Event

Lo Spedale Revived

Four patients wait for a doctor that seems to have forgotten them. The parallels with our own time will be surprising. Such is the poet Antonio Abati's satire of healthcare, medicine and hypochondria, which has lost none of its wit and charm in the 350 years since it was written.

Written by an anonymous Italian composer between 1640-60 and brought to light by Dr Naomi Matsumoto (Goldsmiths University), the music turns on a dime from haunting beauty to farce and back as each patient awaits their turn in the Doctors chair, and is brought to life by a cast of young singers specialising in Early Music and a continuo band.

First performed as part of the Illuminate Rotherhithe Festival in November 2018, this is its second-ever staging in modern times, and the first in a faithful 17th Century production. Presented in Italian, with surtitles and accompanying academic translation by Oliver Doyle & Delia Fiordilino.

The Cast:

The Doctor: Joachim Sabbat

The Four Patients:
Affliction of the Heart: Jessica Eucker
Affliction of the Mind: Tristram Cooke
Affliction of the Soul: Oliver Doyle
Affliction of the Wallet: Matthew O'Keeffe

Foreigner/ Health: Kirsty Anderson

The Band

Theorbo: Peter Martin

Baroque Guitar: Richard MacKenzie

Viola da Gamba: Kate Conway