New Production Puts Young Voices Center Stage at Royal Ballet & Opera
By Afton MarkayThe Royal Ballet and Opera’s (RBO) new opera co-created by and for young people, “The Wish Thief,” premieres July 12.
The Youth Opera Company aims to amplify creative new voices and give younger audiences more opportunities to experience the world of opera. The research and development process for the production first began in 2022 with an open call to creatives to submit and pitch ideas for a youth-focused opera to the RBO’s Youth Opera Company – a free, in-house chorus made up of 9 to 13-year-old singers.
“The Wish Thief” was created by the Youth Opera Company alongside composer Leighton Jones, librettist Jonathan Ainscough, director Victoria Briggs, and musical director Patrick Barrett. The opera will feature all 64 members of the Youth Opera Company, who will perform with baritone Peter Brathwaite and sorpano Beren Kader Fidan.
Patrick Barrett, Chorus Director of the Youth Opera Company, said in a press release, “It has been amazing to be a part of a production that has been so centered around bringing young people’s ideas, curiosity and stories to the stage. Opera is just as much for young people as it is for anyone else, and the Youth Opera Company’s enthusiasm and joy in performing and co-creating this show is a real testament to that. We hope this inspires more people of all ages to come and experience opera and the magic of live theatre.”
Outside of their production, the Youth Opera Company members also have the chance to perform in two mainstage productions each season. Most recently, members performed in Antony McDonald’s “Hansel and Gretel,” and Damiano Michieletto’s “Carmen.”
“The Wish Thief” will also be performed twice on July 13 at the Linbury Theatre. The opera is sung in English with English surtitles. Captions and translations in English will be displayed above the stage.
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