HANSEL & GRETEL

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2013

The Bussey Building

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Produced by  Opera in Space

Music  Engelbert Humperdinck
Libretto  Adelheid Wette
Musical Director  Nicola Rose

Director  Richard Pyros

Design Justin Nardella 

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Photos  Nick Brittain

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'The progress from naturalism to fantasy is smooth…Go (see it) for the fun of it.  Go to see what a smart designer can do on a tight budget.'

THE TIMES ★★★

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'Nardella’s set design was a particular highlight of the piece, with each space providing a charming and exciting setting for the action. The tinsel-strewn forest created a childlike anticipation; the fairy light lined house was both sophisticated and simple in equal measure.'

THE PUBLIC REVIEWS ★★★★

 

'Director Richard Pyros and designer Justin Nardella do a great job, creating a snow-filled square, subtle lighting and lo and behold, a Valkyrie like Witch (Rhonda Browne), all day glow black and yellow leather like some gorgeous piece of liquorice who feeds Gretel almond paste, rides around on a ghostly bicycle and threatens her with unspeakable acts…  Reduced down to 90 minutes, Engelbert Humperdinck’s 1890s opera, if shorn of some of its grimmer, more frightening aspects, emerges here as a clever, imaginative, splendidly sung and designed festive bauble, suitable for all the family.' 

LONDON GRIP 

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witch in a rubber dress, in a rectangle of snow and a greenhouse for an oven'

TIME OUT ★★★★