THE CRICKET RECOVERS – RICHARD AYRES

The Cricket Recovers is based on a novel by the Dutch author Toon Tellegen, a mixture, says Richard Ayres, of ‘Roald Dahl, Samuel Beckett and Winnie the Pooh’.  A deceptively innocent tale, it is set within a fantastical forest populated by childlike animals: a depressed cricket and an elephant with an addiction to climbing trees are the unusual main characters who, during the course of 18 short scenes, undertake a journey of personal discovery.

The Cricket Recovers was nominated for Best Opera in the prestigious South Bank Show Awards (UK), January 2006.

Originally commissioned and produced by Aldeburgh Almeida Opera. World premiere Friday 10 June, 2005 Aldeburgh Festival.

Reviews

Ayres’ music rampages right across musical history in an exuberantly eclectic way
The Guardian

What a joyous experience it was… Ayres’ astoundingly inventive score, full of radiant moments
The Telegraph

The Cricket Recovers is a wise and witty work… Nicholas Broadhurst’s production is delightfully pacey and the singing excellent
The Independent on Sunday

Creative Team

Composer	Richard Ayres
Librettist	Rozalie Hirs, based on a story by Toon Tellegen
Director	Nicholas Broadhurst
Design	The Brothers Quay
Lighting Design	Neil Austin
Choreographer	Struan Leslie
Repetiteur	John Paul Gandy
Conductor	Timothy Redmond
Orchestra	Endymion

Cast

Vole	Allison Bell
Ant / Owl	Anna Burford
Sparrow	Simon Butteriss
Squirrel	Louise Cannon
Elephant	Omar Ebrahim
Gallworm	Matthew Hargreaves
Cricket	Claire Wild

Production Team

Production Manager	Igor
Stage Manager	Bella Lagnado
Deputy Stage Manager	Annabel Busher
Re-lights	Malcolm Rippeth
Video Technician	Matt Berry
Wardrobe	Sam Barker
Video Programmer	Richard Turner

Performances

Austria Bregenzer Festspiele / Werkstattbuhne March 21 / 24 2007

 

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