The Royal Opera has announced The Monstrous Child, a new opera by young British composer Gavin Higgins, will be directed by Timothy Sheader from Thursday 21 February 2019.
The production will be the first show staged in the Royal Opera House’s newly refurbished Linbury Theatre.
Adapted by Francesca Simon from her darkly humorous young adult novel of the same name, The Monstrous Child follows Hel, daughter of the Norse god Loki and the giantess Angrboda. But Hel is no ordinary teenager: she’s half girl, half corpse.
When a prophecy predicts that Hel’s two brothers will bring about the end of days, the gods kidnap Loki’s monstrous children and take them to Asgard, where Hel becomes infatuated with Baldr, son of Odin. But when Odin also banishes Hel, she is forced to find her place in the world, and face up to reality and her fate.
The Monstrous Child features puppetry and designs inspired by Norse landscape. Sheader, who is Artistic Director of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and whose productions at the venue have won two Olivier Awards for Best Musical Revival, will make his Royal Opera debut with the show.
The cast will be led by British-Spanish soprano Marta Fontanals-Simmons, making her Royal Opera debut in the title role of Hel.
Tickets are available via the Royal Opera House website.