Last Updated on December 16, 2023
Channelling my Inner Child for Christmas at the Royal Opera House
At this time of year the thrill and excitement of Christmas as a child comes flooding back to me. Everything from Stir-up Sunday onward always seemed magical. But, while a trip to a panto or to the ballet was a seasonal treat, the idea of opera wasn’t ever brought up. Even now, when I’m asked to recommend an opera for younger people I struggle. Hansel and Gretel – opening today on the main stage at the Royal Opera House is one option. Cunning Little Vixen is a personal favourite but isn’t entirely appropriate and even it was, perhaps wouldn’t work for kids under 7 or 8. Wolf Witch Giant Fairy is a ‘folk opera’ with a distinctive folky feel to the music, which first opened for Christmas 2021, just as the world was emerging from Covid lockdowns.
Lucy from the London-Unattached team, one of our regular theatre reviewers, went along with a young critic in the form of 6-year-old Sonny. Lucy, who in another life runs White City Youth Theatre, loved the production – and so did Sonny – his first-ever opera. As Lucy pointed out
‘This was not Sonny’s first theatrical experience, but it was a really exciting introduction to opera. One that combined fairy tales, storytelling, music, theatre and opera, and what a fabulous combination!’
A simple, multifunctional set design by Samuel Wyer, with a giant moon rising over tall wispy pine trees, a central wooden rostrum and a tread behind, is brought to life by brilliantly colourful and atmospheric lighting from Joshua Pharo. Folksy costumes are enhanced by extraordinary props – headdresses, masks, fairy wings – and a giant with a huge papier mache head and hand. In the intimate setting of the Linbury Theatre, at times it feels as if you are in the middle of a brilliantly illustrated storybook.
This collaboration between the Royal Opera House and Little Bulb in association with Farnham Maltings took two years to develop and was intended as a celebratory return to the theatre after lockdown. Winner of the 2022 Olivier Award for the Best Family Show, it’s back this season for another run at the Royal Opera House in the charming Linbury Theatre (a space which has the benefit of well-raked seats throughout the auditorium including the stalls – and plenty of booster seat cushions!)
The show is upbeat from start to end. The entire ragtag troupe appear onstage with a collection of instruments – double bass, violin, guitar, mandolin, accordion, percussion, keyboards, flute and drums to introduce the story. Music directed by musical director Dominic Conway is inspired by wonderful traditional folk tunes which have been adapted and reworked to create a dynamic score that has toes tapping from the very start. The entire cast sings and most of them seem to play a range of instruments. The on-stage energy and passion created a ripple of excitement amongst the audience both young and old.
The Narrator, Peter Brathwaite, is a steampunk-garbed figure that could easily have come from a Dr Seuss Book. His storytelling takes you on a playful journey to a faraway land where fairy tales and fantastical creatures collide. Here Little Red Riding Hood played with a lovely combination of naivety and confidence by Clare Beresford, is sent by her mother to deliver some bread to her grandmother (Jon Whitten), who lives in the heart of the forest. In true tradition, she meets a very wicked wolf who, last night was played by Edmund Danon, replacing Tom Penn who was unwell. A deliciously flamboyant character dressed in purple robes with fur trim, the wolf distracts Red by suggesting she picks flowers (supplied by a green-clad actor lying horizontal holding floral stems) meanwhile the wolf hotfoots it to Grandma’s house and gobbles her up.
However, this is when the story takes an unusual turn, Baba Yaga (Clare Wild), an evil witch who eats children appears, she flies around in a pestle and mortar rather than your average broomstick. Wild, gives a great performance as Baba with her powerful soprano voice. A camp talking cat (Alexander Scott – who says he channelled a combo of Julie Walters in Dinner Ladies and Peter O’Toole into his performance) and a pack of hungry dogs help Red escape.
Red arrives in a village where meets some extraordinary, gentle villagers with basket-heads and white faces who are down on their luck. An arrogant bulbous-headed giant (Miriam Gould) had robbed the villagers of their Golden Harp and Golden Goose. They ask Red to go to the market to sell their cow and of course, she returns with some ‘magic’ beans, which grow into a giant beanstalk. Red climbs the beanstalk into the clouds and succeeds in stealing back the Goose and the Harp from the giant.
With fresh bread in her basket, Red continues to her Grandmother’s house where she meets the wolf and is, of course, eaten.
In true fairy story tradition though, there’s a twist and potential audience should rest assured that this Once Upon a Time does indeed end with everyone who deserves to do so living Happily Ever After. Four fairy stories in one, each packed with action and somehow seamlessly working together, it really is an opportunity for those of us who distantly remember the stories from our childhoods to relive the moment and to join in the exuberance of youth.
This innovative production is brimming with humour and imagination and there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. For me, the smaller members of the audience on their feet and spontaneously dancing was a fitting ending to a truly joyous production. The standard of musicianship is exemplary – some of the vocals are extraordinarily pure and the talented cast members all seem to play multiple instruments (and sing, act and dance too!).
Wolf Witch Giant Fairy is a perfect festive show for all the family. Listed as ‘Suitable for All’, it is a production that will genuinely captivate younger audiences. The performance lasts about 1 hour and 5 minutes with no interval. All performances of this production are relaxed performances.
11 DECEMBER 2023–6 JANUARY 2024
Booking – www.roh.org.uk
Royal Opera House
Covent Garden
Bow Street,
London,
WC2E 9DD
Looking for something different? You may like to consider The Nutcracker, also currently showing at the Royal Opera House