Theatrical Adventures Brochure 2023/2024

MOSELLE - RH Ô NE - MEKONG

Theatrical Adventures

We're more than a cruise company

We sail extraordinary rivers with fascinating tours. We choose outstanding ships and we promise exceptional value for money.

When it comes to filling our social programme, we have a significant advantage over our competitors. We run an opera festival, complete with its own professional opera company. The musical talent we employ on our cruises is hand-picked from the internationally renowned National G&S Opera Company and our network of talented opera stars.

Every night is filled with fantastic entertainment. You will not find any after-dinner lectures that leave you begging for the sweet release of an early night!

Our entertainment keeps you up, and it keeps you wanting more. Our outstanding onboard soloists and musical director ensure a bespoke programme of musical magic. We offer a weeklong party where the fun never ends.

And there are plenty of opportunities for passengers to get involved as well. Throughout the cruise, guests can rehearse a light opera or concert for a performance along the way.

Our customers return year after year, cruise after cruise.

Join us on the next one and find out why.

Theatrical Adventures sails down the Moselle – one of the most picturesque rivers in Europe. It twists and turns its way between Trier and Koblenz along one of Germany’s most beautiful river valleys. Today, its hillsides are covered by terraced vineyards where some of the best Rieslings grow, and numerous ruined castles dominate the hilltops above wine villages and towns that line the riverbanks.

Our cruise leaves Amsterdam on March 24th 2023, returning eight days later on March 31st. It visits Düsseldorf, Koblenz, Cochem, Bernkastel, Traben-Trarbach Zell, Beilstein and Cologne. It is that time of the year when Spring has transformed the landscape; temperatures are pleasant and tourist crowds are still relatively low. We will enjoy some of the highlights of the River Rhine, before we sail down the Moselle

Of course all food is included in the price along with wines and beers and soft drinks with your meals. We always travel with the very best entertainment, with nightly concerts and plenty of opportunities for our passengers to join in!

24 MARCH | AMSTERDAM

The MS Elegant Lady will be docked behind Amsterdam Centraal Stationmaking it an ideal embarkation point for Eurostar passengers and air travellers alike, with regular airport metro services into the station. Passengers are free to check in from 3.00 pm before the ship’s departure at 6:30 pm. This evening we will enjoy a welcome cocktail and meet the crew, followed by dinner and superb entertainment from our fabulous professional entertainers.

25 MARCH | DÜSSELDORF

Our first port of call is Düsseldorf, where we will enjoy a walking tour of this fascinating city. We will explore the backstreets of the old town and enjoy the charm of the Burgplatz (square) and the Schlossturm (palace tower). Our professional entertainers will be on the stage this evening.

26 MARCH | KOBLENZ

Our first stop is the ancient city of Koblenz, gateway to the terraced vineyards and ruined castles of the Rhine Gorge. A statue of William the Great marks the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, and we will have time for a short walking tour of this historic area. In the afternoon, come and join our non-stop music only performance of ‘The Mikado in an Hour!’ Bring your scores as everyone’s welcome. And if you want to do a principal part just let us know and we’ll put you on the little list!

27 MARCH | COCHEM

We will explore the lovely medieval town of Cochem with its half-timbered

houses and higgledy-piggledy cobbled streets beneath the steady watch of the millennium-old Reichsburg Castle. This is beautiful Moselle wine country where some of the finest Rieslings in the world are produced along the vineclad slopes. The wine-making history in the region dates back almost 2000 years to Roman times. The walking tour will be followed by free time to explore the town or an optional wine tasting.

28 MARCH | BERNKASTEL

We awake in Bernkastel for a leisurely breakfast before we begin our walking tour at 9.00 am. There is plenty of time to visit this picturesque town and wander its cobbled streets to the market square, where you will be surrounded by ornate half-timbered houses, many dating from the 15thcentury. The intriguing Pointed House is the most famous jewel of rustic middleclass building tradition from the Middle Ages and a classic example of a Moselle vintner’s dwelling.

Traben-Trarbach, the delightful spa resort and wine-producing town, is in a beautiful setting among vineyards and forests and straddles both banks of the river Moselle. This small town is an architectural treasure. In around 1900, when the city became the secondlargest wine trading centre after Bordeaux, several Art Nouveau houses were commissioned by the town’s cosmopolitan wine merchants. These beautiful buildings by Professor Bruno Möhring, the distinguished Berlin architect, are still in an excellent state of preservation and are admired for

their form and stylistic details. This afternoon there will be free time to explore or an optional wine tasting.

29 MARCH | BEILSTEIN

Time to enjoy a coffee in the delightful town of Zell, before we set sail for Beilstein just before lunch. We make a flying visit to Beilstein on our way to Cologne. Time to stop off and enjoy a cake or simply sit on the top deck and watch the world go by.

30 MARCH | COLOGNE

Today we tour Cologne, the jewel of the Rhine, offering a wealth of fascinating places to explore and of course, the star of the show is the stunning Cologne Cathedral. We will have a walking tour of this magnificent city, and there will be free time for you to explore before we depart for Amsterdam at 4.00 pm. This evening is our farewell cocktail reception followed by a Gala Dinner and our fantastic farewell concert with the Theatrical Adventurers Choir.

31 MARCH | AMSTERDAM

We’re back in Amsterdam in time for breakfast, disembarkation and our homeward journey.

DAVID COOKSON

MUSICAL DIRECTOR

David Cookson’s first professional music job was as répétiteur with the ‘old’ D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. He held that post at the time of the company’s Centenary celebrations in 1975. Since then, he has worked with many companies, both professional and amateur, including three years at the Opernhaus Zürich, Switzerland.

GAYNOR KEEBLE

SOLOIST

A wonderful singing actress with a rich, powerful voice and charismatic stage presence, British MezzoSoprano Gaynor Keeble studied at the University of Warwick and the Royal Academy of Music, where she was a Countess of Munster scholar. On graduating from the Royal Academy of Music she became a company member of Welsh National Opera.

STEVEN PAGE SOLOIST

Steven, whilst a practicing lawyer, won a scholarship to study at the National Opera Studio. Since then he has sung with the major opera companies and orchestras in the UK and many abroad. Most recently he has played Opera North, Scottish Opera/ Music Theatre Wales, Welsh National Opera, English National Opera.

Your exclusive entertainment aboard the MS Elegant Lady

We have a fabulous line up of soloists, hand picked from The National G&S Opera Company. We are delighted that Theatrical Adventures favourite David Cookson will return as Musical Director and Stephen Turnbull will appear as our guest lecturer.

STEPHEN GODWARD SOLOIST

Stephen studied at the Guildhall School of Music. He has played in many Sondheim productions and he won ‘Best Male Performer’ at the G&S Festival in Buxton on four occasions & Stephen regularly performs with the NGSOC.

ALEX HAZARD

SOLOIST

Alex has performed regularly at the G&S Festival and on tour with the NGSOC, she has also appeared as Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Yum- Yum (Mikado), Frou- Frou (Merry Widow), Mrs Nordstrom (A Little Night Music) and Hodel (Fiddler on the Roof).

PHOEBE SMITH SOLOIST

Soprano Phoebe Smith recently graduated her Masters degree from the Royal Academy of Music. Phoebe joined Nevill Holt Opera as an associate artist in their production of La Boheme before performing in the National G&S Opera Company’s 2022 tour.

Stephen Turnbull has been Secretary of the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society for 43 years and eleven editing its Magazine. He has been instrumental in bringing about many performances and recordings and has written and lectured extensively.

STEPHEN TURNBULL GUEST LECTURER

Flowing from the Rhône Glacier in the peaks of the Swiss Alps, the Rhône River gently meanders through Switzerland and France towards the Mediterranean, passing through some of the most picturesque cities, towns and historic sites in France.

Our cruise takes us from the gothic serenity of the Papal Palace in Avignon, to the bustling squares of Vienne and from the untamed nature reserve of the Camargue, to the refined culinary capital Lyon. We will enjoy an unparalleled combination of the wild and the cultured.

Included in your cruise is an extraordinary French gastronomic experience at the legendary Paul Bocuse’s Abbaye de Collonges. This will be a singular experience in an exceptional setting, where you will be able to relish gourmet courses, prepared by renowned chefs from across France.

26 OCTOBER | LYON

Passengers are invited to join the ship from 4pm to check in. Once we are all onboard, we will set sail to the south. We have time to unpack and get settled in before we introduce the crew, our staff and the entertainers over a welcome cocktail (or two!). We cruise through the night Performance: Our onboard professional soloists entertain.

27 OCTOBER | ARLES

This morning you can enjoy the gorgeous French landscape as we cruise towards Arles. We will pass the city of Valence, dominated by its cathedral and sail through Montélimar before arriving in Arles.

We will head out on a tour of The Camargue - an immense flatland, home to exceptional wildlife and plants which thrive it the marshes and ponds. This evening we have free time to explore Arles.

Performance: Our onboard professional soloists entertain.

28 OCTOBER | AVIGNON

This morning we journey back to Avignon, which, throughout a significant period of the 14th Century, was the seat of the Catholic Popes. We make a visit to one of the most important Gothic buildings in Europe, The Palais des Papes– an imposing fortress, built to symbolise the power of the Catholic Church. Our tour around this spectacular piece of history gives a peak into the papal apartments, the immense halls and the intimate chapels.

Performance: Our onboard professional soloists entertain.

29 OCTOBER | VIVIERS, TAIN L’HERMITAGE

This morning we set off on a coach tour to Gorges de l’Ardèche. This panoramic tour will bring you right into the heart of this treasured area. The 18 mile canyon was carved by turbulent waters, that left behind steep cliffs, deep valleys and dense vegetation and stunning limestone formations. We’ll see the Pont d’Arc - a natural arch over 100 feet high, carved out by the Ardèche River. After the tour we will return to the ship at La Voulte and cruise towards Tain L’Hermitage. On arrival we have an optional tour (price TBC) to the Cité du Chocolat. Explore, smell and (of course!) taste chocolate in all its forms at the Valrhona discovery centre. Performance: Our onboard professional soloists entertain.

30 OCTOBER | VIENNE, COLLANGES AU MONT D’OR

We will spend the morning cruising towards Vienne where we can enjoy some free time to explore the city before departing to Lyon. As we sail into Lyon, you can enjoy views of the beautiful painted walls, Fouvière Hill and it’s white basilica.

Our ship will then leave the Rhône for a brief sail up the Saône towards Collanges au Mont d’Or, where we will enjoy an extraordinary French gastronomic experience at Paul Bocuse’s Abbaye de Collonges. Paul Bocuse was a three-star gourmet chef, known for his innovative approach to cuisine and his love for fresh ingredients of the highest quality. This will be a singular experience in an exceptional

setting where you’ll be able to relish out-of-this-world courses prepared by some of the most renowned chefs. At the end of our delicious evening, we’ll return on board the ship. Performance: Our onboard professional soloists entertain.

31 OCTOBER | LYON

We start the day with a short early morning cruise towards Lyon. Enjoy a leisurely morning onboard, or explore Lyon on your own before lunch onboard.

This afternoon, we set off on a guided tour of the city, followed by an optional tasting of fine food at Paul Bocuse’s Les Halles de Lyon, a huge, three-story, indoor market where close to 50 shops offer the finest gourmet food. We’ll enjoy a snack of local sausage and cheese, topped off with a lovely glass of wine. Performance: Our onboard professional soloists entertain.

1 NOVEMBER | LYON

Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. No performance tonight. Au revoir until our next cruise!

AT A GLANCE

This

Bocuse

see

There can be no tapestry of river life as fascinating and varied as the River Mekong. Indeed there can be no more striking a cultural contrast as that between the bustling Vietnam delta and the tranquility of Cambodia. We pass from the vibrant French colonial port of Saigon, through the vast delta so rich in human life and endeavour, to travel along the main channel into the rich countryside of Cambodia. With a full day in charming Phnom Penh we then explore more remote waterways as we progress to the great monuments of Angkor and a two night stay at the 5 star Sofitel Angkor Hotel.

20 APRIL | HO CHI MINH CITY

Staff will be on hand at the airport to meet all passengers arriving on the day to escort them to the meeting point. We will all get together at the Liberty Central Riverside Hotel restaurant between 11.30 am and 1.30 pm Lunch at the hotel.

In the afternoon, a tour of the city to see the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Saigon Central Post Office. Next, we’ll head to Cholon, the Chinese-influenced section of the city, to tour its hectic market and the Thien Hau temple. You’ll then be transferred to our ship. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. We have dinner and spend the night on the ship.

21 APRIL | HO CHI MINH CITY

We’ll leave by coach for the Cu Chi tunnels, an immense network of underground tunnels that were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War. After lunch, join us for a visit to the Museum of Vietnamese History. Then we begin to cruise to the splendid Cho Gao canal.

22 APRIL | CHAO GAO

During our passage through the Chao Gao Canal, you’ll discover the daily life in Vietnam—organised around fishing, farming, and transport. In My Tho, we’ll visit a bee farm and enjoy some honey tea and exotic fruit. We’ll then take a ride in small sampans along the canal lined with mangrove palms. After having lunch on board, we visit Vinh Long, located in the middle of the Delta region between two of the Mekong’s distributaries. Discover a brick and pottery factory, a fruit-tree nursery, puffed riced, rice-paper wrappers, and rice alcohol.

23 APRIL | SA DEC

We’ll visit the former house of Huynh Thuy Le, the man who Marguerite Duras based her book The Lover on. After our

excursion, enjoy some free time in Sa Dec. We return on board and cast off as you sit down to lunch. Our ship will begin to cruise to Cambodia.

24 APRIL | CHAU DOC

After breakfast and our arrival in Chau Doc, we visit a local fish farm, the Ba Chua Xu Temple, and the Tay An Pagoda. We’ll enjoy lunch on board and arrive in Phnom Penh in the evening. Enjoy dinner on board this evening. Set out on a brief tour of the area by “tuktuk,” the easiest way to get around the city.

25 APRIL | PHNOM PENH

Enjoy a tour of the fabulous Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, which is inlaid with more than 5,000 silver tiles. After, join us for a visit to the National Museum of Cambodia. We have lunch in the city. In the afternoon, you can pay a visit to the Tuol Svay Prey School, a former detention, torture, and execution center run by the Khmer Rouge during the civil war. Afterwards, enjoy some free time at the market. We return to the ship and enjoy a performance of classical Khmer dancing and music.

26 APRIL | KAMPONG TRALACH

Once we arrive in Koh Chen, you can explore this small village where craftspeople specialize in silver and copper work. Enjoy lunch on board. We head to Kampong Tralach to visit the beautiful Vihara at the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. To access the pagoda, we need to cross the village of Kampong Tralach in ox carts, moving along a small road that runs perpendicular to the river in the middle of magnificent rice fields. Our ship will remain anchored overnight.

27 APRIL | TONLE SAP LAKE

This morning there is a visit to Kampong Chhnang, one of the largest fishing ports on Tonle Sap Lake. Fish farming is abundant here. The region is also known for its traditional pottery

combining ancient knowledge with modern techniques —Chhnang itself means “pot.” Enjoy a tasting of regional products. Enjoy lunch on board. We then cruise to Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Tonight, we have our final cocktail and dinner on the ship.

28 APRIL | SIEM REAP, ANGKOR TEMPLES

Spend the morning cruising the river before disembarking and having lunch on shore. After, we’ll visit the Angkor Wat temple: the epitome of Khmer architectural art and the most famous and imposing of all the monuments in Angkor. Enjoy a stroll through the Angkor Night Market. Dinner and overnight in the 5* Sofitel Angkor Hotel.

29 APRIL | SIEM REAP, ANGKOR TEMPLES

This morning, we’ll visit the mysterious Beng Mealea temple, whose ruins were once utterly consumed by jungle. The temple was built in the 12th century and used the same floor plan as Angkor Wat. We’ll have lunch in the city. We’ll visit the Senteurs d’Angkor, a local business with a diverse collection of silk and carvings, as well as a superb range of traditional beauty products and spices, all made locally. We’ll also visit a silk farm to learn about the complex process of creating the luxurious fabric. The day ends with Phare, the Cambodian circus.

30 APRIL | SIEM REAP, ANGKOR TEMPLES

This morning, we’ll tour Ta Prohm, a Cambodian temple dedicated to the family of Jayavarman VII. We’ll then explore Angkor Thom. Stroll through the grounds of the former Royal Palace and discover the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. Lunch will be served at the hotel. We’ll bid you farewell at approximately 2.00 pm. Please do not book your flight before 5.00 pm.

ALL INCLUDED

Visit the Reunification Palace, Notre Dam Cathedral & Saigon Central Post OfficeTour Cholon & visit Thein Hau temple

- Visit Cu Chi tunnels & the Museum of Vietnamese History

- Visit to a Bee Farm & take a ‘sampan’ ride down mangrove lined canals

- In Vinh Long, we visit a brick and pottery factory

Visit the house of Huynh Thuy Le Tour a Fish Farm, the temple Ba Chua Xu and see the Tay An Pagoda

Take a ‘tuk-tuk’ tour of Phnom Penh

- Guided tour or the Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda

Visit the National Museum of Cambodia

Visit Tuol Svay Prey School & free time in a market

Visit the Vihara at the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda

Taste regional products in Kamong Chhnang Guided tour at Angkor Wat temple and vist to Angkor market Tour Beng Mealea temple Visit Senteurs d’Angkor

- Visit the Cambodian Circus Tour Ta Prohm

CU CHI TUNNELS