Commissions / 2025

The Little Zombie Girl

Music

Omar Shahryar

Libretto

Ed Harris

Season

2025

Themes

Belonging
Community
Self-acceptance
Hope

Synopsis

The Little Zombie Girl is a contemporary fable exploring trust, self-acceptance, diversity and belonging.

When a young social outcast finds refuge in a café inhabited by the Ancients, she discovers a community that values compassion over conformity. Combining humour, theatrical imagination and heartfelt storytelling, the opera celebrates difference and reminds us that everyone deserves a place where they belong.

The full company on stage in costume during a performance of The Little Zombie Girl.

Why it worked for LYO

The production captured everything we hope for in an LYO commission: an imaginative world that young performers could fully inhabit, memorable characters they loved becoming, and a moving story that resonated with audiences of all ages.

Set within the colourful world of Ringaling's Goblin Circus, the opera balanced comedy, spectacle and warmth while giving every performer the opportunity to contribute to the story-telling.

From the Rehearsal Room

Moments the company will remember.

Becoming the Circus

One of the defining moments came when the cast finally mastered the choreography for ‘Roll Up for Ringaling's Goblin Circus’. Suddenly they stopped looking like young performers learning choreography and became a convincing travelling circus troupe. It was the moment the production found its identity. We harnessed all the skillsets of the cast to include juggling and acrobatic work.

What the Cast Loved

The Goblins quickly became firm favourites. The performers embraced their mischievous energy, particularly enjoying the theatrical chaos of destroying the café (at times too much!). Combined with memorable melodies and highly choreographed ensemble numbers, the production became one of the most joyful rehearsal processes the LYO Team have worked on.

Performance Excerpts

Lessons from this Commission

01
A distinctive theatrical world gives performers permission to be bold.
02
Every chorus group should have its own dramatic identity.
03
Humour is strongest when balanced with emotional truth.
04
Stories of belonging resonate deeply with performers and audiences alike.

Critical Response

The Little Zombie Girl works on every level… Ed Harris's lyrics are witty and Omar Shahryar's score is very easy on the ear… this young people's opera deserves a longer life.