Lipote: An Interconnected Journey

A new UV opera-musical about the impacts of intensive agriculture on forests, from the perspective of the roots of trees in the soil.

Inspired by the ongoing problems surrounding deforestation with the encroachment of palm oil monoculture in Borneo, Lipote: An Interconnected Journey tells the story of a rainforest as it struggles to find help in the soils around its home, after the root system suffers the effects of a devastating storm.

Based on the research of anthropologists, scientists and naturalists into forests and plantations and written in collaboration with UK ecologists this show explores issues that are important and relevant to us all.

Past dates

18.08.23 // Edinburgh Fringe, C Aurora

17.08.23 // Edinburgh Fringe, C Aurora

16.08.23 // Edinburgh Fringe, C Aurora

15.08.23 // Edinburgh Fringe, C Aurora

14.08.23 // Edinburgh Fringe, C Aurora

21.07.23 // Nozstock The Hidden Valley

With a backing track ranging from opera to musical theatre recorded by its writers, librettist Roxanne Korda and award-winning composer Oliver Farrow, the story is told by the singers and the narrator, with projected surtitles throughout. Suitable for an audience of all ages including families, it involves innovative UV costume and scenery design from jeweller Wanshu Li, and is choreographed by Jingya Peng, whose work incorporates Chinese traditional physical theatre and western contemporary theatre.

Lipote is performed by its librettist Roxanne Korda, who is also an opera singer currently enrolled on practice-based PhD at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, exploring how to use science in creating new operatic characters and narrative. She is joined on stage by Dalma Sinka, Teddy Woolgrove and Maria Liu.

This is the first work to be created and produced by Shaky Crown collective, whose work involves elements of music, dance and drama, alongside unique and visually engaging design. Their story starts with the first line from the libretto: ‘Shaky crown above, a rustling in the living climate.’

This simple message to its neighbours, through the mycorrhizae highways that connect its community, says we all can weather the storm if we stand together.