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Independent theatre director & Artistic Director Designate - Cape Town Opera
Reviews
Michael Billington, The Guardian 3 Stars ‘Elegantly staged ... the image that stays with you is of Picasso as the minotaur: a mixture of man and monster’ ‘the piece is beautifully staged by Michael Hunt on a circular sandpit and eloquently acted’ ‘Peter Tate...unflinchingly portrays Picasso’s self-belief, bull-like power and absolute dedication to his art’ ‘Claire Bowman (Marie-Thérèse), Adele Oni (Geneviève) and, most especially, Alejandra Costa as the protective, adoring Jacqueline capture the varied natures of the women who inspired him’ "This production of Hansel und Gretel does not require suspension of disbelief. It is simply ripped out of the audience...domestic horror made sublime and brilliantly rendered." Alto Adige, Bolzano "Michael Hunt’s direction of Fidelio brilliantly plays artifice off against found mise-en-scene almost as a research method...sustained power, searing intensity and superlative musicanship and stagecraft of this fine production." Moscow Musical Express http://andreawulf.typepad.com/Images/Fidelio.pdf "Michael Hunt's direction squeezed as much broad comedy as possible from the plot's series of deceptions and misunderstandings. In particular, Figaro (Ewan Taylor) and Suzanna (Sandra Oman) opted for comic exaggeration and over-emoting. Only occasionally, in the performances of Riccardo Simonetti as the Count and Ann-Helen Moen as his wife, did we sense the yearning and melancholy woven into Mozart and Da Ponte's work." The Guardian, UK "Il regista Michael Hunt, con il drammaturgo Gary Kahn, sposta l’azione al tempo presente. La povera famiglia del boscaiolo-venditore di scope vive in una roulotte parcheggiata poco fuori di un fatiscente luna-park, del quale inizialmente si intravvede solo la scalcinata insegna. Un misterioso prestigiatore, affascina Hänsel e Gretel con i suoi trucchi per poi continuare ad osservarli di nascosto, ispirandone tuttavia le azioni; sarà proprio nel parco di divertimenti, che diviene una sorta di luogo dell’anima, che i due fratelli si smarriscono e nel quale si materializza la casetta di marzapane. La Strega, non è altro che l’illusionista apparso in precedenza, lo si riconosce dalle scarpe d’argento che porta. Hunt, grazie anche agli elementi scenografici realizzati da Jason Southgate, autore anche dei deliziosi costumi, ed al sapientissimo disegno di luci di David Cunningham, rende con grande intelligenza e con briosa levità tutte le ansie dei piccoli protagonisti, autori di un viaggio alla scoperta di se stessi attraverso un’esperienza, la quale è sì drammatica, ma al contempo si rivela strumento essenziale per un processo di crescita e di autocoscienza. Straordinaria l’idea di affidare la parte della Strega ad un interprete maschile, tramutandola in una specie di grottesca drag-queen e sdrammatizzandone la natura malvagia, che si stempera in comportamenti tra lo schizofrenico ed il compulsivo, i quali strappano molte risate ma fanno comunque riflettere. Degno contraltare dello splendido allestimento è stata un’esecuzione musicale sostanzialmente impeccabile sotto ogni punto di vista." Opera Click website |
Welcome. I have an International reputation for directing and producing cultural programmes as an experienced Producer and Director. Honoured by both the Russian and Irish Governments for my work in the field of culture, I was also invited to deliver the 2010 Allianz Foundation Lecture on European Theatre Arts at the Berlin Staatsoper. Past posts include: Visiting Lecturer in Theatre Design at Wimbledon School of Art, London • Artistic Director and CEO of Co-Opera, Ireland • Artistic Director of the Bloomsbury Festival, London • Artistic Director and CEO of the Theatre Royal, Waterford • Chief Executive of Wexford Opera Festival, Ireland. As a very successful director of opera and theatre productions across Europe and USA, I have particular expertise and experience in site-specific work; directing the world’s largest – Fidelio in the Gulag (with a cast of over 600) in 2010 as well as Der Freischutz in 10 English Heritage properties and Tosca in Waterford – Cathedral, Bishops Palace and Theatre Royal in 2006. I enjoy directing theatre in small theatres as well - have a look at my production pictures. Please contact me if you have any comments. 
Awards include: Russian State Prize for Culture for Fidelio, Best Opera Production at the Irish Theatre Awards and Irish Theatre Awards nominations for Best Director. 2014 Italian Critics Award Best European Opera Production of the Year for Hansel und Gretel in Bolzano/Bozen.
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