Dutch National Opera
The Shell Trial
Ellen Reid (1983)

A crisis of responsibility

In 2021, a Dutch court ruled that Shell was legally responsible for its contribution to climate change. In The Shell Trial, the various voices in the climate debate are heard and it becomes increasingly clear that we will not make any progress by endlessly pointing the finger at one another. The message of this topical opera is that the climate crisis is above all a crisis of responsibility. 

Music  Ellen Reid
Libretto  Roxie Perkins; based on the play De zaak Shell by Anoek Nuyens, Rebekka de Wit, Frascati Producties and De Nwe Tijd

Musical direction and co-creation  Manoj Kamps
Stage direction, concept and co-adaptation  Gable Roelofsen and Romy Roelofsen (Het Geluid)
Set design  Davy van Gerven
Costume design  Greta Goiris and Flora Kruppa
Lighting design  Jean Kalman
Video design  Wies Hermans
Choreography  Winston Ricardo Arnon
Movement director ‘Elders’  Nita Liem
Dramaturgy  Willem Bruls, Saar Vandenberghe, Jasmijn van Wijnen

Academists and members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Performances on:
14/3 - De Nationale Opera Amsterdam 20:00h
15/3 - De Nationale Opera Amsterdam 20:00h
18/3 - De Nationale Opera Amsterdam 20:00h
19/3 - De Nationale Opera Amsterdam 20:00h
21/3 - De Nationale Opera Amsterdam 20:00h

www.operaballet.nl/en/online-programme/the-shell-trial