A post-apocalyptic farce for a time of pandemic

Evoking everything from early opera to vaudeville entertainment, a musical comedy of manners at the end of civilisation. 

Following fire, flood and virus, two survivors wander in a barren landscape. In her decrepit bunker, they come across the self-isolating, stockpiling Queen of Cans who invites them in to party.  Can love blossom even as life on Earth perishes? And who or what is the Dark One of whom they are so terrified? Stripped to its essentials, with only an accordion for company, this comic opera turns out to be no laughing matter. 

Filmed during the summer of 2020 and given a​ live performance in concert in September 2020 at The Cockpit London as part of the Tête à Tête Opera Festival

Film premiere at Close-Up Cinema, Shoreditch, 6 November 2022

Words - Leo Doulton
Music - Edward Lambert
Queen - Emily Thorner (soprano)
Squib - Gráinne Gillis (mezzo-soprano)
Lissa - Simon Grange (bass)
​Dark One - Henry Clements (treble)
Accordion - Ilona Soumalainen
Musical Director - Elspeth Wilkes
Design - Charlie Wood
Production Assistant - Layla Bradbeer
Movement Director - Korina Kokkali
Stage Director - Simon Gleave
Film credits:
Lighting - Sonny Ray-Casson
Sound - Malcolm Cromie
Boom - Ben Gandy
Producer - Katie Gunn
Director - Adrian Florin Ardelean
Co-produced by The Music Troupe and jeudi