Market of the Dead (1997)

Genre: Television Opera; Commissioning body: BBC Sound on Film; Premiere performance: 1997 BBC2; Publisher: Eleanor Alberga

Note: Not suitable for concert performance

Plot summary:

The first Caribbean immigrants arrive in the black and white world of 1950s England. Amongst the chaotic piles of left luggage, two orphan children - Edith and Ezekiel - are claimed by the zealous, humbug-sucking Matron. Edith and Ezekiel's dismal days and nights are haunted by the mysterious figure of the Guardian. A knotted bedsheet is the path and a bead is the key from the monochrome 50's to the technicolor future of The SuperMarket of the Dead. Here they find their long lost Mother working on the check out. Magic humbugs help to sweeten the children's words and they find their voice at last.