Abandon Ship! Richard Laing can’t stay on board this doomed ‘Dutchman’

Opera outdoors is one of those concepts – like camping, or communism – that sounds like a great idea in theory, but in practice usually disappoints. In each endeavour one sets out with high hopes of shared joy and fulfilment, but ends up too often with frustration, dodgy structures and people shouting into the wind. On an opera stage under a summer evening sky, with some acoustic assistance, either architectural or electronic, an approximation to the composer’s intentions may occasionally be realised, and the beauty of the changing light can sometimes add a dimension unobtainable in the theatre. But in reality a difficult art form usually becomes close to impossible, and unforgiving sunlight makes it challenging for the audience to suspend its disbelief.