Little Red And The Big Bad...

Meet the cast and creatives for little red and the big bad…

A stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet, right?

Little Red's mind wanders A LOT... and, every so often, her feet do, too. "Stick to the path!" says Mother, as she hands a basket of freshly baked goods to her daughter. Wearing her favourite red cloak and with a spring in her step, Little Red begins her journey to her grandmother's house. But, whilst reaching to pick some flowers for Grandma, someone introduces themselves... Join Little Red as she ventures into the forest and meets all sorts of spooky and wonderful strangers along the way.

St Paul’s Opera invites you to this all-age Christmas production of César Cui's operatic take on this classic fairy tale.

LYDIA WARD – LITTLE RED

Lydia is a singer from Nottinghamshire currently studying her Masters Degree in singing at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. She studied as a vocal specialist at Wells Cathedral School before securing a choral scholarship to Royal Holloway, University of London, where she gained a First Class Honours Degree in Music and German. Lydia is a recipient of the Southwell Choral Society Music Bursary Prize and enjoys a rich singing career in London as both a soloist and ensemble singer with groups such as St Martin’s Voices, recently featured in their latest CD release ‘A Winter Breviary’; and Ensemble Orquesta, with whom she performed at the 2023 Grimeborne Festival as Iphis in Céphale et Procris. Lydia is overjoyed to be performing with St Paul’s Opera again as Ruby in Little Red And The Big Bad….

ALEXANDRA DINWIDDIE – MOTHER

Alexandra is a British mezzo who trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with Elizabeth McCormack. Credits include: Nancy - Albert Herring, La Ciesca - Gianni Schicchi (St Paul’s Opera); Olga - Eugene Onegin (Edinburgh Studio Opera); Lola/Lena - Verismo (Opera on Location); Edwin Hillier’s Dhātu (Glasgow Cathedral Festival); Elgar’s Sea Pictures (Greyfriar’s Kirk); Dvořák’s Stabat Mater (St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh); Le Loup-garou (Gothic Opera); Le Dernier Sorcier; a collaboration with the Tim Kliphuis Trio. An SPO favourite, Alex has also appeared in Hansel and Gretel, and sung in many gala and oratorio performances.

HECTOR BLOGGS – GRANDMA

Hector is returning to SPO where he was last seen in costume as both Betto and Marco in the 2021 production of Gianni Schicchi, his “Operatic Debut”. He has since performed Don Giovanni, Sid and smaller (sometimes bass) roles elsewhere. He is currently in his first year of the Opera Course at Guildhall where he finished his undergraduate with a first class and Concert Recital Diploma.

NATASHA ELLIOTT – WOLF

Natasha is currently undertaking her Artist Diploma as a Morag Noble Scholar at Trinity Laban conservatoire of Music and Dance. She recently performed the role of Sesto in La Clemenza Di Tito and Dritte Dame in Die Zauberflöte for Trinity Laban’s Opera Scenes as well as an off-stage chorus lead for The Opera Maker’s production of Turandot at Grimeborn. Other projects have included Princess Clarice in L'Amour des Trois Oranges for Regents Opera and Florence Pike in St Paul's Opera's production of Albert Herring, Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier for Uncovered Opera, Die Zweiter Dienerin in Fulham Opera's Die Ägyptische Helena, and Flora in Regents Opera's touring production of La Traviata.

HANNAH MORLEY – WOODCUTTER/NEIGHBOUR

Mezzo Soprano Hannah is studying for an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Vocal and Operatic Performance at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, generously supported by a Conservatoire scholarship. She was a Leeds Lieder Young Artist for 2022 with her duo partner Michael Rose and an Emerging Artist for Clonter Opera Theatre’s Summer Showcase week (2022). Prizes include: The Gil-Rodriguez Scholarship Opéra de Baugé (2023), The Elizabeth Rollarson Award (2023), The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Singing prize (2023); The Ashleyan Opera prize (2022); The Edward Brookes Lieder prize (2021). Hannah sang the role of Mercédès in SPO’s Carmen in the summer.

ISABELLA ROBERTS – WOODCUTTER/NEIGHBOUR

Isabella is a soprano currently studying a masters degree at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, studying with Neil Baker and Panaretos Kyriatzidis. During her undergraduate degree at Bristol University Isabella performed in the Opera Society’s production of Don Giovanni, The Cunning Little Vixen, Dido and Aeneas and was Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro in her final year. Isabella has also performed the role of Emmie in the SPO production of Britten’s Albert Herring and has performed in the SPO masterclass with David Butt Phillip.

FIONA HYMNS – WOODLAND SPOOK

Fiona was a Britten-Pears Young Artist in 2018 and 2019. Previous roles include Elvira, Alcina and Adina, and she has worked for Buxton Festival, Grange Park Opera and Festival. Fiona has performed for SPO in Cinderella and Le Nozze di Figaro. This year, as well as becoming a new Mum, Fiona has been singing Donna Elvira in a small tour of Don Giovanni with City Music Services, and will be singing as a soloist in Bruckner Requiem with Lawyers Music in December.

PATRICIA NINIAN – WOODLAND SPOOK

Patricia began her solo career a few decades ago in Westminster Abbey, but more recently was a Morley College Opera Performance student under the expert direction of Jonathan Cocker. She founded St Paul’s Opera in 2013 and has sung the roles of Madame Goldentrill (Der Schauspieldirektor) and Nella (Gianni Schicchi), Liu (Turandot), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte), Eurydice (Orpheus in the Underworld), Despina (Così fan Tutte), and Marcellina (Le Nozze di Figaro) and most recently Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring) for SPO.

LOUISA TEE – WOODLAND SPOOK

Louisa trained at the RWCMD, Trinity College of Music and ENO Opera Works. She has worked with Opera Holland Park, Raymond Gubbay and OperaUpClose working in the west end and touring the UK. Roles include Violetta, (La Traviata) (Offie Nomination), Mimi (La Boheme), Countess (Le Nozze di Figaro) and Fiordiligi (Cosi Fan Tutte). Louisa is the co-creator of Warehouse Opera, one of the most important opera companies to come out of the UK. Take a look: https://www.youtube.com/@warehouseopera

FINN LACEY – STAGE DIRECTOR

Finn is a London-based Stage Director. Finn assisted Matthew Eberhardt on the 2022 National Opera Studio residency at Opera North and operas for Hampstead Garden Opera (The Cunning Little Vixen), St Paul’s Opera (Carmen) and Green Opera (Bluebeards Castle). In August 2023, Finn produced and directed Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti at the Arcola Theatre for the Grimeborn festival (nominated for two Off West End Awards.) Finn is also a Countertenor with the English Concert, Gesualdo Six and The Sixteen.

ADRIAN SALINERO – MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Adrian is a Basque Spanish pianist based in London. As a 22/23 Young Artist at the National Opera Studio, he had his Wigmore Hall debut and worked in residencies with Welsh National Opera, Opera North, Scottish Opera and English National Opera. In the 23/24 season his engagements include the world premiere of The Masque of Vengeance by Edward Lambert, St Paul’s Opera’s Little Red and the Big Bad… (César Cui) and the new production of Acis and Galatea by Opera Holland Park.

ASHLEY PEARSON – LIBRETTO

Ashley is a London-based writer and director known for her dynamic and highly entertaining style. She is passionate about reimagining classic operatic works for modern audiences, and her work has been praised for its humour, pathos, and thought- provoking themes. Ashley’s librettos have been used by companies including King’s Head Theatre, OperaupClose, St. Paul’s Opera and OperaOnLocation. Her work has been published by Oberon Books.