What If? - November 2024

Royal Over-Seas League

I directed the premiere of Kieran Rayner’s new show What If? - a choose-your-own-adventure story lieder recital where the audience get to vote on the decisions the protagonist is faced with. Every branch of the story leads to different story consequences and song repertoire choices, meaning that each evening is a unique experience for the audience. The plot centres around three characters living through the First World War, all played by Kieran, and uses German and English song repertoire ranging from Schubert, Schumann, Wolf, Finzi, Butterworth, Bridge, and others to illustrate to the narrative. The show was premiered on Armistice Day, November 11th 2024, and was received with a standing ovation by the audience.

Director: Guido Martin-Brandis

Baritone: Kieran Rayner

Piano: Gamal Khamis

REVIEWS

Mike Carter - Everything Theatre

“A refreshing evolution of the classical song recital that could be the start of something exciting.”

“Chats to the audience are warm, inviting and, as we’re asked to ponder life as a river with many bends and tributaries, often genuinely affecting.”

“I particularly enjoyed the drama of Schubert’s Der Zwerg (The Dwarf) and Finzi’s setting of Hardy’s The Too Short Time, which was simply beautiful. If you’ll pardon my informality, the rest of the programme is full of similar bangers. Music fans will find it a feast of joys.”

“The best of the action, though, comes in the form of witty interactions with his pianist, Gamal Khamis. There’s a recurring joke I won’t spoil, but it is delivered so well that it is almost worth the ticket price alone.”

“Rayner and his colleagues have made a great start challenging the status quo. They tell a story through song without the shiny artifice of musical theatre or heavy pretention of full-blown opera.”