"Dazzling" - Financial Times****

A new opera by Alexander Raskatov based on Mikhail Bulgakov’s short novel “The Heart of a Dog” directed by Simon McBurney.

We designed, directed and operated the Dog who changes into a man at the end of the first act.

MARK'S REHEARSAL BLOG IN AMSTERDAM...

WEEK 3
Now in middle of rehearsals. This is Simon McBurney's first opera and I think it is going really well. Some of Sasha Raskatov's music is exquisite. It is his first full length opera too. At first the music seemed a little crazy to me, which is fine because the story is a little crazy, but now as I get to know it I like it more and more. Finn and Josie and Robin and I are bonding with our puppet and the Dog is starting to really live. It isn't easy - the puppet will be on stage continuously for the first act and we are trying to operate a kind of relay so that we can be always upstage of it - this means we all have to swap places and come on and off the puppet every time it turns. Nick and Sindy are hacking away in the workshop making various versions of the dog and today delivered a beautiful and very realistic cat puppet which could steal the show!

WEEK 6
We've completed "stage and piano" rehearsals. Now we have a couple of days back in the studio to iron out a few problems before the "stage and orchestra" rehearsals begin on Saturday morning. The dog is working really well but is very hard work. There are four of us working in relay so that we get a rest every now and then. One of the innovations - a camera in the nose of the dog - makes the head much heavier and we puppeteers are all secretly hoping it won't work - although on the other hand if it does work, it could be awesome - so we are conflicted. The thing that will steal the show though are the cats which are very simple and hilarious. On Friday we have the Sitzprobe. This is the first time we will hear the singers with the full orchestra. In fact, it is the first time anyone will hear the cast and orchestra together - including the composer. The orchestra is made up of seventy instruments including base guitars, saxophones, balalaikas and some instruments the composer has invented. It is a very exciting week.

FINAL WEEK
Just about to go and warm up for the final performance of A Dog's Heart. The word of mouth on the show has begun to build. On Sunday we were nearly full, even though it was a blazing hot afternoon outside. And the audience is loving the show. There is lots of laughter - which we are beginning to tune into on stage. In fact it feels as if we are just getting to understand how the show works and it is nearly over. Also just getting to know Amsterdam. The last week we have had 4 barbecues, 3 boat trips round the canals, watched England get knocked out of the world cup and Murray go through to the quarters at Wimbledon. See you back in London soon.

"Hallucinatory cocktail of silent movie melodrama "
****Financial Times

"Nothing less than absurdly good"
Peter van der Lint, Trouw