Flotsam
A new opera for young children
Half Moon presents an OperaUpClose production…
David Wiesner’s magical picture book adapted and brought to life in words and music by award-winning composer and writer Kerry Andrew.
Pip likes to play alone. In their bedroom, they explore a collection of treasures from the beach—flotsam! What are these objects and creatures? Who are they? What stories might they tell? With the help of an old camera, Pip’s imagination takes hold, conjuring extraordinary underwater worlds—strange, beautiful, and entirely their own.
Guided by the idea of photographing the world, curiosity and wonder leads Pip to discover a world beyond their own, connecting with other children across time and place, and finding the courage to reach out and make friends.
Running Time
TBC
Accessibility
Please get in touch for more information about accessibility in all our touring venues.
Creatively captioned throughout as part of the production design
Creative Team
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Kerry Andrew is a West Yorkshire-based composer, author and performer/producer. The winner of four British Composer Awards, they've created chamber and community operas for Wigmore Hall, Mahogany Opera and Tete a Tete Opera. They've been commissioned by Art on the Underground, London Sinfonietta, BBC Ten Pieces/BBC Proms, Ligeti Quartet and the National Theatre. They co-founded Juice Vocal Ensemble and make alt-folk as You Are Wolf. They've written three novels (published by Jonathan Cape and Atlantic Books) and have been twice shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award. They won the Edinburgh Short Story Award 2024 and the New Writing North Fiction Award 2025. www.kerryandrew.net
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Bio coming soon…
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Bio coming soon…
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Bio coming soon…
Cast
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Bio coming soon…
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Bio coming soon….
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Bio coming soon….
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Meera Maharaj enjoys a diverse performing career. Her duo with pianist Dominic Degavino has enjoyed much success, featuring as Countess of Munster Recital Scheme, Tunnell Trust and Park Lane Group artists. Since 2013, she has frequently performed with guitarist James Girling, as the Meraki Duo. They recently won the II Concurs Internacional de Música Cambra Flauta & Guitarra and they were finalists in the 2019 Royal Overseas League competition, as well as International Guitar Foundation Young Artists. She also plays with harpist, Lucy Nolan as Hathor Duo and formed her own flexi-ensemble – Meliora Collective. With a strong interest in outreach work, she’s a Live Music Now artist. Competition successes include first prize in the Royal Academy of Music Flute Competition and Dutch International Flute Competition, plus the Sussex Prize in the 2023 Royal Overseas League competition. She graduated with Distinction in her Masters, studying with Michael Cox at the Royal Academy of Music. In 2017, she graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music, studying with Wissam Boustany and Laura Jellicoe. Meera has played at the Wigmore Hall, Kings Place and Royal Albert Hall at the BBC Proms. She is Co-principal flute of Chineke! Orchestra and appeared as a concerto soloist at Queen Elizabeth Hall.
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Bio coming soon….
“spell-binding, magical, inventive theatre”
(A View Behind the Arras)
“Inspiring a new generation”
(Teachers in Newham and Hackney)
“Without a doubt, OperaUpClose is a class act”
(Opera Today)
UK Tour Dates
East London
Half Moon
Mon 19 Oct & Sat 31 Oct
Southampton
Mayflower Studios
Sat 24 Oct
Lichfield
The Hub at St Mary's
Mon 26 Oct
Gainsborough
Trinity Arts Centre
Tue 27 Oct
Norwich
Stage 2, Norwich Theatre
Weds 28 Oct
Luton
Hat Factory Arts Centre
Thurs 29 Oct
South London
Stanley Arts Centre
Fri 30 Oct
Milton Keynes
The Stables (Jim Marshall Auditorium)
Fri 6 Nov
Bath
The Egg
Sat 7 & Sun 8 Oct
West London
Grand Junction
Sat 14 Nov
North London
Jacksons Lane
Sun 15 Nov
"A unique theatrical experience" - Stage Masters
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"Clever, apt and atmospheric" - Opera Magazine
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"Packs a punch" - The Times
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"A unique theatrical experience" - Stage Masters > "Clever, apt and atmospheric" - Opera Magazine > "Packs a punch" - The Times >
Flotsam will drift to a venue
near you soon
Venue booking links for Flotsam will be available soon and released over the coming weeks. In the meantime you can join our email list or follow us on Instagram or Facebook @operaupclose for further updates.
Supported by and in partnership with