It’s 1893. Puccini is close to being hailed as Italy’s newest opera king, but needs to write something to cement his reputation. He’s found the perfect subject: the enchanting love story of La Boheme.

There’s only one problem – fellow composer Ruggero Leoncavallo has thought of it too. And worse still, he’s claiming Puccini stole his idea…

Soon it’s a race between two of Italy’s hottest composers: the battle of the Bohemes. The winner will claim a place in the pantheon, the loser a footnote in history. With riches, rivalry and reputation on the line, both will have to face more than they bargained for. But there’s more to life than great art – isn’t there?

A hilarious, chaotic and captivating new play by James Inverne, That Bastard, Puccini! brings to life an explosive professional rivalry, a plagiarism scandal that rocked Europe, and a friendship tested to the limit. Witness the story behind one of the world’s most famous masterpieces… and as a result, one of the least famous. Both of them titled La Boheme.