Opera Makers 2020
These performances are no longer available. Thank you to everyone who tuned in to watch and support Opera makers 2020.
It is our pleasure to welcome you to this, our sixth incarnation of Opera Makers.
The MA in Opera Making & Writing is a one-year programme, delivered in association with the Royal Opera House, in which three composer-librettist pairings create 25-minute chamber operas specifically for singers in the first year of the Opera Course. This creates a challenging training experience for singers, repetiteurs, orchestral musicians and theatre technicians, for whom being involved in such a process is often an entirely new experience. It also aims to give composers and writers first-hand experience of the whole process of making an opera, from the page to the stage.
The pieces have been extensively workshopped at each stage of development, to give the singers in particular a voice in helping the composers create roles that suit them vocally and we are hugely appreciative of all the wisdom and support which so many of the Opera Course staff and our vocal professors have given in helping us along the way. It is this process of creating a work together as a company that is just as important to us than the final result, and we do hope you enjoy these new chamber operas.
Julian Philips Head of Composition, Programme Leader MA in Opera Making & Writing
Stephen Plaice Writer-in-Residence
Dominic Wheeler Head of Opera Studies
Download the programme (PDF)
The Apothecary
Clare Best writer
Amy Crankshaw composer
Eintänzer
Kaitlin Sullivan writer
Aran O’Grady composer
I’m Cleaning, I’m Cleaning
Aubrey Lavender writer
Ábel Esbenshade composer
Creative Team
John Ramster director
Tim Redmond music director
Louis Carver designer
Jack Weir lighting designer
Victoria Newlyn choreographer
The Apothecary
Clare Best writer
Amy Crankshaw composer
Josh Ridley repetiteur
Cast
Apothecary - Adam Maxey
Madeleine - Olivia Boen
Francois - Thando Mjandana
Elise - Siân Griffiths
Pauline - Laura Lolita Perešivana
Orchestra
Violin - Sonja Tuomela
Viola - Jeremy Tonelli-Sippel
Cello - Gabrielle Yuen
Bass - Piotr Hetman
Flute & Piccolo - Nicola Stevenson
Clarinet & Bass clarinet - Cara Doyle
Bassoon - Lucy Gibson
Horn - Jake Parker
Percussion - Will Miles
Piano & Keyboard - Josh Ridley
Eintänzer
Kaitlin Sullivan writer
Aran O’Grady composer
Katie Wong repetiteur
Cast
Julius Nicklehopper, a taxi dancer - Tom Mole
Kaiserina Wilhelmina Savoia, a dowager - Katherine McIndoe
Henryk Quicklime, a racketeer - Brenton Spiteri
Leslie Tanglehart, a partisan - Jessica Ouston
Agnieszka - Chloe Stally-Gibson
Chorus
Laura Lolita Perešivana
Siân Griffiths
Thando Mjandana
Adam Maxey
Orchestra
Violin - Ella Ronson
Viola - Jo Eun Shim
Cello - Anna Ryland-Jones
Double bass - Piotr Hetman
Flute & Piccolo - Rebecca Rouch
Clarinet & Bass clarinet - Julie Aaquist
Alto & Tenor saxophone - George Shrapnell
Trumpet - Lucas Houldcroft
Percussion - Aidan Marsden
Harp - Heather Brooks
Piano - Katie Wong
I'm Cleaning, I'm Cleaning
Aubrey Lavender writer
Ábel Esbenshade composer
Will Sharma repetiteur
Cast
Cleaning Lady - Ella de Jongh
General - Chuma Sijeqa
Attaché - Jack Lindberg
Spy - Laura Lolita Perešivana
Telemarketer - Siân Griffiths
Orchestra
Violin - Katherine Sung
Viola - Matt Johnstone
Cello - Alice Luddington
Double bass - Cole Morrison
Flute & Piccolo - Shahmir Samee
Clarinet & Bass clarinet - Fresca David
Horn - David Sztankov
Trombone - Jake Jones
Percussion - Francisco Negreiros
Harp - Emilia Agajew
Piano - Will Sharma
Production Team
Opera Department Students and Fellows
Assistant Director - Emily Coppola
Assistant Musical Director - Toby Hession
Repetiteurs - Josh Ridley, Will Sharma, Katie Wong
Production Arts Students
Production Manager - Chloe Stally-Gibson
Production Assistants - Rin Akiyama
Technical Assistant/Automation Operator - Sami Barqawi
Stage Manager - Tom Downie
Deputy Stage Manager - Adam Woodhouse
Assistant Stage Managers - Natalya Scase, Rose Dayan, Samantha Liquorish, Laura Smith
Scenic Art/Props Co-ordinator - Pippa Higham
Assistant Prop Makers - Zoe Bridger, Fiona Newton
Scenic Art Co-ordinator - Tabitha Streater
Assistant Scenic Artists - Rose Bailey, Ophir Westman, Fiona Newton, Danielle Da Costa, Tara Boland
Design Realisation Assistants - Mary Deakes, Robbie Lynch, Dani Diego, Allegra Totaro-Wainwright, Charlotte Cross, Em Dethick-Jones
Head of Sound Production Engineer - Finlay Anderson
Sound Editing and Mixing – Sam Levy, Maisie Roberts, Molly Barron, Sarah Albritton
Production Electrician - Liam Sayer
Chief Electrician - Jamie Webb
Lighting Programmer - Thomas Dixon
Studio Team - Jack Stevens, Aled Roberts, Josh Collins (Notch)
Costume Supervisor - Jessica Troy
Costume Assistants - Alice Dearman, Naomi Wright
Additional Staff
Production Manager - Clare Partington, Guildhall Live Events
Project Engineer - Rury Nelson, Bild Studios
Project Manager - Christian Dickens, Bild Studios
Film Maker - Karl Dixon, No Class Creations
3D Set Construction and Realisation - Laurie Lumley, Toby McManus
Wigs, Hair & Makeup - Gemma Tyler
Ensembles, Programming & Instrument Manager - Phil Sizer
Orchestral Librarian - Anthony Wilson
See the CVs for Guildhall School Final Year Technical Theatre Arts students