The Reviews

"Taking place behind the main tented area on the Yucca lawn, adults and children alike are invited by sprites to take their seats on the ground next to a small orchestra. Over the next hour they are ushered from scene to scene and the orchestra (superbly conducted by Tim Murray) constantly reconvening in different areas to play for the next section. The sets are exquisite (the fox’s burrow, in particular, feels an affinity with its setting), and a wander around afterwards reveals just what attention to detail has gone into constructing them. The music is highly accessible to children, without ever feeling patronising towards them. For this reason it seems perfectly suited to giving youngsters their first taste of an operatic experience, while adults should also find much within the notes to take an interest in.  From among the strong cast, Olivia Ray stands out for the sweetness of her voice and the sensitivity of her portrayal of Mrs Fox. Other fine turns come from Hannah Pedley as the maverick rat and Henry Grant Kerswell, Peter Kent and John Lofthouse as the three oddball, angst-ridden farmers. Fantastic Mr Fox is to be highly recommended as a children’s opera, especially since the tickets are so reasonably priced. If you take your family, however, you should enjoy the experience as much as the youngsters, and if you are thinking of going without any little ones in tow, I would certainly not try to put you off."
Sam Smith, WhatsOnStage.com

"Stephen Barlow's charming production of Fantastic Mr Fox is an excellent introduction to opera for the children and grandchildren of Holland Park's audience.  In one glade there is Mr Fox's (Grant Doyle) den, in another, the farmhouse where Boggis (Henry Grant Kerswell), Bunce (Peter Kent) and Bean (John Lofthouse) live, cutely and revoltingly characterised in Sean Taylor's designs. Conductor Tim Murray keeps a tidy house, The fox cubs' young voices blend sweetly (Bryn Barton, Martha Berkmann, Katie Breslin, Alex Franklin, Hannah Caplan), while Hannah Pedley's dipsomaniac Rat, Olivia Ray's brisk, practical Mrs Fox and Patrick Mundy's eager Mole are outstanding in a lively cast."
Anna Picard, Independent on Sunday

"Performed in the magical wooded glade of the yukka lawn. A spirited young cast led by Grant Doyle and Olivia Ray as Mr and Mrs Fox held its young audience captive. Four Botticellian wood sprites, who could also sing divinely, led the promenade performance from tree to tree. It was expertly done and deserves a life beyond west London."
Fiona Maddocks, The Observer

"The whole occasion is charming thanks to Stephen Barlow’s staging; the concept is well-served by Sean turner’s clever sets. The opera owes its zestful appeal to Mr Picker’s score, expertly conducted by Tim Murray, and the wit and energy of the cast with Grant Doyle starring as the irrepressible title character."
Geoffrey Smith, Country Life