Hansel and Gretel

Royal Opera House

Collaboration with Willa Phoenix

A Christmas treat for all the family; a fairy tale brought to life, talent and a fantastic set! The perfect first opera and Christmas present.

Bag: Willa Phoenix Clutch Bag in the style 'The Las Vegas'

The Royal Opera house has given their audience a sweet Christmas treat this year, and it is one for the whole family. This production is loaded with magic and sparkle. It is the perfect 'first opera', being both sung and subtitled in English. This production is designed and directed by Antony Mcdonald, who has worked on operas for a number of years all around the world; such as 'Knoxville: Summer of 1915' at the Royal Opera House and won 'Set Designer of The Year' in the 2013 International Opera Awards! His concept of Hansel and Gretel emphasizes the fairytale setting and includes an array of fantasy characters. Some of whom you may even recognise.

Hansel, played by Kate Lindsey, and Gretel played by Heidi Stober, play their youthful characters well. The dynamic between the two is playful and their voices project the excitable, imaginative characters that they are. They contrast each other well, their age difference is also clear from their physical mannerisms, Hansel looks out for his younger sister and Gretel comes acrosas more naive and vulnerable. The mother and father are presented as old fashioned, the mother seems to tirelessly sacrifice to ensure the father and children are well fed and happy, and you can see how as the show goes on she becomes tired and weaker. The father overpowers her and he is firm with her, perhaps too firm at times, as this is an old-fashioned story this dynamic reflects the nature of couples of that period of time and it is not the easiest to watch when the father is shouting at the mother. You do feel a lot of sympathy for her. The witch is played by Carole Wilson, she plays the old woman well and her villain character shines through her disguise as an old woman with good intentions.

Another element that shines brightly in this piece is the design of the production. As previously mentioned, it brings the fairy tale/fantasy themes of the story to life, there are some beautiful story book moments. Such as when the pair are lost in the forest; there are realistic trees that fill the stage and woodland creatures dance through the trees, chasing each other. The panels around the stage have a tree trunk appearance and there is a huge moth and a beetle-like creature that crawls around the length of this border. There is also a clock above the stage, this helps the audience understand the time that passes between scenes and, this is an effective transition between scenes that keeps the audience engaged. The Gingerbread house is grand, but you can tell it is not real as there is a huge cauldron hiding behind it, this is effective, because you are reminded that the house is a trap to lure the children in.

As a whole, the show brings fantasy to life and is a perfect experience for the whole family this Christmas time. It is an opera that is easy to follow and crystal clear. This means it is a perfect beginner's opera... you will find the more you delve into the opera world how complicated and bizarre the stories can be! This is your gateway into the insanely beautiful opera world. Whilst this is a strong piece that can be enjoyed by an audience of all ages; there is not a lot of emotion experienced by the audience, it does lack tension and emotion. However, as this is also aimed at children, it means it is not too complicated or difficult for them to experience. Being an older audience member without children the experience of the show is just a nice experience, but the show does not make you leave deep in thought or feeling an array of emotions, it is what it says on the tin. Overall, just an enjoyable experience for all the family and if it leaves you wanting to experience more opera... welcome, it'll be a fantastic journey!

Get your tickets: https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-events/hansel-and-gretel-dates

I also collaborated with the vegan fashion brand 'Willa Phoenix' for this theatre trip. The Royal Opera House is a theatre that you want to attend dressed to impress! This brand offers the most glamourous and comfortable shoes; with a matching clutch to embellish your outfit. Willa Phoenix also crafts their items in Italy with animal-free materials, they are the perfect cruelty-free alternative and radiate luxury. They are a staple for an evening at the theatre and after wearing these shoes for the evening I had endless compliments, felt glamourous and comfortable! What more do you need for a perfect theatre experience?

Get yours: https://willaphoenix.com/shop/

Shoe and Clutch bag in the style 'The Las Vegas'