This new opera, premièred on 25 May, is based on the book The Firework-Maker's Daughter by the popular British children's author Philip Pullman. Set in ancient China at the time of the emperors, it tells the story of a widowed firework maker (baritone Wyn Pencarreg) struggling to bring up Lila (soprano Mary Bevan), his only daughter, who (against his wishes) has ambitions to follow his line of work. This seemed an apt tale to convert into an opera, even one ostensibly for children, given the relative simplicity of the outline plot. However, one of the difficulties was obviously going to be to depict the various quests Lila undertakes as she attempts to prove her worthiness to follow her father into the family profession. These potential pitfalls were solved by skilful stagecraft.