There may be an autumnal feel in the air, but get ready to feel the heat and passion of Spain.

Award-winning producer Ellen Kent is returning with an opera and ballet production of Bizet’s Carmen.

She’s brought her own personal Iberian influences to the show, as she spent her teenage years in Andalucia, where her mother ran a donkey charity.

In fact, Ellen has continued her mother’s passion into the tour – bringing a donkey on stage for the show.

An opera producer for 24 years, she has staged productions everywhere from the grounds of Leeds Castle to entertaining the Emir of Qatar in the first ever performance of Carmen live on Al Jazeera television.

"I’ve staged performances all over the world, but a real highlight was staging Nabucco in the grounds of Rochester Castle," said Ellen, who is based in Canterbury.

"This was where it all really started for me and opera – it was a life-changing moment. My dream has always been to stage Aida in Egypt on the banks of the River Nile."

Carmen tells the story of a bewitching, beautiful gypsy girl who lures a soldier to desert. It features some of the best-loved melodies in opera and the voices of international mezzo-soprano Liza Kadelnik from the Romanian National Opera and Bulgarian mezzo-soprano Nadezhda Stoianova as Carmen.

Ellen said: "My work is very special as it also gives me the opportunity to work with my daughter Juliet. She’s a documentary film maker and film producer, and was the casting director for The Only Way Is Essex, so all very different from opera. She casts the wider ensemble that plays a major part in the production."

Family is an important influence on Ellen. She said: "My father is from Liverpool and his young life included serving people on a market stall at just 12.

"He joined the Army and went on to become the High Commissioner in India. My mother produced amateur opera in Bombay (Mumbai), so I began performing at six. I didn’t go to school until I was 12. I am positive that together with my parents’ influences, this has played a major part in choosing a creative path to follow.

"You just have to go for it in life, make the absolute most of it. My parents were exactly the same. No matter what problems you face, you overcome them.

"I’ve faced a lot of challenges in life – but I want to achieve and never want to fail."

DETAILS

Carmen will be at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford on Sunday, September 27. It is sung in French with English surtitles. To book tickets from £20 visit orchardtheatre.co.uk or 01322 220000.

The show is then at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells on Saturday, October 10. Tickets from £25, call 01892 530613 or go to assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk.

On Sunday, December 6, Carmen plays its final date in the county at Folkestone’s Leas Cliff Hall. Book on 01303 228600 or at www.atgtickets.com

Win tickets to see Carmen in this week's What's On