Opera Sunderland has a tradition of performing a new work every season - "its umbilical cord to civilisation".

However, when managing director Dwight Gaggenheim opts for West Side Story over innovative gay opera St Sebastien, the tempers and egos of a plethora of opera types come bubbling to the surface.

Comedy drama in five parts written by Fintan Coyle and Tom Miles

Derek ....... Andrew Branch
Keyboard Ken ....... Tom Miles
Cilla ....... Carolyn Bonnyman
Gareth ....... Godfrey James
James ....... Simon Butteriss
Natasha ....... Caz Weller
Dwight ....... Jonathan Kydd

Singers:

Alison Porter
Susan Jelley
Henrik Wager
Ian Bloomfield

Producer Chris Neill

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 1997. Show less