University of Chichester’s Head of Voice is featured in ITV’s Drama Endeavour

Susan Legg, the University of Chichester Conservatoire’s Head of Voice, has been featured in ITV’s flagship crime drama Endeavour.

Series seven of the award-winning show has as a narrative which mirrors and cross-references a bespoke Baroque style opera in which Susan plays the heroine in all three episodes.

Susan worked very closely with the composer and conductor of Endeavour, Matthew Slater, during the development and recording of the score and the on-set filming of his opera which took place in Central London during August 2019. 

Susan, who is no stranger to featuring on film, TV and videogame scores, found this a unique challenge.

As she recalls: “I received the score and the complex Italian libretto early in the morning of the day of the recording session at Angel Studios in London. I remember being driven up the A3 learning the notes and translating the libretto to uncover the nuances of the drama. The recording was an intense but thrilling experience.”

Susan then attended two days of filming during which Slater’s opera was fully staged in Baroque costume.

“As is customary on location the filming days start punishingly early: I had to be in the make-up department at 5am, with my Baroque costume fitting at 5.30am ready for call at 6am. It was great to have my own trailer and an amazingly talented and experienced team to make sure filming went without a hitch.”

Watch Susan’s episode in full here www.itv.com/hub/endeavour/2a1229.

For more about Susan and her work in the University of Chichester Conservatoire’s go to www.chi.ac.uk/staff/susan-legg or visit www.chi.ac.uk/conservatoire.