BEOWULF (2023)
Proper Job Theatre’s large-scale immersive Yorkshire adaptation of the oldest known English poem, was created especially for Kirklees Year of Music 2023 and adapted by five Yorkshire-based poets Ian McMillan, Michelle Scally-Clarke, Joel Simmy, Chris O'Connor and Franc Chamberlain.
Working with composer Leighton Jones and Supriya Nagarajan (Manasamitra) on an original score telling the story of a female Beowulf with a visually arresting, musical celebration, the performances took place between 8 and 11 November 2023 and included a Viking procession along the streets of Huddersfield to St Peter’s Church where the story of Beowulf was told.
“Staged by Proper Job theatre company for Kirklees Year of Music, it is a visually inventive mix of masks, shadow puppetry and projections. A gnarled and twiggy Grendel, made by puppeteer Liz Walker, looks like a creature grown from the soil, a quality shared by the music at its most organic.”
Leighton was commissioned to compose four new choral works for 60-strong community choir and pipe organ, in addition to his soundscape collaborations with Supriya Nagarajan.
Reviews
"Viking procession brings Yorkshire poets’ Beowulf to streets of Huddersfield"
The Guardian
"Huddersfield does a Proper Job of Beowulf"
Yorkshire Bylines
THE WISH THIEF (2025)
A new opera performed by RBO Youth Company
12-13 July in the Linbury Theatre
In a town where children are sent to become model citizens, everything is pristine, ordered and efficient. Life is perfect under the watchful eyes of the town’s Council and their revered Leader – and if the endless rules ever feel a bit exhausting, people can discreetly throw a coin into the old well in the town’s park and, for a moment, dream of a different life. Not that those wishes would ever come true of course! Why would anything need to change in such a perfect place?
When a travelling Conjuror arrives in town, offering a dangerously different approach to life, he is driven to steal the coins from the well – and unwittingly unleashes a storm of magical chaos on the town as wishes start to come true in the most unexpected ways! With the Council Leader’s iron grip slipping and the town sliding into anarchy, dark secrets are revealed and the magic gets more and more out of control…
BACKGROUND
In 2022 the Royal Ballet and Opera launched an open call for new operas aimed at younger audiences . After an initial shortlisting, the Youth Opera Company were asked to select the three pitches which they wanted to see developed. From this shortlist the company selected The Wish Thief to develop into a full-length performance. Placing the Youth Opera Company at the centre of this process underscores the RBO’s commitment to collaborating with young people on projects that amplify their voices and reflect the stories they want to share
“Leighton and Jonathan have created a modern work which is both ambitious and rewarding for young singers. The music is scored imaginatively, combining excellent songwriting and exciting instrumentation. I was so enthralled by the music that I have since commissioned a production of the work in Dublin - produced by Youth Opera Ireland - in April 2026. ”
“A howl of Brechtian wit, rage and hope, given a startling urgency by young performers who really seemed to own what it had to say about their own lives in weird times.”
The Wish Thief
February 14 - 16: Music rehearsals (initial ensemble work)
March 14 - 16: Music/drama rehearsals
April 7-10: Stage, piano & orchestra rehearsals
April 11: Premiere Performance at RIAM – Whyte Hall
Irish Premiere
“Having explored the work more thoroughly in preparation for this performance my appreciation of the piece has only grown - The Wish Thief is a special work which appeals to young singers, challenges professional musicians and appeals to a wide audience demographic.”