glamorous rise and seedy fall of the socialite Margaret, Duchess of Argyll.

Mary Plazas in Almeida Opera's 1999 production of Powder Her Face. Photograph: Tristram Kenton

Mary Plazas in Almeida Opera’s 1999 production of Powder Her Face. Photograph: Tristram Kenton

Last week, Joe Hill-Gibbins wrote a self-authored piece for The Guardian on ‘The shocking power of the sex selfie.’ To read the full piece, click here.

Powder Her Face is at Ambika P3, London until 19 April and Joe Hill-Gibbins will give a pre-performance talk with the librettist, Philip Hensher, on Friday 4 April.