"A most enjoyable family entertainment" (ODT, 10 Aug 2026)
COLLABORATION between The Little Box of Operas and City Choir Dunedin resulted in two performances of John Rutter’s The Reluctant Dragon on Saturday in Otago Boys’ High School Auditorium, conducted by David Burchell with artistic direction from Jenny Burchell. I attended the matinee — which was a full house. Children’s author Kenneth Grahame wrote a tale of villagers who call St George to rid them of a large dragon, but neither St George nor the dragon want to fight.
Rutter’s musical version featured some of Dunedin’s most promising young soloists, members of City Choir Dunedin (as the villagers) and Dunedin Youth Orchestra musicians with Sandra Crawshaw (piano). Teddy Finney Waters played the Dragon, Joseph Kelly took on the role of St George, Max Smith (4pm) and Alicia Chiruka (7.30pm) played the boy — these names feature regularly as winners in junior vocal competitions.
Philip Craigie was an excellent Narrator.
The story unfolded with a live storybook atmosphere due to about 60 members of City Choir Dunedin, colourfully attired, complete with bright wigs, hats and props.
Their movements and acting throughout contributed hugely to the success of the event — if only their consonants could be as impressive.
The final celebration picnic scene was spectacular and very believable.
The three appropriately costumed characters sang and acted out the tale, as the boy convinced the anxious dragon to fake the fight and pretend to die.
Their voices matched well with fast and true sung dialogue, and the actual swordfight’s rapid lunging and slashing of swords held some of the younger audience spellbound. Finney Waters in sparkling cloak and bright blue tights sang through a dragon-inspired head mask (an impressive papermache creation by Caroline Burchell.)
Other works by Rutter were performed in the first half of the programme.
City Choir Dunedin sang Five Childhood Lyrics, a set of short choral songs based on traditional children’s rhymes, and the Dunedin Youth Orchestra strings performed Suite for String Orchestra, which features traditional English folk tunes.
It was most enjoyable family entertainment.
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