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.”