Opera North’s The Sound of Music Review
Written by Joeseph for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for our thoughts to be shared. All opinons are our own
Opera North’s production of The Sound of Music is pure bottled joy. Whilst sitting in the very warm Leeds Grand Theatre, surrounded by Japanese fans, the atmosphere was as palpable as the temperature. Seeing the 40-piece orchestra enhances that feeling wonderfully, then we begin, and I am struck by the scale of the production. Providing us with a beautiful, real mountain for us all to climb together.
Based on Curve Theatre in Leicester’s Christmas production, staged in 2025, Nikolai Foster directs this show which plays in Leeds for a limited run this summer.
As you would expect with Opera North, this is vocal perfection led by Katie Bird as Maria and Edward Bennett as Captain von Trapp. Adding operatic moments throughout, without surrendering fully to it, adds something whilst still being accessible.
The Von Trapp children are lovely, each with their distinct character. Georg (Edward Bennett) particularly grew on me as the show went on. I couldn’t put my finger on why he did, but I was won over in the end. Unsurprisingly, the star of the show is Maria (Katie Bird). She is vocally enchanting, with the right amount of tenderness and compassion. She commands the stage whenever she is on it, but gently and kindly, much like Maria would have.
My main point of contention is with the show itself rather than this production specifically. Georg Von Trapp always seems to turn on a dime and change his behaviour seemingly in an instant, which grates a little. Though in a show as long as this, I understand the potential reason for the haste, it is a shame we don't get to see the gradual falling in love and the true effect of Maria’s presence on the Captain.
Act One is a long one, clocking in at around 1 hour and 30, I couldn’t put my finger on what, but I felt something was missing. Turns out, it was Act Two! This rattled on at a pace, paying off all the promises of Act One.
The final centre piece in Salzburg was tastefully done and didn’t become egregious. Throughout, I thought the inclusion of the Nazis was appropriate and dealt with in the right way. Max (Nicholas Butterfield) echoes current political discourse around “Keeping your head down and not causing trouble amidst political unrest”.
This production is a joyous celebration and fun for the whole family. Whilst honouring the timeless source of material, it enables The Sound of Music to feel fresh and exciting to audiences. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a bit of positivity in what can be dark times.
The Sound of Music is on at Leeds Grand Theatre until 1st August 2026.
★★★★★
