Pop-Up Opera return this autumn with Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel. In true Pop-Up fashion, the company give one of the most popular operatic fairy tales a magical twist ensuring this wintry delight will both enchant and thrill.
Humperdinck’s dark and atmospheric opera will make its way to unusual and unique spaces across the UK, continuing to challenge the way opera is traditionally performed. Sung in German (with Pop-Up Opera’s signature ‘silent movie’ captions in English), the wonderful combination of music and drama brings the exciting relationships between characters to life.
Brother and sister Hansel & Gretel are drawn into the idyllic yet dangerous world of the forest, where they encounter the Sandman, the Dew Fairy and, most frightening of all, the Witch. In the dizzying excitement of the Witch’s Ride and the serene beauty of the children’s evening prayer, Humperdinck’s music magically evokes the contrasting worlds of the story.
Director James Hurley comments, Hansel and Gretel is the perfect fairy tale opera experience, packed full of humour, suspense, and danger. It offers some unique theatrical challenges - how to create an enchanted forest, build a gingerbread house, or burn a witch! This production will conjure up an ingenious, fully-integrated scenic world, which stays true to Pop-Up’s immersive charm.
With 90 performances a year, Pop-Up Opera skilfully adapt their operas to each individual venue, making every performance unique, while always maintaining the highest standards. The combination of amazing venues, along with an informal atmosphere and engaging productions, offers a greater connection to the singers and the music, something even seasoned opera-goers often miss.
Running time 1 hour 30 minutes (plus interval)
Website www.popupopera.co.uk
Twitter @PopupOperaUK
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/popupopera
Director James Hurley
Producers Fiona Johnston and Clementine Lovell
Musical Director Berrak Dyer
Captions Harry Percival
Captions Operators Rachel Hunter
Stage Managers Emily Salmon and Fiona Johnston
Pianists Berrak Dyer
Hansel Polly Leech
Gretel Sofia Larsson
Peter James Harrison
Gertrud/Witch Ailsa Mainwaring
Dew Fairy/Sandman Rebecca Moon
Tour Dates
21st – 22nd Sept Thames Tunnel Shaft, London, 7.30pm
Brunel Museum, Railway Avenue, London SE16 4LF
26th – 29th Sept The Minack Theatre, Cornwall, 7.30pm
Porthcurno, Penzance TR19 6JU
Thurs 5th Oct Hellens Manor, Herefordshire, 7.30pm
Much Marcle, Ledbury, HR8 2LY
Sat 7th Oct Black Mountains Barn, Hereford, 7.30pm
Lower Hunt House, Longtown, Herefordshire, HR2 0PD
Tues 10th Oct V&A Museum of Childhood, London, 7.30pm
Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 9PA
Sat 14th Oct Vera Fletcher Hall, Thames Ditton, Surrey, 7.30pm
4 Embercourt Road, Surrey, KT7 0LQ
Sun 15th Oct East Finchley Arts Festival, London, 7.30pm
All Saints Church, 35 Durham Road, East Finchley, N2 9DP
Thurs 19th Oct London Museum of Water and Steam, 7.30pm
Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, London, TW8 0EN
Sat 21st Oct Anne of Cleves, Braintree, Essex, 7.30pm
Great Lodge, Great Bardfield, Braintree, Essex, CM7 4QD
Wed 25th Oct The Regal Theatre, Somerset, 7.30pm
The Avenue, Minehead, TA24 5UQ
Fri 27th Oct The Farrington Theatre, Port Regis School, Dorset, 7.30pm
Motcombe Park Motcombe, Shaftesbury, SP7 9QA
Wed 1st Nov The International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester, 7.30pm
3 Cambridge Street, Manchester, M1 5BY
Thurs 2nd Nov Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, 8pm
122A Highgate, Kendal, LA9 4HE
Sat 4th Nov Harpenden Hall, Harpenden, 7.30pm
Southdown Road, Harpenden AL5 1PD
Sun 5th Nov Asylum Peckham, London, 5pm
Caroline Garden’s Chapel, London, SE15 2SQ
11th – 12th Nov Court Gardens Farm, East Sussex, 6pm/5pm
Court Gardens Farm, Orchard Lane, Ditchling, East Sussex, BN6 8TH
Tues 14th Nov Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, 7.30pm
The University of Cambridge, Storey’s Way, Cambridge, CB3 0DG
18th – 19th Nov V&A Museum, London, 2pm
Cromwell Road, Knightsbridge, London, SW7 2RL
