A Child in Striped Pyjamas (Revival)
Production photos: Karol Iwan
Brundibar programme excerpt
A Child in Striped Pyjamas
Brundibar Arts Festival / Gosforth Civic Theatre
A revival of award-winning composer Noah Max’s opera at the Brundibar Arts Festival. The opera is based on John Boyne’s best-selling holocaust fable, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. My aim was to present this harrowing piece simply and arrestingly for the audience, without complicating it with too many directorial interventions in this premiere production of the work. You can read my programme note here. Visit the original production page for more information, reviews and production photos of the world premiere.
Composer and librettist: Noah Max. Direction, Design, and Lighting Design: Guido Martin-Brandis. Fence design and production: Adam Smith. Production Photos: Karol Iwan
German Child: Noam Pnini
Jewish Child: Eleanor Oldfield
Lieutenant Kotler: Xavier Hetherington
Father: Jeremy Huw Williams
Conductor: Robert Max
Chamber ensemble: Violins: Kyra Humphreys, Alexandra Raikhlina; Viola: Nathan Braude; Cello: Gabriel Waite; Clarinet: Dave Goldberg; Trumpet: Imogen Whitehead
Reviews of the revival
Dora Frankel - British Theatre Guide
“A simple but effective set with sensitive lighting”
“An intense and beautiful experience; the sizeable audience was mesmerised”
“Powerful and moving.”
Audience Reviews
“A world-class performance… incredibly powerful and moving. The cast, music, musicians, production and conducting were all so accomplished that we were just blown away. Thank you so much”
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“The production is so sensitively done and is above all musical - it lets the music speak.”
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“I’ve been going to theatre all my life, and this was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.”
Production photos
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REVIEws of the premiere of this production
The Telegraph - Nicholas Kenyon
“Holocaust drama that’s emotionally ambitious and diligently delivered.
As the opera reaches its shocking climax, which is effectively staged by director Guido Martin-Brandis, the music almost evaporates as the Father confronts the loss of his son.
There can be no doubt of the integrity with which the tight-knit company deliver it.”
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Evening Standard - Barry Millington
★★★★
“Intense, harrowing drama.
A simple but effective staging by Guido Martin-Brandis.”
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Londontheatre1 - Chris Omaweng
★★★★
“It is an engaging production, sensitively handling the provocative subject matter in a way that lends itself well to the operatic art form.”
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Hugh Canning - Operalogue
“Two performances… two sellouts of Guido Martin-Brandis’s austere, yet atmospheric, in-the-round staging.”
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The Arts Desk
★★★★
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Planet Hugill - Robert Hugill
“Guido Martin-Brandis' production was simple and effective.
An intensely serious and thoughtful evening.”
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Michael Hollick opera reviews
“The direction, by Guido Martin-Brandis, is simple and clear. The confrontation between the two men is thrillingly realised. Crucially, the adults are not shown as simple monsters, but as complex personalities convinced they are doing the “right” thing. The scene unfolds like a thriller”