La tragédie de Carmen is the third most performed opera in the world. The show and its songs have been performed by the Muppets and even Beyoncé, who made her acting debut in Carmen: A Hip Opera.

Now, Peter Brook's adaptation of the show is heading to the Norwich Theatre Royal stage in the latest collaboration between Norwich Theatre and Buxton International Festival.

The opera is the second co-production the pair have worked on. Last year, Norwich Theatre and Buxton International Festival co-produced a ground-breaking new musical, The Land Of Might-Have-Been. The musical was built around the songs of Ivor Novello and was based on the life of feminist and pacifist Vera Brittain and the lives of those closest to her.

For Stephen Crocker, chief executive and creative director at Norwich Theatre, collaborating on productions like this is vital.

'It allows us to be able to bring our audiences work they might not be able to get to see. Equally, it allows us to put East Anglia and Norfolk on the map as the home of creativity and where great art can be made.'

Nationally, touring opera has faced cuts, with the Arts Council reducing Glyndebourne's funding by 50%. Subsequently, the company stopped touring to venues like Norwich Theatre Royal, something it has been doing for more than five decades. However, a recent report (Opera Voices) by Norwich Theatre shows that there is a high demand for opera in our region.

'Our research shows that audiences crave opera and that they want to see it nearby,' said Stephen.

This knowledge has made Norwich Theatre even more resolute in working to ensure that audiences do not lose out on the range of production scale, diversity of creative vision and breadth of repertoire its audiences value.

'We have made a real commitment to our audiences who love opera and who were disappointed by the cuts touring opera has seen,' said Stephen

He added: 'Working with Buxton International Festival to produce La tragédie de Carmen is just one step in this journey to ensure that Norfolk opera fans have access to the finest quality opera on their doorstep.'

La tragédie de Carmen is a brutal, gritty tale of self-destruction fuelled by lust, set to some of opera's most famous music.

'This is going to be an operatic feast,' said Stephen. 'Peter Brook doesn't hold back, stripping the opera to its core essentials while focusing on themes of obsession and lust.'

When Don Jose falls for the fiery and ambitious Carmen, their tragic fates are sealed. He shuns his childhood sweetheart, and they begin a visceral journey that descends to jealousy, madness and murder.

The opera includes elements of Georges Bizet's opera as well as the original Prosper Mérimée novella, which Bizet's opera was based on. Brook adapted the script with Academy award-winning screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière, re-examining it from a new perspective.

Marius Constant adapted the original score for a chamber orchestra, and the show premiered in Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, Paris, in November 1981.

Michael Williams, Buxton International’s Festival’s CEO said: 'We are delighted to be working with Royal Norwich Theatre on our second collaboration with a new production of La tragedie de Carmen directed by Katharina Kastening and featuring the Irish mezzo-soprano Niamh O’Sullivan. Niamh’s bewitchingly beautiful, dark vibrant voice is perfect for Carmen and Katharina is creating a production that will deliver on all of the dynamics of that troubled quartet of characters – Jose, Carmen, Micaela and of course Escamillo.'

The opera is sung in French with English surtitles.

La tragédie de Carmen is at Norwich Theatre Royal from July 26-28. For more information or to book, visit norwichtheatre.org or call the box office on 01603 630000.