Fellow Travelers

Director’s Note

History books rarely mention the details of the Lavender Scare - a dark chapter in American history when thousands of LGBTQ+ individuals were branded as security risks and purged from government service. On April 27, 1953, President Eisenhower signed Executive Order 10450, officially barring homosexual men and women from federal employment, labeling them as "deviants" suffering from "sexual perversion." Over 5,000 people lost their jobs. Many took their own lives.

Fellow Travelers, based on Thomas Mallon’s compelling novel, tells a deeply personal story set against the backdrop of these government-led witch hunts. At its heart, it is an opera about love - love that must survive in the shadows, love that is both exhilarating and dangerous, love that is constantly at risk of being erased. Gregory Spears’ shimmering score and Greg Pierce’s poignant libretto capture the tension of living in secret, under fear of surveillance, where a single misplaced word or glance could mean ruin.

What makes Fellow Travelers so profoundly moving are its deeply human love stories. I say “stories” because the opera weaves together multiple relationships, each shaped by the constraints of its time. Tim and Hawk share an undeniable spark, a passion that draws us in; we root for them, even though we know that the world around them will never accept them. Then there is the equally powerful bond between Tim and Mary. Their relationship is one of unwavering friendship and quiet resilience. While others turn away, Mary stands by Tim, challenging the injustices of their time with a strength that is as rarely seen on stage now as it was in reality then.

As we bring this opera to the stage in 2025, the story feels more prescient than ever. Around the world, political repression, cultural and religious conservatism, disinformation, and economic inequality have combined to erode hard-won freedoms. We can see this in the legislation being brought into effect in Russia, Hungary, Uganda, and even in the United States. Fellow Travelers is not just a historical drama; it is a warning, a call to vigilance, and above all, a tribute to those who lived, loved, and resisted in the face of oppression. This production is dedicated to their memory, to those who continue the fight for equality, and to everyone who has ever had to hide who they are. 

Directing the European premiere of Fellow Travelers has been a true privilege. This powerful opera deserves to be seen and heard by audiences around the world, and bringing it to life in a new context is both an honour and a responsibility. Notably, this marks the first time Fellow Travelers has been staged with a chorus, adding a new dimension to the opera. Our production features a minimal yet evocative set, allowing the deep human connections at the heart of the story to take centre stage whilst still grounding us firmly in the 1950s. 

I hope this production invites you to reflect on how far society has come—and how far we still have to go. More than anything, I hope Fellow Travelers moves you—to reflection, to empathy, and to action.