Cautionary Tales! trailer

Director, Pia Furtado, and Soprano, Katherine Broderick discuss Opera North's new production for children, Cautionary Tales!

Designed to disturb and delight in equal measure, Opera North brings Hilaire Belloc's macabre, moral tales with a twist to the stage in this new family opera. Adapted and directed by Pia Furtado, each cautionary tale forms a distinctive bite sized opera - complete with larger than life characters, villainous adults, misbehaving children and a slew of tragic denouements.

Tales include:

Rebecca, Who Slammed Doors for Fun and Perished Miserably

Matilda, Who told Lies, and was Burned to Death

Jim, Who ran away from his Nurse, and was eaten by a Lion

Henry King, Who chewed bits of String, and was early cut off in Dreadful Agonies

George, Who played with a Dangerous Toy, and suffered a Catastrophe of considerable Dimensions.

The music of Errollyn Wallen matches the words' exuberant, lively mischief. Marvellously rich and toe-tappingly rhythmic, it is full of memorable and appealing melodies. The cast brings together artists who feature regularly on Opera North's mainstage and the best of new talent.

Blending music, words, staging and imagery in a thrilling new way, this enchanting short piece of musical theatre makes an ideal way to introduce a young audience to opera.