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How Margaret Thatcher's life story became an opera

David McKenna
BBC News
Hulton Archive/Getty Images Archive photograph of Margaret Thatcher taken in 1984. She has dark-blonde hair and blue eyes, is wearing pearl-stud earrings and is holding her thumb and forefinger together as she makes a speech. On her third finger is a jewelled ring.Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher "really lends herself to operatic treatment", according to producers

Margaret Thatcher's time as prime minister might not seem like the most obvious inspiration for an opera, but for some she is a diva.

The Rest is History podcast co-host and historian Dominic Sandbrook is working with composer Joseph Phibbs to produce a two-act show entitled Mrs T.

As well as covering her time in Downing Street, the opera aims to explore the Iron Lady's character and personality away from the public gaze.

"I feel she really lends herself to operatic treatment. She was a very theatrical character, in many ways," Phibbs told the BBC.

The opera has been described as "an intimate exploration of one of the most polarising and influential figures in British politics".

PA Media Dominic Sandbrook has extremely receding dark and grey hair. He is wearing black-rimmed square spectacles on his face and a navy suit blazer with a red poppy on the lapel over a blue shirt, which is unbuttoned at the collar. He is smiling at the camera.PA Media
Historian Dominic Sandbrook said the opera was not a political commentary

Phibbs said he came up with the idea after watching a documentary about the Grantham-born politician.

"As is the case with many composers, I'm always thinking of potential subjects, and it occurred to me, 'Why not have Margaret Thatcher as the main character in an opera"Geoff Bruce/Central Press/Getty Images) Black and white photograph of Margaret Thatcher sitting next to Geoffrey Howe at the Conservative Party Conference in Brighton, in October 1980. She is wearing a neckerchief and a brooch. Howe is wearing glasses and is resting his chin on his hand." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/>Geoff Bruce/Central Press/Getty Images)

Former Chancellor Geoffrey Howe features in the production

Although Thatcher has been depicted numerous times on stage and screen, including in the recent Channel 4 drama, Brian and Maggie, this is the first time her tenure as prime minister has been the subject of an opera, Phibbs said.

He said Sandbrook, who he had met over a cup of coffee to discuss the production, had been "very enthusiastic about the idea" and had "devised a superb synopsis for the whole opera".

Sandbrook told the BBC the opera was not a political commentary but was, instead, intended to portray "the drama of the time".

This is Sandbrook's first libretto but he has previously written extensively about the former prime minister.

He said the opera included a scene referencing a letter she wrote to her speechwriter Sir Ronald Millar in 1978 after seeing Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita.

It read: "If [the Peronists] can do that without any ideals, then if we apply the same perfection and creativeness to our message, we should provide quite good historic material for an opera called Margaret in 30 years' time."

Mrs T will be directed by Lucy Bradley, with mezzo-soprano Lucy Schaufer in the title role.

Author, journalist and radio presenter Libby Purves will feature as a newsreader.

A showcase event is due to be held in the autumn.

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

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Grantham
Margaret Thatcher
Opera
Classical music
Musical theatre
Music