- The Royal Opera’s Festen wins Tait Award for Best New Opera Production
- Allan Clayton wins Outstanding Achievement in Opera for his performance in the world premiere of The Royal Opera’s Festen
At the Olivier Awards with Mastercard ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall this evening, The Royal Opera were delighted to accept the Tait Award for Best New Opera Production for the Company’s sell-out world premiere production of Festen, directed by Richard Jones. Bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel presented the award to composer Mark-Anthony Turnage, librettist Lee Hall, and soprano Natalya Romaniw who sang the role of Helena. They paid tribute to the fabulous creative team, cast, Orchestra of The Royal Opera House, Royal Opera Chorus, actors, crew and The Royal Opera team. In total, it took 460 people to bring Festen to the stage.
Adapted from Oscar-winning filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg’s 1998 film of the same name, the opera’s initial decorum descends into chaos as the story of trauma and complicity unfolds. Premiered in February 2025, the work was nominated alongside fellow Royal Opera productions The Tales of Hoffmann and L’Olimpiade as well as Duke Bluebeard’s Castle by English National Opera.
Festen is a co-production with Finnish National Opera & Ballet
Composer Mark-Anthony Turnage and Librettist Lee Hall said:
“We are completely blown away by this award, it is such an honour to have won. Creating Festen was an incredible experience and is testimony to the power of opera to tackle really difficult subjects that are, heartbreakingly, all too prevalent today. One of the great privileges of working on this opera was the possibility to workshop the piece as we wrote it. It was amazing as a composer and librettist to be able to change things as we responded to the piece being sung. Everyone has been unstinting in their efforts to make this very challenging piece happen. It has been a complete team effort. There was a very special camaraderie in the room as we worked on it together. We’d like to thank everybody involved, from the extraordinary cast and creative team, especially Richard Jones and Edward Gardner, to the entire Royal Opera company who backed us from the start of the process. All over the House people were steadfast in their support from those working in props, front of house, communication, hair and make-up, lighting and technical – everyone – thank you.”
In the Outstanding Achievement in Opera category, tenor Allan Clayton won for creating the role of Christian, in the world premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage and Lee Hall’s Festen, directed by Richard Jones. Portraying a son who confronts his father about the abuse he, his brother and sisters suffered, Clayton brought his customary dedication to the role and sang with heartbreaking intensity.
Unable to be there in person, Turnage and Hall collected the award on his behalf.
Allan Clayton, tenor, said:
“Thank you to Mark & Lee for creating an astonishing new piece of music drama; to everyone at the RBO, on/off/under the stage; to the props team for the fifteen gallons of fake wine; and to Richard Jones, Edward Gardner, and the phenomenal cast.”
Oliver Mears, Director of Opera, The Royal Opera said:
“A huge congratulations to Allan for winning this prestigious award. Festen was one of the most incredibly intense and powerful pieces of theatre in recent times, and Allan was a crucial part of this. He is the most dedicated and generous performer, fully committing himself to not just bringing a character to life but, in the case of Christian, creating the role for the world premiere production. It was a formidable evening in which Allan set the standard for future performances.”