Thurs 6 & Fri 7 Aug 2009
The Star Beast is Must See’s virgin voyage producing a new work, and the performance for Tête-à-Tête comes at an early
stage of production of the work as a whole. The story is one we felt should be shared with a larger public, and we are interested to see if our interpretation so far works for the stage, discover what might need to change, and gauge how it might be received in the end.
Synopsis:
Scene One – The Arrival
The Farmer and the Farmer’s Wife hear a thunderous crash and discuss the event with their friends and neighbours.
Scene Four – The Circus (Ringmistress Routine)
The highlight of the Circus show: the song and acrobatics sequence with the Ringmistress, who cracks her whip to terrify the Star Beast into jumping through hoops of fire.
Scene Five – Freedom
The Rich Man visits the Star Beast to see if it will talk. He taunts the Beast, admonishes it, and begs it to speak, but all it will mumble is “Parrot talk”. The Star Beast quietly escapes from its cage. It is last sighted by a hunter in the forest, crying loudly and desperately trying to run on all fours.
Must See (Musical Theatre Company)
Words and Music Omar Shahryar
Director: Oliver Platt
Movement Director: Paul Chantry
Designer: Sophie Mosberger
Chloe Maloney
Francesca Gash
Hilary Campbell
Diogo Sales
Geoffrey Strum
Julia Weatherley
Must See (Musical Theatre Company)
Words and Music Omar Shahryar
Director: Oliver Platt
Movement Director: Paul Chantry
Designer: Sophie Mosberger
Chloe Maloney
Francesca Gash
Hilary Campbell
Diogo Sales
Geoffrey Strum
Julia Weatherley
Biographies:
Omar Shahryar
Received an MA studying Contemporary Music Theatre. As a creator of music theatre, he wrote the libretto for Tom Weil’s street opera, Chance, collaborated with dancers from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and the composer Felipe Otondo on the devised piece To have done with the judgement of Artaud at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He freelances as a director and producer of opera, working as an assistant at Royal Opera, Grange Park Opera, Opera North, Grimeborn Opera Festival and Mahogany Opera. His professional directorial debut with Amahl and the Night Visitors for St Albans Chamber Opera in January 09.
Oliver Platt
Received a BA from the University of York studying Music. He is an experienced assistant director and one known to Tête à Tête Opera Company. Working on a number of productions with Welsh National Youth Opera, The Armonico Consort, Welsh National Opera, English Touring Opera and St Albans Chamber Opera. This is his directorial debut.
Paul Chantry
Trained at Central School of Ballet. Has worked with Opera North on their production of One Touch of Venus, Kismet (ENO), Bluebeard and Rusalka (Grange Park Opera) and La Traviata (Scottish Opera). He was founder member of ‘Dora Frankel Dance Company’ and has performed with Ballet Central and Independent Ballet Wales. He also participated in research and development projects at Sadlers Wells with Frantic Assembly and The Pet Shop Boys. Further projects include In the Spirit of Diaghilev (Sadlers Wells and European Tour), and The Most Incredible Thing (New Ballet by the Pet Shop Boys).
Sophie Mosberger
Sophie graduated from with a distinction in Theatre Design. A 2007 Linbury Prize finalist and winner of the Royal Opera House Bursary, where she worked for designer Alison Chitty on The Minotaur. Sophie has designed Anna Karenina for Bristol Old Vic studio and Bute Theatre (Cardiff), The Conservatory for Old Red Lion Theatre, Confusions for New End Theatre, Frida Kahlo: Viva La Vida for Hill Street Theatre (Edinburgh) and UK tour, Macbeth for Brewhouse Theatre, Cosi for White Bear Theatre, Casa Latin American Theatre Festival for Union Theatre, costume design for Just So for Arcola Theatre and Trafalgar Studio, Sweeney Todd for Union Theatre, costume design for The Last Pagan a short film, Amahl and the Night Visitors for St Alban’s Chamber Opera, Studies for a Portrait for Oval House Theatre, Last Days of Gilda for Arcola Theatre, Austentatious for Landor Theatre, Babes in Arms for Kenneth More Theatre, The Winter’s Tale for Theatre Delicatessen, Pillow Talk for Blue Elephant Theatre, The Back room for Cock Tavern Theatre, Holiday Romance for Etcetera Theatre, Fora das Correntes for Chisenhale Dance Space, Pedal Pusher for Theatre Delicatessen.
Production commissioned and produced by Must See (Musical Theatre Company)