Opera North’s production of The Marriage Figaro was rollicking fun, with a capacity audience at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal laughing out loud at times.

Swift-flowing action, brilliant comic timing and superb singing combined to ensure director Jo Davies’ of interpretation of Mozart's masterpiece was the full package.

Richard Burkhard portrayed a loveable Figaro, while his bride-to-be Susanna was played with infectious enthusiasm by Silvia Moi.

Count Almaviva, who sets out to reinstate his feudal right to bed Susanna, was a suave Quirijn de Lang.

Ana Maria Labin, as the Countess, provided some of the singing highlights, including an immaculate delivery of her aria lamenting her husband’s faithlessness.

Singing with a rich mezzo voice, Helen Sherman’s adolescent Cherubino was an irrepressible ball of hilarious energy.

When Cherubino fled from a window crushing a pot of hydrangeas, the angered gardener (Jeremy Peaker) had the audience eating out of his hand.

There were strong performances in the smaller roles too, including Dean Robinson's Dr Bartolo, Gaynor Keeble’s Marcellina and Joseph Shovelton’s Basilio.

Jeremy Sams’ English translation of da Ponte’s libretto added a contemporary twist to time-worn punchlines. It was sung with crisp diction throughout, ensuring listeners could follow every strand of the intricate plot.

Leslie Travers’ inventive set, with an abundance of doors for entries and exits, allowed the audience to see the inner workings of the show, adding a dimension to the onstage action.

Music from the pit had punch, with conductor Alexander Shelley maintaining a keen sense of momentum throughout. A thoroughly entertaining evening.

Gavin Engelbrecht

Verdi's La Traviata is staged at 7pm tonight (Friday, March 6). The Marriage of Figaro is repeated at 7pm tomorrow (Saturday, March 7). Box office: 08488 11 21 21.