Traditionally children wear masks to represent their animals. In this production, the director and I have chose to represent the animals in several ways. All the imagery has it’s beginnings in medieval carvings and illumination, a nod to the source of the opera’s text, a mystery play. But because of the volume of children involved – 200 to be precise – we realised that height and variety was essential. So tiny animals (mice etc) have masks. Those pictured were created by a team of makers for the Cheltenham Festival. Mid-sized animals (wolves; hares) are cut-outs, that will be held upon sticks, and the largest animals will be painted onto banners, allowing movement and height and – I hope – visual splendour!
Those children carrying images of either form, will be dressed in green; they represent their animal, but also the natural world. For that is what needs to be saved, and the environmental message is very obvious in the opera.
I have about 30 animals to create, and a similar number to paint on big banners. It’s a good thing that I can paint fast!
Booking is now open for Noye’s Fludde – see the panel to the right on this blog for full information.
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