The Royal Opera
Music Director Designate
Jakub Hrůša
Director of Opera
Oliver Mears
The Wish Thief
Cast sheet
Saturday 12 July 2025
|
4.30pm
Please note that casting is subject to change up until the start of the performance. Please continue to check the website for the most up-to-date information.
Generous support from
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 and have been collaborating with the creative team in bringing this magical show to stage. 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.
Approximate timings
The performance will last approximately 1 hour, without an interval
Credits
Composer
Leighton Jones
Librettist
Jonathan Ainscough
Director
Victoria Briggs
Musical Director
Patrick Barrett
Set and Costume Designer
Rachel Baynton
Lighting Designer
Peter Harrison
Creative Captioner
Ben Glover
Cast
The Conjurer
Peter Brathwaite
The Leader
Beren Kader Fidan
Children's Chorus
Youth Opera Company
Ensemble
Violin
Iryna Glyebova
Viola
Ella Beard
Accordion
Tessa Seymour
Pianist
Aine Mcloughlin
Percussion
Joe Cummings
Rehearsal repetiteur
Phoebe Chow
The Royal Opera
Synopsis
In a town where children are sent to become model citizens, everything is pristine, ordered and efficient. Life is ...
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 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…
Guidance
Suitable for all
Children aged 0-24 months don't require a ticket but must sit on the lap of a ticket-holding adult. Children aged 2 + require a ticket.
Language
Sung in English with English surtitles. Captions and translations in English will be displayed above the stage.
Further information
DIGITAL CAST SHEETS
GUIDELINES
Support Us