gripping throughout... it grabbed me instantly... fine playing from an excellent band and a cohesive, vivacious cast
Thursday 18th May 2006, Rupert Christiansen, The Telegraph
Commissioned by Music Theatre Wales with support from Cardiff 2005, ACE, ACW, the ACW/PRSF New Notes scheme and the Jerwood-MTW New Opera Plan.
NOMINATED FOR THE BRITISH COMPOSER AWARDS IN 2007.
Drawing inspiration from ancient Celtic tales,
House of the Gods, set in a back street pub in First World War London, is a gothic opera in which comedy and horror walk hand in hand. Sometimes dark and satirical, sometimes magical, beautiful and bittersweet, echoes of Victorian music hall and cabaret mingle with the seductive sounds of patriotic propaganda as Jack O'Connor, a cynical and disillusioned soldier back from the Front, finds himself living through what seems like a macabre and surreal opium dream.
House of the Gods explores sacrifice, sex, death, science, innocence and empire as Jack tries to avoid being a hero.
Costume design by Colin Richmond.
Photography by Clive Barda.
