Lola Montez – a woman years ahead of her time

4:17pm Wednesday 1st October 2008

Passions are set to rise in Winchester as the fascinating story of Lola Montez, self-styled 19th century Spanish dancer, is brought to life at the Theatre Royal by Trestle, in collaboration with Increpacion Danza.

It tells the tale of Irish-born Elisabeth Gilbert, who reinvented herself as the Spanish dancer, Lola Montez, a shameless self-promoter and fabricator of dramatic stories and events.

Lola performed around the globe, seducing influential men along the way, including world-famous composers and royalty.

The production revolves around Lola's very last performance of the famous spider dance. Whilst the audience waits for her to take the stage, Lola revisits her bittersweet past, from humble Irish beginnings to her transformation into one of the world's most notorious women.

Told in her own words, with live music from renowned flamenco guitarist, Ricardo Garcia, the show celebrates the life of an extraordinary woman who "lived like she danced, with all the might of her body and fire of her soul."

Says Trestle's artistic director, Emily Gray: "Lola lived through and contributed to the birth of the notion of celebrity. While the production is set in the 19th century, its themes are highly relevant to today's celebrity-driven society, for she was an innately theatrical woman remarkably ahead of her time."

Trestle has collaborated with Barcelona-based Increpacion Danza to develop a dance theatre fusion to convey Lola's story. Ricardo Garcia wrote and composed the music, which he performs live.

The score features a variety of musical influences, from Irish jigs to Spanish tangos, boleros, fandangos and rumbas, to reflect the different chapters of Lola's life.

Trestle, who normally perform masked theatre, are unmasked in this tale of a life lived with passion, drama and regret.

Lola - The Life of Lola Montez is playing at Theatre Royal Winchester on Friday and Saturday, October 10 and 11, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £12, with concessions £10 and schools £7.50. For further information, or to book tickets, call the box office, on 01962 840440, or visit www.theatre-royal-winchester.co.uk Please note that card bookings are subject to a transaction fee.