Edward and Richard

Edward and Richard (2020)

The True Story of the Princes in the Tower

a chamber opera in two acts
2 sopranos and narrator
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Premiered 8 July 2021 by the Edward and Richard Project at St Rita's College, Brisbane.

For Susan Ellis

The year is 1483. The Princes – Edward and Richard, the eldest sons of the late King Edward IV – have been arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London by their uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Uncle Richard soon accedes as King Richard III and embarks upon a reign of tyranny. Oddly enough, in the weeks following the Usurper’s rise, the Princes have vanished without a trace.

All the while, the princes’ mother, Elizabeth Woodville, prays for their safe return. She was once Queen of England; now, she has fled to Westminster Abbey with her family, fearing for her life. The Usurper’s gaze is fixed upon her final destruction. But it is Elizabeth’s strength, courage and duty to her sons that enlighten us as to what really happened to the Princes in the Tower...

SCORE and PARTS

Coming to the Austrlaian Music Centre soon

The Edward and Richard Project Diary

Dec '19 I am very excited to announce the Artistic Team behind Edward and Richard: Michelle Carey (Director), Bradley Voltz (Music Director), Susan Ellis and myself. The Artistic Team is currently in the process of finalising the project's parameters.
Jan '20 The Brisbane premiere has been set for September! Rehearsals will begin in winter. The Artistic Team has also voted to incorporate physical theatre into the show. Now I just have to finish the score...
Feb '20 ...Make that July! We've had to dramatically bump forward opening night for a few reasons, but we'll be ready regardless. Wayne Brennan has come on board as concertmaster. I have three more scenes left to write, and then the score will be done.
Mar '202mins left... It goes without saying that everyone involved in Edward and Richard is treating the outbreak of COVID-19 very seriously. Ultimately, we don't expect that our project will be impacted, but are prepared to postpone the July premiere if necessary.
Apr '20Regrettably, Edward and Richard has been postponed indefinitely as a result of COVID-19. The Artistic Team expects the premiere to take place sometime during the middle of 2021. We are embracing these new circumstances as best we can, and using the additional time to further develop the project.
Jul '20The last two months have been fruitful. The first complete edition of Edward and Richard has been finalised, and the Artistic Team has scheduled preliminary rehearsals for August. The rest of the year is being carved up into minature projects, and we all have plenty to keep us occupied. Everyone is very excited to see the project coming to life, despite the exceptional societal circumstances we find ourselves in.
Dec '20It's been some time since the last update, but do not mistake this silence for inactivity. Rehearsals for Edward and Richard have begun, and "filming" (!) is soon to commence. Despite the challenges of the year, everyone remains in high spirits. We're looking forward to closing out 2020 and entering into 2021 with renewed optimism.
Jan '21Happy New Year! Edward and Richard has been making leaps and bounds in recent weeks. We have recorded an excerpt of the opera for radio distribution, and now we're onto blocking and staging the show. It's been great to watch the project evolve over time; for example, we've moved away from physical theatre and returned to emphasising the music. We're also excited to confirm St Rita's College as our venue, and are leaning towards 29 & 30 June as our performance dates.
Apr '21So much has happened in the last few months. We are well into the rehearsal period for Edward and Richard, and tickets came on sale at the beginning of this month. The project is shaping up to be something spectacular, and everyone involved is incredibly excited. Now my biggest priority is to sell tickest. So...
Aug '21I became a little neglectful of my updates, didn't I...! Well, Edward and Richard is done for now. The show went really well - it feels like a lifetime ago. I am so grateful to everyone who was involved (see above!). What we achieved was something so unique that I doubt Australia will see a similar project for years to come. People are still talking about Edward and Richard, and that's great! I'm looking forward to releasing a video of the show in September.