Written by the award-winning American playwright Terrence McNally in 1995, Master Class made its West End debut in 1997 after its Tony Award- winning triumph on Broadway a year previously. It now makes a stunning return to London with Tyne Daly, of Cagney and Lacey fame, starring as renowned opera singer Maria Callas in her later years.

The gifted Daly deftly mixes comedy with pathos in the role of the wronged diva as she presides over a Juilliard master class in opera, offering a high definition performance that is fortified by a talented supporting cast as well as incidental music by Guiseppe Verde, Giacomo Puccini and Vincenzo Bellini.

WHAT IS MASTER CLASS ABOUT?

The glamorous, commanding, caustic and surprisingly funny pedagogue Maria Callas holds a master class in vocals for opera at the prestigious Julliard School. She is equally appalled and impressed by the students and is not afraid to let them know, with a delicious voracity, exactly how she feels about them.

All the while she muses about her glory years, from her youth as an ugly duckling to her triumphant performances at La Scala and her affair with Aristotle Onassis. These musings ultimately culminate in a monologue about sacrifice in the name of art and the audience is given a glimpse of the tortured soul beneath Callas' imposing exterior.