Please Help Us Bring a Bold Urban Opera to Life

I'm thrilled to share a daring new artistic venture from Uncovered Opera Company, and I’d be honoured for you to consider supporting it.

In February 2026, we plan to present Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel—in a synaesthetically, dream-like reimagining with an all female cast. The production team from our Macbeth in 2023 has been reformed and many Associate Artists from previous productions are joining us along with some new faces.

A Gritty Urban Fairy Tale

Set on the neon-lit streets of a sprawling modern city, our reimagined Hänsel und Gretel transforms the classic opera into a dream-like urban retelling. Two rebellious teens navigate alleyways, concrete jungles, and a mysterious 24-hour vape-sweet shop run by the magnetic Gingerbread Hexe.

It’s a story of hunger, temptation, and identity, wrapped in vapor clouds and glittering illusions—a spectacle that challenges the traditional setting, whilst still respecting its operatic context.

All-Female Cast, Emerging Talent

Depending on donations and funds raised the production is scalable. We would ideally like to run a 5 night version led by conductor Andrew Morley and a chamber ensemble: this will enable two casts to perform two shows and the cover cast to perform one: but we can scale this down if we have to. The important thing is to provide a performance opportunity to two casts and a cover cast so that all our work sees the light of day - and so we are going to aim big and hope you can help us!

Our all-female cast will bring this edgy vision to life. The production is part of our mission to spotlight the unsung heroes of opera: cover singers—talented artists who prepare roles with dedication but rarely get the chance to perform them and to support emerging artists by giving them roles to learn and perform.

Uncovered Opera Company, founded in 2021 by myself, Marrianne Town Smith is committed to broadening access, creativity, and opportunity in the opera world. You can learn more at www.uncoveredoperacompany.com.

Why We Need Your Help

We’re currently seeking funding to cover all aspects of the production - we have a budget of £2000 that we will be contributing plus donations to our lunchtime recitals, after costs, will go into the pot. We need to book venue hire and rehearsal space and cover all the production costs including, score hire and promotional materials as well as pay fees and expenses to all of the artists and production staff.

Every contribution—however big or small—helps us bring this one-of-a-kind opera to life with the vision and quality it deserves.

If you believe in bold storytelling, emerging talent, and making opera accessible to all, we’d be deeply grateful for your support.