The Uncanny Things Trilogy : Virtually Opera's trilogy of interactive, immersive operas created by Leo Doulton

Come Bargain with Uncanny Things - Virtually Opera, COLAB Tower (Photo: Claire Shovelton)

In September last year I interviewed director and writer Leo Doulton [see my interview] and one of the topics we touched on was his interest in interactive storytelling including The Uncanny Things Trilogy which was then a work in progress. Now Virtually Opera are presenting all three interactive operas at COLAB Tower during March. 

Come Bargain with Uncanny Things
Virtually Opera, COLAB Tower (Photo: Claire Shovelton)

Described as the world’s only interactive immersive operas, with rich lore, total audience freedom, and a commitment to creating communities with audiences, at each performance the audience’s choices will develop the ongoing world of the show, forming a uniquely growing experience.

The three shows share the same setting one where supernatural creatures still flicker in the corner of your eye, giving gifts and sickness, able to bind and be bound. 

The audience-community decide how to change their lives by mastering rituals, crafting offerings, and negotiating with these beings. The fully-improvised music shifts and changes as the audience change the world, making their magic feel real.

In Come Bargain With Uncanny Things, a ritualistic gathering tries to solve local problems. 

In the comedic Come Worship Our Uncanny King, people brought into an Uncanny Thing’s court try to win favour. 

The trilogy closes with the tragic Come Murder An Uncanny Thing, the community deciding what justice looks like for a captive, dangerous, and powerful being. 

The trilogy has been evolving since 2022, and this is the first time it has been presented complete.

Come Worship Our Uncanny King - Virtually Opera, COLAB Tower (Photo: Claire Shovelton)

The trilogy has been created by Leo Doulton, with designs by Charley Ipsen and with Erika Gundesen as music advisor. The performers are CN Lester, Sarah Griffin, Amy Kearsley, Hestor Dart, and Maggie Vaz Neto. Virtually Opera is presenting The Uncanny Things Trilogy at COLAB Tower, 22 Southwark Bridge Road, London until 30 March 2025. 

Come Murder An Uncanny Thing - Virtually Opera, COLAB Tower (Photo: Claire Shovelton)

Full details from the website.

Come Murder An Uncanny Thing - Virtually Opera, COLAB Tower (Photo: Claire Shovelton)

Photo Essay: Annabel Arden's new production of Wagner's The Flying Dutchman at Opera North connects with those who have lived experience of seeking refuge

Wagner: The Flying Dutchman - Robert Hayward as The Dutchman and Edgaras Montvidas as Erik/ Steersman - Opera North (Photo: James Glossop)

As Opera North's new production of Wagner's The Flying Dutchman opened at the Grand Theatre, Leeds on Saturday 1 February 2025, we present a series of images from the production. The conductor is Garry Walker and the director is Annabel Arden with set, costume and video design by Joanna Parker, and lighting designer by Kevin Treacy. Robert Hayward is The Dutchman with Layla Claire as Senta, Clive Bayley as Daland and Edgaras Montvidas as Erik/ Steersman. (At the first night, Layla Claire walked the role and Mari Wyn Williams sang from the side of the stage, though Claire will be back in harness for the remainder of the performances).

Wagner: The Flying Dutchman - Robert Hayward as The Dutchman with the Chorus of Opera North - Opera North (Photo: James Glossop)

Described by The Guardian as 'thought provoking and moving', director Annabel Arden and designer Joanna Parker's production reimagines the action to take place on our ‘ship of state’: the Home Office.

Soundscapes, an immersive audio-visual installation that invites audiences on a sensory journey through the Yorkshire Dales

Ben Crick & Michaela French: Soundscapes - Skipton Town Hall (Photo: Jonny Walton)

Soundscapes, an immersive audio-visual installation that invites audiences on a sensory journey through the Yorkshire Dales, is now open to the public at Skipton Town Hall until 1 June 2024. The brainchild of Yorkshire’s composer and conductor of Skipton Camerata, Ben Crick, the installation was created by Crick and media artist Michaela French. 

Projected inside a purpose-built hemispherical dome, Soundscapes combines 360° videography of the Yorkshire Dales with a symphonic soundtrack, inspired by the landscape.

Audiences sit, or lie, under the cinematic dome to undertake an extraordinary experience of sight, sound, and space, with the original orchestral composition performed by Skipton Camerata, North Yorkshire's only professional orchestra. A dynamic team of creatives from across the north has collaborated to design the installation. 

Ben Crick & Michaela French: Soundscapes - Skipton Town Hall (Photo: Jonny Walton)

Full details from Skipton Town Hall's website.

Ben Crick & Michaela French: Soundscapes - Skipton Town Hall (Photo: Jonny Walton)

Les Noces – The Departure: a photo essay

New Movement Collective – Les Noces – The Departure © Photography by ASH

On 13 and 14 January 2024, the dance company New Movement Collective presented Stravinsky's Les Noces at Woolwich Works with new contemporary choreography and some of Britain's best contemporary dancers. The project's music director was Yshani Perinpanayagam and the performers included singers from the Opera Holland Park Chorus, musicians from the Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Music. 

New Movement Collective – Les Noces – The Departure © Photography by ASH

We weren't able to be there, but are presenting a selection of images to give a flavour of what was evidently an astonishing evening.

300 children celebrate the joys of music-making at Richard Shephard Music Foundation's Make Music Day 2023

Richard Shephard Music Foundation's Make Music Day 2023 (Photo: Duncan Lomax, Ravage Productions)

Last week Make Music Day was on 21 June; Make Music Day is the UK’s largest single-day music festival, encouraging musicians, producers, promoters and music lovers to collaborate and organise in-person and online performances in and for their communities. 

Richard Shephard Music Foundation's Make Music Day 2023 (Photo: Duncan Lomax, Ravage Productions)

As part of the events, Primary School children from across Yorkshire were invited to take part in a special celebration of all things musical run by the Richard Shephard Music Foundation, the charity set up to remember the late composer Dr Richard Shephard. Over 300 children spent the day singing, playing instruments, and composing music in the Chapter House of York Minster and the Creative Centre at York St John University.

Richard Shephard Music Foundation's Make Music Day 2023 (Photo: Duncan Lomax, Ravage Productions)

Since its creation in 2021, 5,000 children have been receiving weekly music lesson within their schools, subsidised by the Richard Shephard Music Foundation. 

Regents Opera's new production of Wagner's Die Walküre: a photo essay

Wagner: Die Walküre - Keel Watson (Wotan) - Regents Opera 2023 (Photo: Steve Gregson

Regents Opera's new production of Wagner's Die Walküre opened at the Freemason's Hall, London, on 21, May 2023, with further performances on 23 & 27 May. Ben Woodward conducts his own arrangement for 21 piece orchestra, Caroline Stanton directs, with Brian Smith Walters as Siegmund, JustineViani as Sieglinde, Gerrit Paul Groen as Hunding, Keel Watson as Wotan, Catharine Woodward as Brünnhilde and Ingeborg Novrup Børch as Fricka, and you can read Ingeborg's article, From Psychic Shellfish to a leading role in Wagner's Ring Cycle: Ingeborg Børch's Regents Opera journey on this blog.

We are pleased to present a selection of Steve Gregson's photographs of the production,

Wagner: Die Walküre - The Valkyries - Regents Opera 2023 (Photo: Steve Gregson)