A CHILD-eating dragon is terrorising the village of Wantley – and St Albans Chamber Opera will be demonstrating what is done about it next Saturday evening, June 11.

They are putting on The Dragon of Wantley by Frederick Lampe at 7.30pm in St Saviour’s Church in Sandpit Lane.

First seen in 1737 it became a comedy sensation which quickly transferred to Covent Garden where it held the stage until 1782.

Musically it is a satire of the Italian opera of the time with its florid embellishments and to sing it, Chamber Opera have assembled a talented cast of locally-based soloists.

Tenor Phillip Conway-Brown is the drinker and womaniser Moore of Moore Hall, whom the villagers hope might be able to help them, while soprano Kathryn Jenkin is Margery, daughter of Gaffer Gubbins who will try to persuade Moore to help.

Mezzo Deborah Davison is Mauxalinda, Moore’s cast-off mistress, and bass Peter Kestner takes the role of Gaffer Gubbins. The Dragon will be played by Tom Handley.

A small orchestra and chorus are under the direction of Simon Haynes with Paula Chitty as producer.

Tickets are available from St Albans Chamber Opera on 01727 858307.