Rubble

Read the programme for insights from the cast and creative team about this special production.

Content note: This production deals with themes of child abuse and child sexual assault within the care system. Age recommendation 14+

View and download PDF of libretto only (93KB) >>

Imogen Bews (Charlie)

Imogen is a Scottish Mezzo Soprano from Aberdeen currently undertaking a Bachelors of Music in vocal studies under tutor Christina Dunwoodie at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Imogen is now in her third year as part of the Scottish Opera Young Company. Previous roles are Eva Peron in Evita (Albyn School) and Napoleon in Animal Farm (Albyn School).

Abbie Cassidy (Ensemble)

Abs is a singer, composer, producer, and bassist from Dundee. After completing her degree in Music at the University of Aberdeen in 2021, she received a place at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to study a Masters in Composition starting in September 2022. Rubble is her fifth production with SOYC. Previous to her involvement with SOYC, she spent many years performing with the National Youth Choir of Scotland, Aberdeen University Concert Band, and Dundee Schools Music Theatre.

Hadyn Cullen (Jude)

Haydn has just finished his third year of his undergraduate at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for tenor voice. He has toured with Ulster Youth Choir and Dublin Youth Choir, as well as competing in various competitions and professional recordings. This will be Haydn’s second time performing with the SOYC, with his first being in their previous production, The Tsar Has His Photograph Taken, performing as The Assistant.

Helena Engebretsen (Ensemble)

Helena is a soprano from the Isle of Lewis. She is about to enter her third year studying music at Edinburgh Napier University. Helena recently was a featured singer in Stornoway’s Singer’s production of Handel’s Messiah and played the role of Golde in Fiddler on the Roof.

Luke Francis (Ensemble)

Luke is a 19-year-old baritone from the Highlands currently studying classical music at Edinburgh Napier University. He has always enjoyed participating in musical activities, singing on regional and national stages with groups such as the National Youth Choir of Scotland and the Edinburgh Singers.

Ava Hickey (Ensemble)

Ava is an actor, singer, and theatre maker from Dundee. She is currently studying acting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Rubble is her second opera with the Young Company, her first being The Tsar Has His Photograph Taken in 2021.

Holly Jarvis (Diana)

Holly is currently training as a mezzo-soprano at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Rubble is her fifth production with SOYC. Holly is also a member of Rubber Chicken Theatre (RCT). Holly toured with Karen Cargill after being accepted into Karen's Associate Artist programme 2021-2022. Her engagements include: The Boy (The Tsar Has His Photograph Taken), Hades (The Frogs), and Amore (Orfeo ed Euridice) with SOYC; The Witch (Into The Woods) and Eponine (Les Miserables) with RCT; Soloist in Paul Mealor’s Souls of the Righteous and Consuelo in West Side Story in Concert with Sir Jonn Eliot Gardiner.

Caoimh-Ella Lundy (Ensemble)

Caoimh-Ella is a soprano from Northern Ireland going into her second year on the vocal studies course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. After leaving school in 2020, she studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin to achieve her Diploma in Music Teaching and Performance, whilst working with and teaching young people from her local area. This is her first year working with Scottish Opera Young Company. Caoimh-Ella is delighted to be performing such a poignant and modern opera with a fantastic company.

Elinor Macdonald-Gent (Ensemble)

Elinor is a Welsh soprano from Penarth. She is currently studying Vocal Studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Elinor has been a member of the Welsh National Youth Opera for the past nine years and is thoroughly enjoying her time at Scottish Opera.

Dillon MacFarlane (Donnie)

Dillon is a Scottish actor from Stirling, currently studying for a BA in Musical Theatre. He recently made his screen debut starring as Rhys in Swimming with You, which is embarking on a film festival circuit this year. Previous theatre credits include Shaw in The Frogs and Ensemble in Orfeo ed Euridice for Scottish Opera, Natwick in Pvt. Wars at the Platform Theatre and Elliott Hayes in the radio drama Orphan’s Cradle. He recently worked as a Swing for all roles in Imagine Theatre’s 2021/22 nationwide panto season.

Ruaraidh McBain (Callum)

Ruaraidh McBain is an 18-year-old baritone from Inverclyde. Ruaraidh has been singing for the past nine years with various organisations including NYCoS, RSNO Chorus, and Inverclyde Schools Choirs. Rubble will be Ruaraidh’s first operatic appearance. He has recently passed his ABRSM Grade 8 exam with Distinction and achieved an A at his HNC Music.

Hannah McCarey (Ensemble)

This is Hannah’s first performance with Scottish Opera Young Company, having taken part in Scottish Opera’s Gateway programme for two years. In June of this year Hannah won first place in the prestigious St. Columbas Silver Tablet Music competition.

Rory McIver (Ensemble)

Rory McIver is a Scottish tenor trained by Gordon Wilson at the North East of Scotland Music School. Along with 10 years at the National Youth Choir of Scotland, he has performed in the chorus of two touring Scottish Opera productions, Carmen and La bohème, and has been a member of the Young Company since 2019. He played the Artful Dodger in Aberdeen Opera Company's production of Oliver! and featured in the cast of British Youth Music Theatre's recent performances of Goblin Market at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in London.

Anna Sophia Montgomery (Angela)

Anna Sophia has been a member of the Scottish Opera Young Company since 2018. She will be starting on the Actor Musician course at Leeds Conservatoire in September. Most recently she has performed the roles of Angelé in the SOYC’s production of The Tsar Has His Photograph Taken, and as Elvira with The Georgian Theatre Royal Butler Company’s production of Blithe Spirit.

Mollie Quigley (Ensemble)

Mollie is a mezzo soprano from Kirkcaldy, Fife. Mollie is currently studying classical music, voice, at University of Aberdeen. She has performed with National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS) and Fife Opera at national stages, as well as the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Fringe.

Fraser Robinson (Ensemble)

Fraser Robinson is a baritone from Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. Fraser is currently studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, under the tutelage of Scott Johnson, where he recently placed second at the Molly Robb Song Prize for young singers. This is Fraser’s second production with Scottish Opera Young Company, as he was a member of the Chorus in the Company’s 2021 production of The Tsar Has His Photograph Taken by Kurt Weil. Fraser has also been in the Chorus for Cavalleria rusticana, as well as cover Alfio, Chorus and cover Zaretsky and company commander in Eugene Onegin, both with Edinburgh Studio Opera.

Benjamin Smart (Ensemble)

This is Ben’s second year with SOYC. Ben is presently a first year student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland studying for a BMus in Vocal Studies under the guidance of Iain Paton. Prior to beginning studies at the RCS, Ben played the part of Dean in All Shook Up with Anstruther Drama Amateur Musical Society, and is a three times winner for singing at Fife Music Festival.

Marianne Walker (Ensemble)

Marianne has been with SOYC since 2020 and participated in the Connect programme in summer 2018. Marianne really enjoys being part of the Company and is looking forward to performing in Rubble. Marianne has also been a part of NYCoS and Edinburgh Studio Opera, where she played the role of Hansel in March 2022.

Rebecca West (Ensemble)

Becca West is 17 years old and lives in Aberdeen. Becca studied singing under Gillian Jack at Aberdeen City Music School. Becca will be touring this summer with National Youth Choir of Scotland performing Druffle’s Requiem and Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb, before beginning BMus (Hon) studies at the Royal College of Music in September 2022.

Maria Wotherspoon (Ensemble)

Maria Wotherspoon is from Aberdeenshire and is in her first year of BMus Vocal Studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, studying with Mandy McCormack. This is also Maria’s first year in the Young Company, having previously performed with National Girls’ Choir of Scotland, National Youth Choir of Scotland, the Junior Conservatoire Chamber Choir and Consort.