Another first for Kentish Opera!
The Yeomen of the Guard
20-22 April 2023, The Stag, Sevenoaks
This will be the first time in our 70-year history that we have performed The Yeomen of the Guard; arguably the most operatic of all Gilbert & Sullivan's works.
Set in the time of Henry VIII in the Tower of London, the hero, Colonel Fairfax, is to be beheaded on a trumped-up charge. He avoids this gruesome fate through the bravery of the Meryll family and the unwitting aid of the strolling players Elsie Maynard and Jack Point.
When Fairfax's reprieve fails to arrive, Sergeant Meryll, whose life was saved by Fairfax, plots his escape. Unaware of the plan, Fairfax's last request is to die a married man in order to secure his estate from the hands of his cousin and accuser. Fairfax secretly marries the blindfolded Elsie, who expects to become a well-paid widow within the hour. However, Fairfax miraculously escapes his fate and chaos follows.
A classic Gilbert & Sullivan story story ensues, with all the confusion that comes with it.
Among the best-loved tunes from Yeoman are “I have a song to sing, O” and the moving tenor aria, “Is life a boon?” in which Fairfax contemplates his fate at the hands of the headsman.
The path from paper to production – it opened at the Savoy Theatre on Oct 3rd 1888 – was by no means smooth as the relationship between the two temperamental geniuses was seriously fraying.
Sullivan was wanting to develop his talents in the direction of grand opera, while Gilbert clung to his fondness for a whimsical plot with plenty of topsy turvy. In the end compromises were made on both sides. Gilbert curbed his desire for magic and wrote about the reasonable, credible people Sullivan preferred, while the composer was free to write a splendid score that came closer to grand opera than anything the pair had produced before.
This new production is fully staged and features young soloists from major opera houses with orchestra and the superb Kentish Opera chorus. It is directed by Stephen Brown with Robyn Sevastos (Musical Director) and costumes designed by Carol Stevenson.
Cast list
A fantastic cast of Gilbert & Sullivan specialists, several of whom have performed with the D'Oyly Carte company, this is going to be a production which will entertain and delight all ages, and a great introduction to opera for anyone who hasn't tried it before.
Stephen Brown - Director & Colonel Fairfax
Stephen studied at Trinity College, London and then at the Royal College of Music. His career as a tenor has led to engagements with most of the main UK companies including English National Opera, Scottish Opera, Almeida Opera, Carl Rosa Opera, Opera Della Luna, Buxton Festival and Glyndebourne and the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. Read more
Giles Davies - Jack Point
Giles studied at the Purcell School of Music and on a scholarship with Norman Bailey at the RCM, where he won the Lieder Competition. Since then, his concert and opera engagements have taken him across the globe, in repertoire from all periods.
He has recorded for the BBC, Capriol Films, Naxos, Chandos, Divine Art Records, Boo Productions, and on numerous film soundtracks. Read more
Louisa Alice-Rose - Phoebe
Louisa Alice-Rose is a highly versatile soprano and actress. She has been performing on the professional stage since her West End debut at aged 8 in 'Les Miserables' at The Palace Theatre. At aged 9, Louisa played the role of Tilly in the World Première performance of 'The Bear' by Howard Blake at The Barbican Centre and Birmingham Symphony Hall. Louisa studied with vocal coach Elizabeth Harley from the age of 6. She trained at Sylvia Young Theatre School, Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, Glyndebourne Youth Opera and the Royal Northern College of Music, graduating with First Class Honours in Vocal Studies and Opera. Read more
Rosie Ashe - Dame Carruthers
Rosie has appeared in many West End productions including: Carlotta, the Prima Donna in the original cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 'The Phantom of The Opera', Madame Thenardier in 'Les Miserables', Cunegonde in 'Candide', Widow Corney in 'Oliver!', Hortense in 'The Boyfriend', Forbidden Broadway, Felicia Gabriel in 'The Witches of Eastwick' (for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical)... Read more
Graham Stone - Wilfred Shadbolt
Graham was born in Devizes, Wiltshire and studied at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama with Laura Sarti and Johanna Peters. He joined the Glyndebourne Festival Chorus understudying a number of roles and singing two roles in the GTO production of 'Death in Venice'. He has worked for a number of Companies including Scottish Opera (Kommisar in David McVicar's production of 'Der Rosenkavalier', & Dr. Bartolo in 'The Marriage of Figaro'), D'Oyly Carte (Wilfred Shadbolt & Mikado, with Jasper Carrot),Carl Rosa(Dick Deadeye on tour in Australia & New Zealand, with Timothy West). Read more
Stefanie Kemball-Read - Elsie
Dramatic coloratura soprano Stefanie trained at Trinity College of Music, London graduating with distinction from their postgraduate diploma programme. Having initially trained as a banker in the City of London, she left finance behind for a varied and eclectic performing career. Renowned for her high vocal acrobatics, she has performed extensively throughout Europe and the UK in over 20 leading soprano roles, including Violetta, (La traviata), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Nedda (I Pagliacci), Adina (L’elisir d’amore) and most notably, reprising Queen of the Night (The Magic Flute) regularly for many different companies, in venues ranging from opera houses to horse studs and stately homes! Read more
Ian Belsey - Sergeant Merryl
Ian is celebrating fifty years in show business, and is well know as one of the world’s leading performers in light opera, particularly in the works of Gilbert & Sullivan. He made his debut aged eight at the Pier Theatre, Bournemouth in The Sooty Show, before appearing in variety; later studying at the RAD, the GSMD, and at the RCM, both in the Opera School and as a postgraduate. An all-round entertainer, Ian is in demand to appear on the musical and concert stage... Read more
Daniel Breakwell - Leonard Merryl
Daniel trained at London School of Musical Theatre (2011) and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (2019.)
Recent credits include: Guest Singer in 'Back to the Musicals' (Lichfield Garrick), Nicholas Holroyd in 'Bell, Book and Candle' (Tabard Theatre), Guest Singer, Prince Charming in 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' (Lichfield Garrick and Alban Arena), Garth in 'Alright Bitches!' (above the Stag Theatre), Kenneth Gibson in 'Call Me Madam' (Upstairs at the Gatehouse), Bob Gaudio in 'Big Girls Don't Cry' (UK touring production), and Blusher in 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' (Manchester Opera House.) Read more
Olivia Greenwell - Kate
Soprano Olivia Greenwell is 23 years old and comes from South West London. Throughout her teens Olivia studied singing with Jill Washington at James Allen’s Girls’ School. She sang in a number of choirs, madrigal groups and had opportunities for solo performance. On leaving school, Olivia obtained a Physics degree from the University of Manchester and studied for her Singing Diploma under Sally Johnson. She is currently training with Jane Highfield and has participated in a number of operatic productions and concerts.
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