Rosehill Summer Sing

Mahogany Opera: The Magical Music Tree

Last year I had the opportunity to watch Mahogany Opera Group’s Snappy Operas project in action, and the creativity, inclusivity and sheer wonder of it had a huge impact on me.

When Rosehill suggested we run a Snappy Opera as a summer school I leapt at the chance. The Magical Music Tree is a 10 minute opera for children by Luke Carver Goss and Ian MacMillan, involving unicorns, flying fish, dodos and hunters.

Participants learnt the music, staged their scenes, and made their own costumes in a matter of 5 days, as well as writing a new companion song, “The Tree’s Dream”, with the guidance of composer Stephen Deazley.

It was a real pleasure to MD the show, and I may even have got involved with the costume making…