Ruth and Six of Calais 2023

Pegasus Opera Company presents an operatic double bill: Ruth and Six of Calais, both composed by Philip Hagemann.

The Six of Calais is a play written by George Bernard Shaw, which was first performed in 1934. The play is set in the 1346-1347 Siege of Calais during the Hundred Years War between England and France. It tells the story of six burghers of Calais who, to save their town from destruction, volunteer to be executed by the English king Edward III.

Ruth is based on the book of Ruth, which sees Naomi and her husband Elimelech flee famine in Judah to seek a new life in Moab. Ruth is considered an anomaly in the Old Testament, since unlike in the other books, women play very important roles.