Anyone who thinks that operas last for many hours and are only performed in huge theatres, by huge casts accompanied by extensive orchestras should get themselves to the Arcola Theatre for The Opera Makers’ presentation of Murder Games. The show comprises of two half-hour chamber operas written for piano and voices. There are only five singers and a pianist, and it is being put on in the industrial arena of a former paint factory. Welcome to Grimeborn – the alternative opera festival now in its nineteenth year.
The first piece is an English chamber opera called Cupboard Love, written by Madeleine Dring and librettist Danial Aitken in the 1950s but never performed until a few years ago. It is a sort of comic “whodunit” featuring only three cast members: the wife, the boyfriend and the husband. It is cleverly staged in a laboratory with skulls, poisons and potions, and at times you could forget you were watching an opera, such is the dialogue, movement and comic business – but then Louisa Tee as the wife lets rip to take the roof off with her powerful soprano and the effect is electrifying.
Both Tee and Masimba Ushe as the boyfriend are excellent. Funny and likeable, their diction and delivery rise to the challenge of delivering lines you would never expect to hear in an opera such as “you are not a toxicologist!” and “I dote on your duffel coat!” The third member of the cast is (spoiler!) a corpse, played by Elle Westbrook who has to deliver some amazing physical comedy throughout the short production. So very well delivered by The Opera Makers, Cupboard Love is well staged, engaging and laugh-out-loud funny.
After the interval, the second piece is Three Sisters Who Are Not Sisters. This is a 1968 chamber opera composed by Ned Rorem with libretto in English adapted from a 1943 play by Gertrude Stein. It is very surreal and dives into the world of childhood fantasy, featuring the three “not” sisters who are all orphans, and two biological brothers. Bored, the children decide to play a game of murder. As different characters are killed off, it’s again all about the corpses, and you can see why this has been paired with Dring’s piece.
The set this time is simply hopscotch markings in chalk on the floor. Chalk features heavily, with the bodies being outlined on the floor like in a detective drama. It’s clever and effective in a small space for a production which requires almost no other props.
Luisa Tee is not in this one, but Ushe and Westbrook return and are joined by additional cast members, Kristina Ammattil (soprano), Salome Siu (mezzo-soprano) and Eamonn Walsh (tenor). They are all impressive, and the room-filling power of their ensemble pieces was amazing – especially as you are so close to the action at the Arcola Theatre.
Both operas are directed by Jonny Danciger with music from Panaretos Kyriatzidis. This is a quirky, slightly bonkers double bill that showcases a talented cast of performers.
Grimeborn aims to showcase new and experimental works, and to reinterpret and reimagine opera for new audiences. My experience, though, is that it seems to be attracting a crowd of well-established, regular opera-goers. Full marks to them for making it to the gritty streets of Dalston for these performances, but it would be good to see the festival succeed in drawing in a new and younger audience. This is a shame because works like Murder Games, showcasing two quick-fire operas in such a high-quality, entertaining way, upend all preconceptions about the question – what is opera?
I’d really like to see this festival soar, and if you are one of those ‘new audiences’ that thinks opera is not for them (as I was a few years ago!), give it a try – I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Review by Fiona Gilbert
First, discover Madeleine Dring’s rarely performed, laugh-out-loud opera, Cupboard Love – a hilarious whodunit for three voices: the Wife, the Boyfriend and the Husband.
The evening continues with Ned Rorem’s wonderfully surreal philosophical musing on childhood innocence, Three Sisters Who Are Not Sisters, based on Gertrude Stein’s 1943 play. Both operas are directed by “must-see” director Jonny Danciger, with musical direction from multi-award-winning musical director Panaretos Kyriatzidis, and featuring a cast of outstanding emerging artists.
CUPBOARD LOVE
She (The Wife) – Louisa Tee
He (The Boyfriend) _ Masimba Ushe
It (The Husband) – Ellie Westbrook
Music by Madeleine Dring
Libretto by D. F. Aitken
THREE SISTERS WHO ARE NOT SISTERS
Jenny – Ellie Westbrook
Helen – Kristina Ammattil
Ellen – Salome Siu
Samuel – Eamonn Walsh
Sylvester – Masimba Ushe
Music by Ned Rorem
Libretto by Gertrude Stein
Jonny Danciger – Director and Designer
Panaretos Kyriatzidis – Musical Director
MURDER GAMES: A DOUBLE BILL
Arcola Theatre
29 July to 1 August 2026
