Barber’s tale given a trim

A FREE bite-sized version of The Barber of Seville is going on tour this month, visiting the Capital on October 21 and 22.

Scottish Opera is using the tour to broaden people’s horizons and give them a taste of opera for free.

It will visit a series of unusual venues, including shopping centres and even a hospital.

The performances in Edinburgh will take place in The Scottish Storytelling Centre on October 21 and the Edinburgh Farmers’ Market and Surgeons’ Hall the following day.

A Little Bit of Barber condenses the classic opera into 20 minutes using a series of colourful illustrations, a storyteller, a singer and two musicians.

It tells the tale of Count Almaviva, who hatches a plan with his barber to help Rosina escape the clutches of her guardian, Doctor Bartolo.