A night at the opera

This is the cupola of the London Coliseum, home of the English National Opera. However, we are here to see an Aussie company perform 'La Sylphide' - a tale of witches and fairies interfering with the fates of men.

The extra pik is the rest of the theatre's interior which is a preposterous mix of victorian romanesque gothic something. The London Coliseum, once the Theatre of Varieties, built in 1904 'for the public good' was intended to be the finest variety theatre in the world. The initial performances were a complete flop and the theatre closed for several years until 1907.

It was taken over my the Sadler's Wells Opera Co in 1968 and they became the English National Opera.