THE WISH THIEF

A new opera performed by RBO Youth Company

12-13 July 2025 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.

“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.”

— Hector Macinnes, audience member

CREATIVES

Music by Leighton Jones

Libretto by Jonathon Ainscough and Leighton Jones

Orchestrations by Matthew Owens and Leighton Jones

Starring Peter Braithwate (The Conjuror), Beren Fidan (The Leader)

and The Royal Ballet and Opera Youth Company

Musical Director Patrick Barrett

Director Victoria Briggs

Designer Rachel Baynton

Creative Captioner Ben Glover

Lighting Designer Peter Harrison

Photography Laura Aziz

“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.”

— Ciarán Kelly, Artistic Director Youth Opera Ireland