This is a list of content advisories for Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival 2026 shows, in alphabetical order by title, provided by our artists. As a festival of new work, ideas develop right up to performance, but this should give a sense for each show:
A Different Kind of Heartbreak
Death: the character mentions death frequently, as she is preoccupied with it as a resultf of her suffering from health anxiety
Mental ill-health: the character suffers from health anxiety and an anxiety disorder
Suicide: the character has suicidal thoughts (alluded in the text)
Sexual innuendos: some of the jokes and the story include sexual innuendos that allude to graphic images
Physical pain: regular mentions of strong physical pain and descriptions of physical pain
Heart-related health problems: the character suffers from a congenital heart defect and there are several mentions to heartbeat, and heart sensations and palpitations
Androida (or Robots have no Feelings)
Strong language. There is just one scene where for the drama (and for comedy!) there are expletives.
Bereavement.
Arlodhes a Shalott
None
Azovstal
None
Between
Bigotry & Discrimination: There is no depiction or concrete description of trauma but being a show about marginalised identity, it may be triggering for some people from marginalised groups.
Broken Ivy & Fence Off
Deep meaning, intense emotional and symbolic content, some explicit sexual reference. Maybe a little difficult to understand for the very young.
Drevo
None
Eight Days
Death: Mentioned numerous times
Execution: not scene on stage but implied & referenced
Emma or Emily
Death, Violence: Emma tries to kill Emily by strangling her
Mental ill-health: Themes of extreme loneliness
Suicide: Descriptions of suicide methods
Strong language: The word “fuck” is used many many times. Also “slut”
Sexual references: Masturbation is mentioned, sex is discussed
Fort
Death, mental ill-health
Frankenstein
Bigotry & Discrimination, Mental Ill-Health, Self-Harm, Violence. There is no explicit graphic content within the show, but the themes and story beats are the same as Shelley’s Frankenstein, so inclusion of hatred, mental suffering, longing for death, and desire/expression of murderous violence
Frauenliebe und Leben – Reimagined by ÀLÁ
None
From the Edda
Violence: text references violent events e.g. “Nithogg sucked the blood of the slain and the wolf tore men”
Making Europe Audible
None
Of Earth and Quill 2
None
ORPHEUS & EURIDICE
Death: There is no direct mention of death but it is referenced through metaphors.
The Dunwich Horror: An Opera
Matricide, occult goings on, darkness
The History of Mr Polly: Part One
Death: Mr Polly’s parents both die – this is narrated by the chorus, not seen on stage
Suicide: Mr Polly decides to ‘cut his throat’ – this phrase is repeated a few times
Destruction by fire: Mr Polly sets his own premises on fire, and the fire spreads to neighbouring premises.
The Joy Of Opera (2026)
None
The Promise & Meet the Phillips
Deep meaning, intense emotional and symbolic content, some explicit sexual reference. Maybe a little difficult to understand for the very young. Strong language & violence: in “Meet the Philips”, the characters sometimes use strong language and throw pillows at each other very angrily, simulating a domestic argument.
The Rag Animals
None
The Trial of the Four
None