Veritable Michael - a new opera

Veritable Michael is an operatic telling of the true story of Michael Field - A brilliant, Victorian poet who was hiding a secret.

In May 1884, London awoke to the news of an exciting new playwright and poet bursting onto the scene to rave reviews. Michael Field not only won the praise of the papers, but also piqued the interest of literary giants Robert Browning and Oscar Wilde. But Michael was hiding a secret: he wasn’t a man, he wasn’t a woman — Michael Field was in fact two women, deeply in love, writing as one.

Winner of the Stephen Oliver Award for new opera, Veritable Michael is based on the true story of Katherine Bradley and Edith Cooper — two Victorian poets who lived, loved and wrote under the pseudonym, Michael Field. It combines Katherine's and Edith's journals, poetry and letters with an original score by Tom Floyd.

This opera began life as a documentary podcast which delved deeply into the life of Michael Field with interviews from outstanding researchers and exploration of how the opera came to life. The podcast is available to stream in all good podcast feeds.

Shadow Opera is thrilled to bring Veritable Michael to the Grade I listed 19th Century jewel, King's College London Chapel this autumn. This presentation of the opera will be followed by a Q&A with Professor Marion Thain, Executive Dean, Faculty of Arts & Humanities with Sophie and Tom from Shadow Opera. A great opportunity to gain further insight into the creation of the opera.

Veritable Michael is a Shadow Opera production.

Music composed by Tom Floyd

Words by Michael Field, Sophie Goldrick and Tom Floyd

Created and produced by Sophie Goldrick and Tom Floyd,

Conducted by Tom Floyd

Cast includes Lizzie Holmes, Sophie Goldrick, and Patrick Neyman.