
The Feathered Ogre
The Feathered Ogre is a new piece for children aged 4 to 7, and is an introduction to the instruments of the orchestra, and to singing, through a famous Italian folktale.
The Feathered Ogre reinvents a famous Italian folktale, for Key Stage 1 pupils, with enchanting music by Russell Hepplewhite in your own school hall. The story is about a sick king whose illness can be cured only by the application of one of the feathers of the ogre in the mountains. To get the feather however you need to confront the man-eating habits of the monster. When a young man finally volunteers for the task everyone else also wants a feather…
In part an introduction to some of the key instruments of the orchestra, (including French horn, trumpet, bassoon, double bass and flute) the piece is performed by 5 players and 3 singers from English Touring Opera along with great design, costumes, and lots of interactive elements, including songs for the children to sing. The Feathered Ogre follows the success of ETO’s recent productions for younger children, including Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk and The Starry Welkin. Lasting just under an hour, the piece can work with a large number of children, depending on the size of the hall.
Curriculum links
The Feathered Ogre is designed particularly to support the national curriculum for literacy, history, geography, and art and design, as well as drama and music.
The piece is complemented with resources for teachers; we will send you a simple pack and songs on CD ahead of the visit.
How to book
Would you like to be involved with this project? We are currently looking for schools in Sheffield, Guildford, Coventry and Durham. If you’re from one of these areas, and you would like us to come and perform The Feathered Ogre at your school, please contact Alexa Carey on 020 7833 2555 or alexa.carey@englishtouringopera.org.uk.
Alternatively, places are still available at family performances at Hall for Cornwall, Truro and Warwick Arts Centre. Please use the links on the right-hand side of this page to book.
Showing At
- Childs Hill, Cricklewood
12th Mar 2012 - 10:30 am
- St Mary's Primary School, London
12th Mar 2012 - 2:00 pm
- Newton Poppleford Primary School, Devon
21st Mar 2012 - 10:30 am
- Constantine School, Truro
27th Mar 2012 - 10:30 am
- Hall for Cornwall, Truro
28th Mar 2012 - 1:30 pm
- Courthill First School, Poole
30th Mar 2012 - 10:00 am
- Kiveton Park Meadows Junior School, Sheffield
17th Apr 2012 - 1:00 pm
- Sheffield
18th Apr 2012 - 12:00 pm
- Trafalgar Community Infants School, Horsham
20th Apr 2012 - 10:30 am
- Guildford
24th Apr 2012 - 12:00 pm
- Ilam C of E Primary School, Ashbourne
27th Apr 2012 - 12:00 pm
- National Star College, Cheltenham
2nd May 2012 - 11:30 am
- Coventry
10th May 2012 - 12:00 pm
- Warwick Arts Centre
12th May 2012 - 2:00 pm
- Durham
15th May 2012 - 12:00 pm
- Oakbank Primary School, Perth
18th May 2012 - 1:15 pm
- Arbury Primary School, Cambridge
23rd May 2012 - 11:15 am
- Cambridge International School
25th May 2012 - 1:30 pm
-
Childs Hill, Cricklewood
— 12th Mar 2012 - 10:30 am
NW2 1SL
-
St Mary's Primary School, London
— 12th Mar 2012 - 2:00 pm
Brooke Road, Walthamstow, London, NW2 1SL
-
Newton Poppleford Primary School, Devon
— 21st Mar 2012 - 10:30 am
School Lane, Newton Poppleford, Sidmouth, EX10 0EL
-
Constantine School, Truro
— 27th Mar 2012 - 10:30 am
Trebarvah Road, Constantine, TR11 5AG
-
Hall for Cornwall, Truro
— 28th Mar 2012 - 1:30 pm
Back Quay, Truro, TR1 2LL
-
Courthill First School, Poole
— 30th Mar 2012 - 10:00 am
Courthill Road, Poole, BH14 9HL
-
Kiveton Park Meadows Junior School, Sheffield
— 17th Apr 2012 - 1:00 pm
Storth Lane, Kiveton Park, Nr. Sheffield, S26 5QT
-
Sheffield
— 18th Apr 2012 - 12:00 pm
S1 1DA
-
Trafalgar Community Infants School, Horsham
— 20th Apr 2012 - 10:30 am
Victory Road, Horsham, RH12 2JF
-
Guildford
— 24th Apr 2012 - 12:00 pm
GU1 2AA
-
Ilam C of E Primary School, Ashbourne
— 27th Apr 2012 - 12:00 pm
Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 2AZ
-
National Star College, Cheltenham
— 2nd May 2012 - 11:30 am
Ullenwood, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 9QU
-
Coventry
— 10th May 2012 - 12:00 pm
CV4 7AL
-
Warwick Arts Centre
— 12th May 2012 - 2:00 pm
University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL
-
Durham
— 15th May 2012 - 12:00 pm
DH1 1WA
-
Oakbank Primary School, Perth
— 18th May 2012 - 1:15 pm
Viewlands Road West, Perth, PH1 1NA
-
Arbury Primary School, Cambridge
— 23rd May 2012 - 11:15 am
Carlton Way, Cambridge, CB4 2DE
-
Cambridge International School
— 25th May 2012 - 1:30 pm
Cherry Hinton Hall, Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge, CB1 8DW
Cast

Thomas Humphreys
Baritone

Catrine Kirkman
Soprano
Catrine Kirkman graduated with a Masters from The Guildhall School of Music and Drama and continues to study with Jessica Cash. Recent roles include Zerlina/ Don Giovanni (Focus Opera); Tebaldo/ Don Carlo (Midsummer Opera); Susanna/ Figaro, Papagena/ Magic Flute (both Opera Brava); Suor Genovieffa/ Suor Angelica (Midsummer Opera). Catrine performed the solo vocalise in a world premiere by Benjamin Ellin at the opening catwalk show of London Fashion Week 2010. She sings the role of Inn Hostess on the Naxos recording of Edward German’s Tom Jones, and plays the title role in forthcoming cinema release In Love with Alma Cogan (Capriol Films). Future engagements include the role of Laetitia (Sullivan’s The Zoo) for Charles Court Opera in Gettysburg, USA, in June. Catrine has previously appeared with ETO as Barbarina/ Figaro and Moth/ A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Adam Tunnicliffe
Tenor
Canadian Tenor Adam Tunnicliffe studied at Christ Church, Oxford and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Operatic roles include the title roles in Massenet’s Werther at Grimebourn Festival, Weber’s Oberon at the Cadogan Hall, The Rake’s Progress Saffron Opera Group and Albert Herring for English Touring Opera. Adam has sung numerous roles for ETO including Sandy in Peter Maxwell Davis’ The Lighthouse, Lensky -Eugene Onegin, Young Guard in their Olivier award winning production of Tippett’s King Priam, John Shears in Britten’s Paul Bunyan, Edmondo -L’assedio di Calais (Donizetti), Porcupine in Picker’s Fantastic Mr Fox, Young Lover -Il Tabarro and Masquerader in Linley’s The Duenna. Other roles include Quint in Turn of the Screw, Rinuccio -Gianni Schicchi for Opera Holland Park’s young artist programme, Sumers in Cimerosa’s Italian Girl in London for Bampton Classical Opera, Canio -I Pagliacci (Garden Opera), Ferrando -Cosi fan Tutte, Vogelsang -Der Schauspieldirektor, Beppe -Rita (Donizetti), Alfredo -La Traviata, Prince Phillipe in Berkeley’s A Dinner Engagement, Chevalier -Le Comte d’Ory (Rossini), Don Pelagio -La Canterina (Haydn), and Artabanes in Arne’s Artaxerxes. Adam has also enjoyed working in physical music theatre with the renowned troupe Nico and the Navigators in Berlin. World premier performances include Captain in Goehr’s Promised End (ETO), Admiral in Le Gendre’s Burial at Thebes (The Globe Theatre) and Oh, Whistle and I’ll Come by Louis Mander at this year’s Tete a Tete Festival.
Showing At
- Childs Hill, Cricklewood
12th Mar 2012 - 10:30 am
- St Mary's Primary School, London
12th Mar 2012 - 2:00 pm
- Newton Poppleford Primary School, Devon
21st Mar 2012 - 10:30 am
- Constantine School, Truro
27th Mar 2012 - 10:30 am
- Hall for Cornwall, Truro
28th Mar 2012 - 1:30 pm
- Courthill First School, Poole
30th Mar 2012 - 10:00 am
- Kiveton Park Meadows Junior School, Sheffield
17th Apr 2012 - 1:00 pm
- Sheffield
18th Apr 2012 - 12:00 pm
- Trafalgar Community Infants School, Horsham
20th Apr 2012 - 10:30 am
- Guildford
24th Apr 2012 - 12:00 pm
- Ilam C of E Primary School, Ashbourne
27th Apr 2012 - 12:00 pm
- National Star College, Cheltenham
2nd May 2012 - 11:30 am
- Coventry
10th May 2012 - 12:00 pm
- Warwick Arts Centre
12th May 2012 - 2:00 pm
- Durham
15th May 2012 - 12:00 pm
- Oakbank Primary School, Perth
18th May 2012 - 1:15 pm
- Arbury Primary School, Cambridge
23rd May 2012 - 11:15 am
- Cambridge International School
25th May 2012 - 1:30 pm