If you are looking for a magical, interactive journey through opera and theatre, interwoven with vocal improvisation and children’s songs, B’Opera and their new performance, Alice and the Library Tree is the show for you.
Yesterday evening we headed over to Sutton Coldfield Library to watch the press showing of this show before it tours on various dates at Sutton Library, at Concerts in the Park on the 30th June and also early September it will be at St George’s Church in Edgbaston.
The story is about a young lady called Alice who is left in control of the Library Tree by the librarian.
Sadly an awful storm comes, blowing all of the books from the library tree, causing it to be closed down as it is deemed unsafe (by a Health and Safety Rabbit).
The evil Queen of Hearts orders that the tree is chopped down,to make way for a tanning shop and various other high street ‘delights’. Who does she think she is?
Alice is having none of it and with the help of the audience, perseverance, a Fairy Godmother, sprinkles of magic and the strength to stand up for what she believes in, Alice tries to fix everything… Can she? Well, you will have to get tickets to see the outcome.
This really is a fantastic show giving an incredibly charming performance whilst highlighting the wonder of libraries and the huge curiosity that they can bring. It is a perfect introduction both to opera and theatre for children aged 0 – 7 years of age (and their parents, of course), all performed in the unique setting of the local library, to further add to the message of the performance “use your local libraries”.
It is very apparent that a lot of effort and time has gone into this performance. From all of the materials, props, outfits, pitch perfect vocals, music and acting and great ideas to ensure that the performance is interactive for children in parts.
B’opera have been supported by the Arts Council England and also have teamed up with FOLIO Sutton Coldfield for this (they have commissioned it). A charity set up initially to save Sutton Coldfield library from being closed, and I’m pretty sure with performances like this attracting people to the Library, it is going to ensure more young (and older) people join their library.
To get tickets to the shows please follow the links here:
Public performances of Alice and the Library Tree at Sutton Coldfield Library on 15 June and 20 July:
https://bookwhen.com/foliosuttoncoldfield/e/ev-s0jg-20190720103000
Public performance of Alice and the Library Tree at Concerts in the Park 2019 on Sunday 30 June:
https://suttoncoldfieldtowncouncil.ticketsrv.co.uk/tickets/
And to read more about the wonderful B’opera, have a look at their website here: https://www.bopera.co.uk/
Thank you so much for having us.
We had a wonderful time.
Here’s a video of pictures from the performance:
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