What happened when Hans Andersen visited Charles Dickens at his home in Kent, in 1857? Music frames comedy, Gothic drama and family tensions, illuminated by the power of the imagination.
Click here to listen to some of the music
Thanks for helping bring Tinderbox to life.
Thanks to the generosity of crowd-funder donations, White Knight put on a Platform Performance of work in progress at Camden People’s Theatre, London, in January 2025.
Audiences commented:
“Moving and complex and beautifully put together and performed."
“Comic and moving, Hans Anderson’s visit to the Dickens family provides the comic framing to explore art and poetry, love and betrayal. I look forward to its next outing.”
“Vocally, I thought the performance was outstanding. I enjoyed the classical, theatrical style of music."
“FABULOUS! singing and acting. I was moved by the story – the wonderful music. I would like to see it get a full staging - a complete show!”
“Great structure and expressive storytelling through a combination of spoken word and song - with a highly effective combination of individual voices and contrapuntal vocal lines expressing the drama.”
"I particularly enjoyed being immersed in the atmosphere of the mid-19th-century home of the Dickens family, with all its exceptional everydayness."
"Over the course of five weeks, we followed Andersen’s adventure in England — it was fairytale-like; he would have been impressed!"
These are comments on our concert platform performance of 'Tinderbox'. We reimagine a unique and significant moment in literary and personal history - the meeting between world-celebrated popular 19th-century authors, Hans Christian Andersen and Charles Dickens, both of whose works continue to delight today. Tinderbox dramatises, using their own words, the explosive moment in July 1857, when they met at Dickens' family home in Kent.
OUR AIM
Our aim is to create a memorable musical work for the stage, a chamber opera. With your help we have already been able to develop, and perform for audiences (January 2025) 35 songs as well as dialogue and connecting material.
We have woven some of the wit and humour which continue to render the work of the two extraordinary 19th-century authors who inspire 'Tinderbox' loved by so many, into the libretto, as they speak and sing their own words, underscored by the music.
Encouraged by the gratifying response to our January 2025 platform concert performance (see top of this page for reviews), we now need to refine and extend existing material, and to record an album of selected songs from the piece as the next step before the full stage version.
Activity Plan.
PHASE 1 - Aug 24- Jan 25 : Prepare for Concert Platform Performance, Camden People's Theatre, 26-27 Jan 25. (£3000) Successfully Completed.
PHASE 2 Revise libretto and music, to Aug 25. (Budget: £11,000)
PHASE 3 - Record Album Sept 25 (Budget; £3000) Piano, flute, cello, MD, viola. Record Porcupine Studios, SE9
Total : £14000. (Through Crowdfunder)
PHASE 4- Month 10: Perform 'Tinderbox' at the Linbury Studio, London (December 2025). (Budget: £15,000). Invite appropriate impresarios and investors to finance full performance at (e.g.) the Arcola Opera Festival London, July 2026.
Total : £14000 (phases1-3)
PLUS £15000 (Phase 4) (from other funding sources)
Total needed: £29,000
STORY AND MUSIC
In 1857, Dickens and Andersen were among the most celebrated and courted of men in Europe and America, moving in similar literary and theatrical circles, admired and adored by a public spanning intellectuals, bohemians, crowned heads and everyone else. Both were deeply influenced by the experience in early youth of gruelling manufacturing labour to support their families - Andersen at Ørnstrup’s tobacco works in Odense, Dickens at Warren’s boot-blacking factory in London. Their personal circumsances and characters were different; but both were driven to write - poems, plays, travelogues, novels, short stories. Yet today, these prolific authors are remembered for only a fraction of their creative output.
White Knight now celebrates in fitting form one great gift these writers left behind them: their unfailing affirmation of the vital value of Art. 'Tinderbox' combines music, dialogue and narration in a way inspired by both authors, who started their dramatic careers with musical stageworks - Andersen with 'Love in Nicolai Tower' (1830) and Dickens with 'The Village Coquettes' (1835). Both loved music, drama and storytelling all their lives.
In an age when Art seems more necessary than ever, the well-received platform performance in January 2025 already represents the first complete phase of 'Tinderbox'’s evolution into a full-blown production. As Katey Dickens asked: "Can Art save the world?"
Engaging contemporary music with a romantic flavour frames comedy, mesmerism and gothic performance-interludes, revealing the literary passions which make their work relevant today, as well as the tensions between the authors, against the background of the crisis Charles and his wife Catherine face.
DICKENS AND ANDERSEN
Dickens was a larger-than-life character, like his own fictional creations - an amateur actor (who had once aspired to becoming professional) and keen mesmerist, as well as a playwright and novelist. His wife, Catherine, a talented and passionate musician from a literary family, published - between giving birth to 10 children - dinner menus and recipes designed to feed from 6 to 18 guests, which she created to entertain her husband’s wide circle of literary friends.
Andersen, whose mind had also been set on going on the stage from his early years, trained as a singer, dancer and performer in Copenhagen - though he never in fact became a professional actor. He first earned a living adapting stories from a number of languages into libretti for various composers, before travelling widely and turning his full attention to writing. The “Tales of Wonder Told for Children”, on which his renown rests, became staple Christmas books as they appeared annually, volume by volume and were performed on the Copenhagen stage.
Both authors created “stories which furnished reading for children and grown people” - as Andersen put it: “the children making themselves merry for the most part over … the characters, while older people, on the contrary, were interested in the deeper meaning”.
Both had begun with aspirations to act; both wrote with imaginative power that has given their work huge and lasting impact. Both much-travelled, they admired each other’s writing and shared literary tastes and political views. This significant moment, when they lived together in Dickens’ family home for a few weeks one hot English summer, lends itself to rich dramatic and musical treatment, offering a new perspective on both public and private life.
CAST
Hans Christian Andersen: British tenor Laurence Panter takes a particular interest in contemporary opera, having premiered roles from Mervyn for Orlando Gough’s 'Bloom Britannia' and Captain for Stephen McNeff’s 'Banished' to Ivan in John Whittaker’s 'The Proposal'. For 'Cruel Sister', premiered at the Tête-à-Tête Festival in 2019, he composed his own music. Other credits include Longborough Festival Opera, tenor soloist and pianist for Electric Voice Theatre and musical director, conductor/pianist/arranger/ singer for Barefoot Opera and the Rugby Philharmonic Choir.
Charles Dickens: Baritone Oskar McCarthy’s credits include The Presenter in 'New Year' (Birmingham Opera Company), 'Eight Songs for a Mad King' (Red Note Ensemble), Simon Hughes in 'Bermondsey', 1983 (Tête-à-Tête), Adam in 'Paradise Lost' (Shipwright) and Laura Bowler’s 'Lines and Letters' and 'Disinformation' for baritone and electronics, which he commissioned and premiered at Snape and Cafe OTO. Oskar, who has devised new music theatre works with ERRATICA is co-Artistic Director of experimental ensemble ‘Festival Voices’ (e.g. at Bold Tendencies and the Southbank Centre).
Catherine Dickens: Singer, actor, and voice artist Sarah Borges played 'Belle Elmore' in Stephen Guy Daltry’s fantasia (with dramatist Brian McAvera) 'Did You Dr Crippen?' at Trafalgar Studios, London. She has worked on ITV's Pop Star to Opera Star and multiple seasons of the Thursford Christmas Spectacular, as well as as a voice artist across audiobooks, audio description, video games and more. For the Royal Opera House's double bill, 'Trouble in Tahiti' and 'A Quiet Place' (Leonard Bernstein), she contributed as scriptwriter and live audio describer.
Katey Dickens: Latvian-British performer/composer/sound-artist Kariina Gretere focuses on story-driven music for stage, virtual and real gallery spaces. Works showcased at Sweden’s Interactive Institute, the University of Cambridge and the Norwegian Film School amplifying the voices of historically overlooked women include 'Queen’s Game' (2022) (child medieval 'Queen of the North', Margrete) in video-game and live performance, 'Marvellous Transformations' (2015/2017) (17th-century artist/naturalist Maria Sybilla Merian) and 'Songs of the Seeress' (2007) (Viking-Age oral heritage performances and interactive installations).
Henry Dickens: Born in West London, Dominic Donnelly has a passion for the performing arts, singing in his local Church Choir under the direction of Marek Maryniak and training with the St. George’s Youth Choir in Southwark Cathedral with Jonathan Schranz. Dominic is an integral part of his school Boys’ Choir and has attended the Schola Cantorum and performed in the Vivaldi Gloria Concert at St. Mary’s Church, Twickenham. He also took part in the Singing Festival at the Rose Theatre, Kingston. Dominic was given the principal role of Fagin in his end-of-year production musical 'Oliver' He currently studies piano, drums and music composition, and is attending LAMDA acting classes.
Narrator: British actor, director and production manager Laurel Swinscoe (BA, Drama in the Community, Lincoln University; MA Shakespeare and Theatre, Shakespeare Institute) has directed for youth theatre: Blithe Spirit (19 -23 yr olds); musicals 'Grease', 'We Will Rock You', 'Little Shop of Horrors', 'Our House' (12-18 yr olds); plays 'Twelfth Night; A Midsummer Nights Dream' (12-18 yr olds); studio/devised theatre: 'Memory of Water'; 'Be My Baby'; 'Girls Like That'; 'Caged Birds'; '100'; 'Chatroom'. She stage-managed 'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe' on the Edinburgh Fringe. Laurel has acted as voice-artist for video-gaming characters.
Stephen Guy Daltry has scored award-winning films 'The Lost World of Mr Hardy' (‘gorgeous musical score’ – director Ken Russell, The Times) and BBC Scotland documentary 'Of Fish or Foe'. He has composed TV scores including BBC2’s 'The Hunt' (Cultural Prix Italia), two ITV documentaries on Princess Diana, and the Sundance Festival hit, 'The Moo Man'. Original stage musicals include 'Alice' (from Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass) (with dramatist/ director Maureen Thomas); 'Seats in All Parts' (with writer/director Lesley Albiston) and 'Did You Dr Crippen?' (with playwright Brian McAvera).
Versatile British flautist Anne Allen has performed on BBC Radio 2 & 3, Classic FM, BBC TV, ITV and Sky and been seen playing in an episode of 'Midsummer Murders', and 'Britain’s Got Talent' as part of Golden Buzzer-winning act. She has played all over England, including at the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall and St Martin in the Fields, London, as well as for bands in venues such as 'The Troubadour', 'Bush Halls' and 'Eel Pie Island. Anne has played solos for clients including Sting, The Queen and the President Reagan dinner - but as a football fan, a particular highlight was performing for the Beckhams.
Our Vision:
We're passionate about bringing this magical moment to life in a fully-staged production, but we can't do it alone. Crowd-funding has financed the writing, composition, and staging of a preliminary platform performance of 'Tinderbox' at the Camden People’s Theatre, Central London, in January 2025. With your help, we'll bring together with a talented team to breathe life into a striking, multifaceted fully-staged drama, offering a new perspective on a fascinating group of people.
Why Support Us:
By supporting 'Tinderbox', you're not just funding a musical stagework —you're championing the arts, reanimating the imaginative legacy and charm of two literary icons and giving ear to the quiet voice of a woman, Catherine Dickens, hitherto swallowed up by her husband’s very public fame. Your contribution will enable us to honour the creative spirit of Andersen and Dickens by introducing this little-known, moving and illuminating episode to as wide an audience as possible.
How You Can Help:
Join us on our creative journey by becoming a backer of 'Tinderbox'. Choose a reward tier that resonates with you and make a pledge today. Every contribution brings us closer to our goal and helps us share this unusual tale with the world.
Our Promise:
We're committed to transparency and accountability throughout this project. As a backer, you'll receive regular updates on our progress, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and exclusive content. Your support means the world to us, and we'll work tirelessly to ensure 'Tinderbox' exceeds your expectations.
Spread the Word:
Even if you're unable to contribute financially, you can still support 'Tinderbox' by spreading the word. Share our campaign with your friends, family, and social networks. Together, we can make 'Tinderbox' a reality, celebrate the timeless legacy of Andersen and Dickens and add some new insights to the story.
Thank You
Thank you for believing, like Dickens and Andersen, in the power of words, music and performance; and for supporting our vision. With your help, we'll create something truly magical with 'Tinderbox.' Let's embark on this journey together and create something unique and unforgettable.
About us.
I am Stephen Guy Daltry, composer, pianist and actor, and Founder Director, White Knight Pictures. As well as for the theatre, I have composed extensively for film and television, such as BBC2's 'The Hunt' (Cultural Prix Italia Winner), the Sundance hit documentary 'The Moo Man' and 'The Lost World of Mr Hardy', of which director Ken Russell wrote in the Times (30/10/2009) :"a gorgeous musical score of violin and cello..breathtaking in its simplicity, beauty and effectiveness”.
My musical theatre includes 'Alice', adapted from Lewis Carroll's works, at the British Library and New End Theatre Hampstead (Sunday Times critics and young people's choice - #2 London Christmas Show ... #1 was 'Cirque du Soleil'); 'Seats in All Parts' (with co-writer/director Lesley Albiston) at the King's Head, Islington & Salisbury Arts Centre and 'Did You Dr Crippen?' with playwright Brian McAvera.
Co-librettist and co-lyricist on "Tinderbox" is dramatist, librettist and director Maureen Thomas (librettist, 'Lombroso' in ‘About Face’ - composer Rachel Leach - commissioned Royal Opera House Covent Garden Blueprint Programme - Linbury Studio; librettist, ‘Zuppa Inglese’ commissioned Pimlico Opera - composer Daryl Runswick - Oxford & Nottingham Playhouses; book and lyrics, ‘Bright Sparks’ - composer Daryl Runswick - commissioned Arts Council West, UK; writer/director 'WE' (integrated media ‘total theatre’ performance adapted from the novel by Yevgeny Zamyatin) with Studio for Electronic Theatre, London and co-writer/director with Stephen Guy Daltry on the musical 'Alice’ at the New End Theatre, Hampstead).
Where Can I Hear Some of the Music?
On 12th March 2024, we recorded, at the excellent Porcupine Studios in South East London, some demo material from "Tinderbox", with mezzo soprano Margaret Cameron of the BBC Singers and baritone Oskar McCarthy. Soprano Kariina Gretere also recorded a demo track of 'Arctic Sun' at her studio in Denmark.
You can hear a few excerpts at this link:
https://soundcloud.com/stephendaltry/sets/tinderbox
Inspiration
In 2018, I (Stephen Guy Daltry) noticed a small article online about the writer Hans Andersen being invited to Charles Dickens' house in 1857 and outstaying his welcome. I thought this meeting between two world-renowned writers who shared a number of attitudes and interests but who were separated by a language barrier, would make a wonderful subject for a chamber opera, weaving in fairy tale with the reality of Dickens' strained relationship with his wife at that time, his publication of 'Little Dorrit', the novel set in the London debtors' prison where his father was incarcerated when Dickens was 12 (obliging young Charles to leave school to work for the family); and Andersen's own quixotic hopes for the publication of a philosophical novel in English, that same year.
Maureen was immediately attracted to the subject not only by a love of the works of these two great imaginers but also through her interest in Catherine Dickens, Charles's wife, with whom, after 22 years of marriage and 10 children, relations were no longer romantic; and his young actress protegee, Ellen Terney.
Using some recently-published and little-known material, we researched Catherine and Katey Dickens, to show these women at a turning point in their lives as real people.
Our aim is to create a memorable musical work for the stage, a chamber opera, revealing a significant moment of change in the lives of all these music- and performance-loving characters. With your help we have already been able to develop, and perform for audiences (January 2025) 35 songs as well as dialogue and connecting material.
We have woven some of the wit and humour which continue to render the work of the two extraordinary 19th-century authors who inspire 'Tinderbox' loved by so many, into the libretto, as they sing their own words, underscored by the music.
Encouraged by the gratifying response to our January 2025 platform concert performance (see top of this page for reviews), we now need to refine and extend existing material, to record an album of selected songs from the piece, as the next step before the full stage version.
With your continuing help, 'Tinderbox' hopes to fully unfold its fresh perspective, revealing unexpected insights into these complex creative beings and their relationships, casting new light on their lives and work which reveals its relevance to a wide audience today.
Reward Tier - donate £150-£300
Composer Stephen Guy Daltry will visit your home or organisation and give a talk about Tinderbox, and the Dickens-Andersen relationship, and Stephen will play piano excerpts from the chamber opera.