States of Innocence is a new opera composed by Ed Hughes with libretto by Peter Cant, and projection design by myself. States of Innocence follows the Milton’s writing of Paradise Lost and his own loss of sight following the English Civil War.

It premiered at the Brighton Festival on Sunday 19 May 2024 in the Corn Exchange in performances with celebrated opera bass soloist Sir John Tomlinson, and a cast of acclaimed singers from the opera world.

John Milton can no longer see. He is composing his poem ‘Paradise Lost’, dictating it to his assistant, wife, daughters and readers. At first they are beguiled by the poem’s beauty, breadth and command. But as they give voice to his characters they begin to rebel against their fates. As the author attempts to ‘justify the ways of God to men’ his characters defend what it means to be human, powerful yet fallible and vulnerable to love and loss.

The creative teams talk about the work:

Milton: Sir John Tomlinson CBE
Assistant/Satan: Thomas Elwin
Wife/Eve: Rozanna Madylus
Adam: Matthew Farrell
Eve’s Image: Rachel Duckett

Chorus of Readers: Billie Robson, Zofia Reeves, Liz Webb, Natasha Stone
Stage Director: Tim Hopkins
Projection Design: Ian Winters
Projection Assistant: Evelyn Ficarra
Production Assistants: Robbie Hughes & Tasmin Lee
New Music Players Flute: Karen Jones Clarinet: Fiona Cross Bass Clarinet: Alison Hughes Violin: Susanne Stanzeleit Viola: Bridget Carey Cello: Andrew Fuller Piano: Ben-San Lau
Conductor: Andrew Gourlay
Libretto: Peter Cant
Composer: Ed Hughes