Keep the noise down, turn your phone off and photos are not permitted are the rules that usually confront theatregoers. But not so at an event we attended this weekend where we were told to take pictures, tweet them and not tell talkative audience members to be quiet!

We were at Bristol Old Vic for the finale of the week-long Bristol Proms. The festival aims to bring classical music to everyone, not just the privileged few, and does it by embracing the traditions of the eighteenth century when going to the theatre was a social occasion for all classes. It was commonplace for people to chat, eat and drink during performances, and theatres packed in as many people as possible by letting them stand.

That spirit of the 1700s was in full swing for the Bristol Proms as we bought tickets for only £5 and stood in the aisle as the boss of the Bristol Old Vic declared that the audience was the biggest the theatre has ever hosted in the age of health and safety!

Being a Twitter addict, I fully embraced the new rules. It wasn't long though before an audience member told me to turn off my phone. Surely that's against the rules? My thoughts were confirmed when a Twitter response from the theatre told me to 'tweet away!' Hoorah!

As for the on-stage action, that was truly wonderful. Accompanied by baroque orchestra The English Concert, members of the Erebus Ensemble entertained during the first half with some powerful and sometimes humorous renditions of 18th century tunes.

During the interval, tweets and videos collated in a live blog by Classic FM were projected onto the wall in a modern version of 18th century theatre audience chit-chat.

Then followed the highlight of the evening.

The electric lights were switched off and the stage was illuminated in candlelight for the iconic British opera Dido and Aeneus.

The singers put in spell binding performances led by star soloist Pumeza Matshikiza, who discovered opera listening to the radio while growing up in a  South African township.

The theatre may have been packed and the audience had permission to speak, but there was absolute silence as the epic tragedy reached its dramatic conclusion.

As the show ended though, the audience erupted with applause and cameras appeared from everywhere to capture the moment. We joined the performers in the bar afterwards where an impromptu after party took place well past midnight.

We've told you many times before how our home city of Bristol likes to do things differently and that was certainly the case with the Bristol Proms. While many classical festivals are stuffy and expensive, this one delivered music like it's meant to delivered; interactive, immersive and open to all.

Words: Dan
Images: Virginia
 

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