Brainland the Opera

Brainland the Opera is a collaborative mixed media musical theatre project  based on three interlocking stories from the history of 20th century neuroscience. Original music is by Stephen Brown, libretto by Andrew Platman, Heather Angus-Leppan and Ken Barrett. Story by Ken Barrett and Andrew Platman. Design and staging by Ken Barrett.

The stories relate to: military-funded brain research in the 1950s; the discovery of the electroencephalogram (‘brain-waves’) as the Nazis rose to power;  mid-century adventures in Psychosurgery.

 A first draft and website including the music, without voices, libretto, designs and interviews was completed in December 2020: https://www.brainlandtheopera.co.uk

The next move is to film a staged scene from the opera, created with opera and dance students at Morley College,  at the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Loft, London.

Concept drawings and models for the opera can be seen here:https://www.brainlandtheopera.co.uk/portfolio

Animations here: https://www.brainlandtheopera.co.uk/blank-page5fa4f21a

The opening music: https://soundcloud.com/stephen-brown-96964306/brainland-the-opera-opening-music-prologue-to-act-1

Grey Walter in court: