A new opera based on a bestselling children’s novel come to Cardiff this Autumn half-term, with a set design by up and coming Cardiff designer Rhys Jarman.Varjak Paw is based on the best-selling children’s books by S F Said – Varjak Paw, winner of the Smarties Prize Gold Award in 2003, and The Outlaw Varjak Paw which was the Blue Peter Book of the Year in 2007. The show’s set is designed by Cardiff-born Rhys Jarman who trained the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Rhys won the 2007 Linbury Stage Design Award and has since gone on to work on projects at the Royal Opera House and National Theatre. Varjak Paw is a young Mesopotamian Blue cat. He lives high in a house on a hill. No-one in his family has ever set paw outside; not since their legendary ancestor - Jalal. But when the sinister Gentleman and his two black cats come to the house, Varjak must seek help. Alone in a dark and dangerous city, he encounters a world of tough street cats, makes some unexpected allies and discovers in himself an ancient and magical martial art. Produced by The Opera Group, whose production of The Enchanted Pig was a huge hit with young audiences in 2007, Varjak Paw is written by composer Julian Phillips and celebrated writer/librettist Kit Hesketh- Harvey. Kit Hesketh-Harvey comments: “I wanted to write an opera that young people would enjoy. Varjak Paw is a romping good yarn based on the old story of the young lad who becomes a super-hero. There’s no better operatic story than that!” Varjak Paw in on at Sherman on 28 October. Tickets are £12 (Reductions £10) and can be booked from the Box Office on 029 2064 6900 or online at www.shermancymru.co.uk |
| Sherman Cymru web site: www.shermancymru.co.uk |
| e-mail: |
Friday, October 17, 2008 |
Older news
stories have been carefully archived.
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999