Handel's Messiah - With A Modern Twist

Enjoy Handel’s Messiah as you’ve never seen or heard it before at Lancaster Priory this December.

A fresh, innovative dramatisation of Handel’s legendary telling of the Christmas story will be presented by the critically acclaimed company, Wild Arts in its first visit to Lancaster.

The city’s parish church, which hosts the performance on December 12, is the only priory on a national tour which includes four cathedrals.

This enthralling production is brought to life by elements of theatre, making it a very different experience from how it is usually performed by a large choral society and orchestra.

‘Totally genius staging’ is how one audience member described last year’s sell-out tour and the 2024 version follows suit as performances are tailored to each venue by theatre and opera director, Tom Morris whose directing credits include the West End hit play, War Horse.

The Messiah story is told as if it is happening now and Wild Arts presents Handel’s work at its most pared back and intimate. Eight singers perform both the solos and the choruses accompanied by musicians playing instruments similar to those around when Handel composed his masterpiece.

Handel took just 24 days to complete The Messiah in 1741 and almost three centuries later, it continues to be a Christmas tradition for many.

Founded just two years ago, Wild Arts has already achieved many accolades for its re-imagining of classic works for modern ears.

"I set up Wild Arts in 2022 because I wanted to take world class performances to beautiful places across the UK in an environmentally sustainable way,” said Wild Arts artistic director, Orlando Jopling.

“I wanted to focus on the music and drama, working with the best singers and instrumentalists and allowing their acting, musicianship and communication to bring the stories alive and create a real connection with audiences, all with costumes, set and props that can be packed up into a couple of suitcases that we can take with us on the train.”

The performance of Handel’s Messiah at Lancaster Priory begins at 7pm and tickets range from £15 for under 25s to £45. To book, visit www.wildarts.org.uk/messiah