The Love of Three Oranges was produced for the Cannon Hill Puppet Theatre with a cast that included Simon Painter, Peter Hurst, Niall Sutherland, Shaune Lowe, Judie Ross, Elaine Ball and Michael Huxley. The script was written by John English, with design, direction and production technique by John Blundall, whose visual imagination shaped the entire staging.
Originally a satirical opera by Sergei Prokofiev, The Love of Three Oranges premiered in Chicago in 1921 and was based on Carlo Gozzi’s commedia‑influenced fairy‑tale play. Prokofiev wrote the libretto himself, blending surreal humour, commedia dell’arte archetypes and fantastical storytelling. Although early reviews were mixed, the opera later became a popular and frequently revived work.
Although not conceived for puppetry, the piece has often been adapted for puppet theatre thanks to its fantastical characters, episodic structure and commedia roots. Its mix of satire, magic and transformation makes it especially well suited to companies like Cannon Hill, where Blundall’s sculptural style and theatrical inventiveness could fully animate its imaginative world.
