Opera Theatre Company is Ireland's National Touring Company.

We are delighted this year to have our production night and opening week in Waterford's Theatre Royal.

Ben Barnes, who directs this production of Monteverdi's Orfeo, is the Director of the Theatre Royal. He has kindly agreed to blog for us:

The Theatre Royal Waterford is very pleased and excited to have the Opera Theatre Company premier its new production of Orfeo by Monteverdi at our venue.

There is something appropriate about the 'first' opera being presented at the oldest performing arts venue in the country.

The Theatre Royal has been entertaining audiences for over 220 years now and the venue, which sits at the heart of the historic cultural quarter of the ancient Viking city, has been splendidly restored over the past five years. Indeed the whole cultural quarter boasting Christchurch Cathedral, The Bishops Palace, the Theatre Royal, the Waterford Glass, Reginald's Tower and the soon to be opened medieval museum, the Choristers Hall, is fast gaining a reputation as one of the most vibrant and exciting cultural and historic square miles in the whole country.

We hope our local patrons and visitors from around the country and from abroad will take the opportunity on the weekend of June 9th/10th to visit and stay in Waterford at one of our partner hotels and in addition to attending the performance of Orfeo join us for a special concert on Saturday morning, June 9th at Christchurch Cathedral and sample some of the other cultural gems on offer in and around The Mall in Waterford City.

Ben Barnes

DirectorTheatre Royal

1st May 2012