Three Tables Productions partners with Royal Opera House to shine light on rich and vibrant history in new drama
London – October 19, 2020 - Three Tables Productions today announces a new creative collaboration with the world-renowned Royal Opera House.
The London-based Indie founded in 2018 by film and TV executives David Chikwe, Himesh Kar and JT Wong, was established to produce scripted television drawing on the founders' distinct perspectives and diverse backgrounds. The as yet untitled ROH drama will allow Three Tables and the Royal Opera House to share a part of this iconic institution’s history through a new lens.
It will chart the story of The Royal Opera House's continuing evolution over centuries, and the first series will focus on its recovery from its complete destruction in the Victorian era - when the House was hit by a catastrophic fire, but overcame it to become the much loved institution it is today.
The scripted drama series will draw on accounts from the diaries of Frederick Gye, the General Manager of the Royal Italian Opera (as it was then known), and his daughter and secretary, Clara. In 1856, Gye rushed back from Paris to find himself, heartbroken, in the ashes of the opera house alongside Queen Victoria. He would later write, ‘The Queen leaned on my arm, asked me many questions & showed great sympathy’.
The drama will recount the astounding resurgence of the opera house in the wake of the devastating fire and will tell the story of a hastily formed group of partners who teamed together to rebuild the house and re-open in a mere 8 months.
The Royal Opera House has made available extensive diaries and archive materials from its collection to ensure accurate and compelling research. These paint a picture of the times, characters and rivalries that will make for gripping viewing and provide a priceless resource for the project's writers.
At a time when the world of arts and entertainment is having to adapt to new ways of working, now and in the future, this will be a timely reminder that artistic challenges and adversity can be overcome.
The period series features sumptuous costumes and astonishing musical insights from opera’s heyday. However, it is also a series with modern themes including the gritty reality of business dealings, the role of money in the arts, the marginalisation of workers and the lower classes, political maneuvering and the struggles experienced by performers from different ethnic backgrounds.
The project is being overseen by Chief Executive, Alex Beard for The Royal Opera House and by JT Wong and Himesh Kar for Three Tables.
Alex Beard, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, said:
“I am delighted to be partnering with Three Tables Productions to bring this illuminating part of our history to life in this bold and imaginative new project. As the ROH continues to grapple with one of the most profound crises in its history, this project gives us a chance to look back on the ROH’s long, rich and often turbulent past, drawing inspiration as we address the challenges of the future.”
Himesh Kar says: "We are delighted and excited to be entering this partnership with the ROH and look forward to progressing our search for a writer that will bring this fascinating and ambitious drama to life. It’s a great opportunity for us to work with creatives who are passionate about music and the Royal Opera House itself.”
JT Wong adds “We will be working closely with the ROH to enable us to capture the spirit and the history of the opera house. Everyone involved is keen to discover and work with established, new and diverse talent. This is a series which will thrill opera lovers but we hope it will also inspire a whole new generation of opera talent and fans."