Our productions over the years
A trip down memory lane…
It's Your Move 2021
Composer - Russell Hepplewhite
Song Lyricist - Tim Yealland
Story & Script - Susan Moore
When the grand but decaying Marley Hall and all of its contents are put up for auction, the Hart family jump at the chance to own it! The five Hart children are about to discover that the house holds many secrets as they start to unravel the hidden mysteries of the Marleys and, along the way, discover more about themselves, each other, and about living with the consequences of your decisions.
This was the companies second online production due to Covid restrictions
Director: Susan Moore / Musical Director: Alastair Chilvers / Ass. Director & Vocal Coach: Susan Jiwey / Illustrator: Chris Glynn / Film Editor: Amy Banks / Set Design: Neil Irish / Costume Design: Anett Black / Production Management: eStage
Jukebox 2020
Online production during the Covid lockdowns.
The Producer is auditioning the characters from all of the previous thirty-eight W11 Opera commissioned shows to choose an overall winner: the best W11 Opera of all time! The competition heats up when Helen of Troy (Ulysses & the Wooden Horse), accompanied by her admiring suitors, arrives and wows the crowd. The, still geeky, Gerald (Shadowtracks) is spellbound by Helen’s beauty (which is not appreciated by his jealous girlfriend Sophie, her friend Tracy or his lovelorn best friend Nigel). While trouble brews for the unhappy couple, the evil Queen and her partner-in-crime the Archbishop (Eliza & the Swans) plot to win the competition by any means necessary…
Director & Script Writer: Susan Moore / Musical Director: Alastair Chilvers / Choreographer: Maggie Rawlinson / Illustrator: Chris Glynn / Film Editor: Amy Banks
Ever Young 2019
Composer - Russell Hepplewhite
Librettist - Helen Eastman
The mysterious Doctor Young calls together the world press to make an announcement - she has developed a drug which affords eternal youth and limitless life to all! After the initial excitement, as people from all walks of life clamour to get hold of this wonder-drug, a trio of Teenagers question the morality and practicality of this incredible development. They join forces with a growing anti-drug movement while the older bastions of society (including the Queen, Prime Minister and Dr. Young herself) cannot resist holding on to youth and power. Which side of the debate would you choose?
Director: Tim Yealland / Music Director: Alastair Chilvers / Movement Director: Maggie Rawlinson / Set Design: Neil Irish / Costume Design: Anett Black / Ass. Director: Tamsin Dives / Vocal Coach: Annabel Mountford / Production Management: eStage
Shadowtracks 2018
Composer - Julian Grant
Librettist - Christina Jones
Every night, when Waterloo station is closed, the Necropolis Line train pulls in, carrying the spirits of the long dead who were transported to Brookwood cemetery by the now defunct funeral train service. The famous four faced clock has watched over these proceedings since it’s installation in the early 1920s without a hitch until tonight… the ghost train has broken down, stranding the spirits at the station to, once more, pass a day amongst the living! Can the train be fixed? What are the effects of the dead & the living co-existing for a day? Can the ghosts use their powers for good as well as mischief?
Director: Susan Moore / Music Director: Alastair Chilvers / Movement Director: Maggie Rawlinson / Set Design: Neil Irish / Costume Design: Anett Black / Ass. Director: Vanessa Bowers / Vocal Coach: Annabel Mountford / Production Management: eStage
Cutlass Crew 2017
Composer - Stuart Hancock
Librettist - Donald Sturrock
Our story, set in 1583, is based on the adventures of Lady Mary Killigrew. Inspired by the spirit of mischief, she forms a Cutlass Crew of her female servants and sets sail to plunder. But when Lady Mary offends Good Queen Bess, she risks losing treasure, liberty and life. Will she be pardoned and the natural order be restored?
Director: Susan Moore / Music Director: Philip Sunderland / Movement Director: Maggie Rawlinson / Ass. Director: Annabel Mountford / Set Design: Neil Irish / Costume Design: Anett Black / Production Management: eStage
Eliza & The Swans 2015
Composer - John Barber
Librettist - Hazel Gould
Eliza & the Swans is a re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen's Wild Swans.
Eliza and her eleven brothers have been usurped by a Witch Queen. Eliza is raised by strangers; the brothers transformed into swans. Eliza must break the curse by knitting nettle jackets, but her mute silence is taken as a sign of witchery. Will Eliza burn, or will she reclaim her identity as a princess?
Director: Ben Occhipinti / Music Director: Philip Sunderland / Movement Director: Maggie Rawlinson / Associate Director: Susan Moore / Set Design: Neil Irish / Costume Design: Anett Black / Production Management: eStage
The Price 2016
Composer - Russell Hepplewhite
Librettist - Helen Eastman
“Liberty has a price. And someone paid that price for you.”
These days we tend to take for granted those rights which were earned the hard way through struggle and sacrifice. The Price brings politics alive and makes it personal, by taking us back in time to witness the story of the Suffragettes, the Pankhurst family and the events which led up to Derby Day 1913. In a year where politics has taken centre stage, The Price is entertaining, relevant and fun for the whole family.
Director: Susan Moore / Music Director: Philip Sunderland / Movement Director: Maggie Rawlinson / Associate Director: Laura Attridge / Set Design: Neil Irish / Costume Design: Anett Black / Production Management: eStage
Deep Waters 2014
Composer - Cecilia McDowall
Librettist - Christie Dickason
Deep Waters begins with a storm. Four shipwrecked children find themselves at the ocean's deep and are hailed as saviours by reef-dwelling fish. The Reefers' fierce enemies arrive to carry off the fingerlings and the children learn of the challenges sea creatures face from fishing 'up above' and from predatory neighbours below. The children witness the interdependent but competing worlds of the reef and the 'dive', before the thunderous Kraken restores order and balance.
Director: Ben Occhipinti / Music Director: Philip Sunderland / Movement Director: Maggie Rawlinson / Ass. Director: Susan Moore / Set Design: Neil Irish / Costume Design: Anett Black / Production Management: eStage
The Fizz 2013
Composer - Martin Ward
Librettist - Phil Porter
Why is The Fizz, the bizz? Randall's Replenishing Fizz has been made to the same recipe for generations. But what's the secret ingredient that makes this much-loved cold drink such a hot commodity? And will the Randall family prevent their famous product from being guzzled up by the ruthless Prufrock Corporation? Lots of you came along to have your tastebuds tickled by this sweet, bubbly and quenching new opera. A toothsome treat for all the family, brought to you by W11 Opera!
Director: Ben Occhipinti / Music Director: Philip Sunderland / Movement Director: Maggie Rawlinson / Set Design: Neil Irish / Costume Design: Caroline Bronwen Hughes / Production Management: eStage
Good Intentions 2012
Composer - Julian Philips
Librettist - Simon Christmas
Who can resist temptation? If your heart's desire were available right now, would you sign away your future? Do good intentions always lead to good outcomes? And how come that weird-looking teacher knows how to summon a demon?
Good Intentions asks questions like these as we follow a group of school children on a journey to hell and back. They're tempted by instant popularity, celebrity status, must-have brands and the desire to fit in and give up their individuality. Will they succumb or will they save their schoolmates?
Director: William Relton / Music Director: Philip Sunderland / Movement Director: Maggie Rawlinson / Set Design: Neil Irish / Costume Design: Caroline Bronwen Hughes / Production Management: eStage
Original Features 2011
Composer - Julian Grant
Librettist - Christina Jones
Commissioned for the company’s 40th anniversary
Set in Georgian townhouse in London in the 1920's and 30's, Original Features tells the story of the rise and fall and rise of an artistic bohemian family who are besieged by success, failure, and scheming relatives
Director: Ben Occhipinti / Music Director: Philip Sunderland / Movement Director: Maggie Rawlinson / Set Design: Neil Irish / Costume Design: Caroline Bronwen Hughes / Production Management: eStage
Rain Dance 2010
Composer - Stuart Hancock
Librettist - Donald Sturrock
Inspired by Tish Farrell's story, "The Hare Who Would Not Be King." Rain Dance is the tale of animals on the South African savannah facing a drought, the Machiavellian lion whom they elect to lead them, and their unlikely hero, a brilliant but neurotic and politically apathetic rabbit.
The opera was highlighting the effects of global warming and climate change.
Director: Ben Occhipinti / Music Director: Philip Sunderland / Movement Director: Maggie Rawlinson / Set Design: Neil Irish / Costume Design: Caroline Bronwen Hughes / Production Management: eStage