The Making of Tom Phillips RA’s ‘Irma: An Opera’ by Director/Designer Netia Jones

22 June 2017

6.30pm to 7.30pm

Wilson Road Lecture Theatre

Acclaimed director / designer Netia Jones gives an exclusive insight into the creative process for her forthcoming production of Camberwell alumni Tom Phillips RA’s experimental opera Irma Opus XIIB drawn from and inspired by his Victorian novel artwork A Humument. To mark his 80th birthday in 2017 and the completion of A Humument after almost 50 years’ development, the South London Gallery will host the world premiere performance and an audio-visual installation in the main gallery on 16 and 17 September.

One of the hidden gems of English experimental music, alongside Gavin Bryars' Sinking of the Titanic, Irma encompasses every aspect of an operatic performance in poetic, beautiful, enigmatic and miniature form.

Hailed as “one of the most imaginative directors working in Britain today” (The Observer), Netia Jones is a director/designer and video artist in opera and staged concerts, using projection and mixed media in all of her work. She is director of Lightmap, the mixed media creative studio working internationally in video, film, performance and installation, and was founder and director of Transition, the critically acclaimed multimedia performance group. She read Modern Languages at Oxford University.

Irma Opus XIIB is directed and designed by Netia Jones and Lightmap, with music direction by Anton Lukoszevieze and Apartment House.

Produced by Sound UK. Funded by Arts Council England and Hinrichsen Foundation. With thanks to the South London Gallery.

This is the first in a series of events Camberwell College of Arts is hosting in relation to Irma Opus XIIB.