"The Marriage Of Figaro" by Opera North.

Nottingham theatre Royal.

I don't think that I have seen Mozart's "Marriage Of Figaro" before on stage, so I was especially looking forward to seeing this production; even more so knowing that the show is put on by the excellent Opera North.

Mozart’s comic masterpiece is a match made in mayhem!

It’s supposed to be the happiest day of Figaro and Susanna’s lives, but this is opera, so there’s plenty of time for some plot twists before they say "I do". With Count Almaviva looking set to make a move on the bride-to-be, the young couple must hatch a shrewd plan to secure their happy ending. Cue a whirlwind of secret scheming and surprise revelations.

This new production of "The Marriage of Figaro" reimagines the mischief in a quintessential modern country home. Mozart’s music, performed live by the Orchestra of Opera North, fizzes with fun and plumbs the depths of emotion. It all adds up to an invitation that’s too good to turn down. Any excuse to grab your favourite fascinator!

If you've never been to see opera performed on stage before, maybe because you think it may be "too stuffy", or you wouldn't understand it, think again and make this the evening you dispel all of those doubts you may have had about opera. This is a very modern and contemporary opera, being one of the most performed world wide. You probably also know some of the tunes that have come from the pen, or would that have been quill, of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the composer who was dubbed a bit of a musical rebel in his day.

As with ballet, opera should always be an ensemble performance piece, so it'd be no use me individually saying how good every one is on stage, because they just are at the top of their game; that's why they are part of Opera North, so here's the fabulous cast and their roles.

Liam James Karai (Figaro), Emyr Wyn Jones (Count Almaviva's Steward), James Newby (Count Almaviva), Gabriella Reyes (Countess Almaviva), Hera Hyesang Park (Susanna), Clare Lees (The Countess's Steward), Hongni Wu (Cherubino - the Count's Page), Charlotte Bowden (Barbarina - Susanna's Cousin, Antonio's Daughter), Jonathan Lemalu (Bartolo - a Doctor), Katherine Broderick (Marcellina, Bartolo's former housekeeper who initially plots to force Figaro to marry her in order to settle a debt), Daniel Norman (Basilio - a music teacher), Jamie Woollard (Antonio - a Gardener, Susanna's Uncle), Kamil Bien (Don Curzio - a Lawyer).

The ensemble of staff, workers and visitors to the house are made up of the Chorus of Opera North.

The gorgeously lush Orchestra of Opera North was conducted tonight (Thursday) by Oliver Rundell and as soon as the opening chords of the Overture is played, it's pomp music sweeps you up and gets you ready for the ensuing wedding. the other piece that will be recognisable to light opera fans is the light hearted "Voi che sapete che cosa è amor" sung by Cherubino. Orchestras of this size, quality and class are becoming even more difficult to tour with due to rising costs, and the Opera North is a charity, which is why it's so lovely to hear an orchestra of this size, and why it's so important to support ballets and operas like Opera North.

Directed by Louisa Muller, and there's not one second wasted in this production. The whole performance is over three hours long with the interval, but the pace is really driven, without being rushed, which makes the time in the theatre seem so much less than the advised timeline.

Madeleine Boyd is the Set and Costume Designer. The setting is a rural country house with wellies, mackintoshes, tennis racquets and cricket pads all in sight. The room we see in the opening scene then draws out to a much bigger space with staircases with Act three being set in a snooker room, with full size table, this area also shows a nursery space with cot and wall shelves with baby toys, books and abacus. This then disappears to become a stable complete with straw and miscellaneous equine props. The costumes, for the men on the whole are fairly modern, but the ladies costumes are beautifully dated, quite Downton Abbey-ish.

The Wigs, Hair and Make-up Supervisor is Jo Charlton-Wright.

Malcolm Rippeth is the Lighting Designer.

Choreographed by Rebecca Howell.

Opera and ballet performances are a real treat for me because I automatically know that the performers are the very best in their field, so I just have to sit back and let the performance wash over me. I know that the scenery, costumes and props etc are going to be top notch, so all of these areas don't really need to be dissected, I just need to mention whose hard work they are the results of. So, it only leaves me the task of telling whoever reads my reviews that you have no need to fear opera or ballet because they are some of the best forms of entertainment seen on professional stages.

Thursday night was about half and half older supporters and young people from schools and colleges, or young people who have discovered the joy of opera, and that really pleased me to see this ratio. Opera is not fuddy duddy stuff that only your Grandparents watch, it's modern, it's exciting, it's comedy, it's everything you need from a dramatic piece of theatre.

Even if you don't understand the language the songs are written and performed in, there are two great big screens at either side of the auditorium to translate everything, again no excuse for not attending a night at the opera.

"The Marriage Of Figaro" is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 7 March.