Q&A with Bradley Travis, Artistic Director, Half Moon Theatre
Our upcoming touring production of Flotsam is created in partnership with Half Moon Theatre, so we took a moment to chat to with Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive Officer of Half Moon Theatre, Bradley Travis on all things Flotsam.
Firstly, we’d love to know more about your journey with Half Moon Theatre…
I’m Artistic Director and Joint CEO at Half Moon Theatre. I came to Half Moon in January last year, joining from English Touring Opera who I’d worked for over a 9 year period. I actually trained as an opera singer and was a professional freelance opera singer for a number of years before becoming a salaried team member at ETO, heading up their Learning & Participation department. I commissioned 15 new operas for children in my time there which has led me to being Artistic Director at Half Moon where I have artistic oversight of the organisation which includes commissioning and making new theatre for young people.
When did you first get involved with Flotsam?
I first got involved about a year ago when Half Moon and OperaUpClose started working together a little more closely.
One of my strategies coming into Half Moon was to diversify the art forms that the theatre engages with and produces, so with my background in opera, striking up a partnership with OperaUpClose was an obvious fit.
What appeals to you about Flotsam as an opera production for children?
I think it’s a fantastic picture book with such a special, mystical, magical tone and imagery that keeps giving the more you read it. I can’t wait to see how the imagery is recreated and represented in operatic form – and to hear how Kerry Andrew has interpreted the co-created elements to be performed by 5 musicians.
How important do you think it is to introduce children to opera?
It’s extremely important. Opera is one of the richest, most diverse artforms where really anything is possible. Children don’t respond in a prejudiced way to opera; they accept it as it is, finding joy and inspiration in the melody, the rhythm, the theatricality and much more.
What's your view on opera as an art form today and its potential to thrive?
I think there’s a naivety in the view that opera as an artform doesn’t have longevity in modern life. It shows that people don’t fully understand what opera is, who engages with it, and the potential it has not only to keep evolving, but in how one can continue to be stunned and moved by ‘classics’ that are 100s of years old. It’s up to opera creators and producers to continue to push the boundaries while making opera appropriate and accessible to a wide range of audiences.
Flotsam will bring new generations and audiences to the art form, engaging with them in a way that has been tailor-made to their experience.
What thought has gone into the chosen locations and venues on the tour?
The theatre venues booked for the tour give a wide span of the key children’s theatre venues across the country. They are complemented by theatres in areas that have less access to high quality art and schools in Southampton and the Solent.
Discover more about Flotsam and book your tickets for the upcoming tour
You can learn more about the production, the cast and book your tickets on our website. Bradley has since also shared his perspective on the production after attending its first playthrough in July. Watch the video below: