The Nightingale & The Rose

“Here, at last, is a true lover!”
In the shady grove, on a branch of the tallest Oak tree, the Nightingale has sung of love her entire life. Never has she found someone worthy of her song – until she meets The Student. But there is darkness at the end of her path. Paired with The Birthday of the Infanta, Orange Moon presents a new piece of physical and musical theatre based on Wilde’s two most haunting fairy tales of love and ignorance, selflessness and waste.

Directed by Claudia Carroll & Francesca McInally
Composed by Claudia Carroll, Sara Page & Victor Mellors
Movement by Sara Page
Lighting design by Andrew Whadcoat
Sound by Fengfan Zhou
Cast: Claudia Carroll, Victor Mellors, Hannah Webster, Felix Grainger, Charlotte Sparey

The Nightingale & the Rose (2018)

The Nightingale & The Rose & other tales by Oscar Wilde
Performed at Barons Court Theatre, Lion & Unicorn, and Landor Space, 2018

Actdrop *****
Intelligently played out on the small stage of the Barons Court theatre, the director and her team have extruded forests and palaces from it’s space, aided in no small part by the wondrous movement direction of Sara Page.

Everything Theatre ****
This admirably tight production is neatly designed for the size of the Barons Court Theatre’s performance area, filling the space with some thrilling moments of physical theatre. Standout moments include the Nightingale flying, which is simple but gorgeous – an almost breath-taking experience. Another is when The Little Forest Boy confronts his “monstrous” reflection, and the other cast members trap him in a cage of multiple mirrors.