"Why were we silent? Why? Why?"

A new opera by Peter Maxwell-Davis
Libretto by David Pountney

"A glorious heartwarming pageant of humanity" Evening Standard

Three true stories of student activism: James Meredith, the first black university student in America, Die Weisse Rose and the one from the Chinese Cultural Revolution.

We made some life sized Bunraku puppets, oversized hands and feet and glasses to make a giant mother character, and a trio of human marionette red guards. The singing students learnt to operate them. This is the first time we have got singers to do all the puppetry and they were brilliant. Great fun.

Opened 18th March, 2011 at Royal Academy of Music, London

Revivals 16, 18, 20 November, 2011 at Julliard, New York

 

Composer - Peter Maxwell Davis, Libretto/ Director - David Pountney, Conductor - Jane Glover, Design - Robert Innes Hopkins, Lighting - James Francombe, Choreography - Carolyn Chao, Puppetry - Blind Summit, Mark Down and Nick Barnes

Puppets designed and made by Mark Down, Nick Barnes, Greta Schuckert, Billie Achileos.