Yannis 

Thavoris

Stage 

Design

Massenet Cendrillon Royal Northern College of Music, December 2017 Director Olivia Fuchs Choreographer Bethan Rhys Wiliam Lighting Matthew Haskins

The production was nominated for Best Opera at the Manchester Theatre Awards 2018

Reviews 

Audible audience gasps greeted Yannis Thavoris’ traditional style set, a magical landscape and a visual delight, both simple in concept yet cleverly designed and beautifully lit too. Mainly constructed around three moveable partitions the central mirrored panel was put to ingenious use, producing fascinating optical effects and increasing the sense of movement. The wall panels were adjusted to create different rooms predominantly an embossed purple wallpapered drawing-room and a blue wallpapered bedchamber. Adding to the visual contribution were the rich and vividly colourful traditional costumes especially the handsome period wigs worn by all the main cast except Cendrillon. There were several amusing props; conspicuously, the illuminated wigs of Fairy Godmother and her Fairies, the nurses on roller-skates, the Fairies holding wide bands around Cendrillon wearing sun glasses giving the impression of her being seated in a luxury limo and Cendrillon and Le Prince Charmant in hospital beds each connected to drug infusion bags attached to mobile stands. (Seen and Heard International)


This is one of the most attractively spectacular operas the college has mounted for years. Director Olivia Fuchs and designer Yannis Thavoris stage the story in Versailles (the Hall of Mirrors, in particular) in the era of Louis XIV, and the set makes a wall of two-way mirrors its abiding theme, providing not only for impressive visual effects but also an easy and symbolic transition from the home of Cendrillon and her nasty step-mother and sisters to the royal palace and back again. **** (the arts desk)


The creative team of Olivia Fuchs (director), Yannis Thavoris (set and costume designer), Matt Haskins (lighting designer) and Bethan Rhys William (choreographer) brought a touch and a tone so perfect to an overpowering performance. ***** (Northern Soul)