Free to Choose
Free to Choose (2023) by Bahar Noorizadeh, Waste Paper Opera, and Rudá Babau
Free to Choose is an operatic financial sci-fi (fi-fi) narrated by no other than Milton Friedman: The American economist who was the real-life narrator of Hong Kong’s founding myth. In his long career as a neoliberal ideologue and advisor to the conservative governments of the US and the UK, Friedman hailed Hong Kong as “the modern exemplar of free markets” needless of heavy-handed government planning. “If you want to see Capitalism in action, you should go to Hong Kong.” Neoliberalism, as a theory invented in the west, once tested in Hong Kong’s advanced colony, would return to shape the economic policies of Western powers in the decades to come.
Timeline:
SCREENING The Debtor’s Pool (co-curated by Otolith Collective), Cooper Gallery, Dundee, February - April 2026
SCREENING 3 137, Alfaville Cinema, Athens, December 2025
SCREENING/INSTALLATION FACT, Liverpool, February - May 2025
ARCHIVED Videotage Media Art Collection (VMAC), Hong Kong Arts Developmental Council
SCREENING A Gift Horse’s Mouth, EMPAC, RPI, Troy (New York), October 2024
LIVE PERFORMANCE OpenLab #03, Media Lab Matadero, Madrid, February 2024
LIVE PERFORMANCE Signature Dish (Resonance FM fundraiser), Iklectik, London, January 2024
SCREENING Small World Cinema, SculptureCenter, New York, January - March 2024
SCREENING Taipei Biennial, Taipei City, November 2023 - January 2024
SCREENING Proposition Studios, London, July 2023
SCREENING Skill Futures, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore, July 2023
SCREENING Beirut Institute for Critical Analysis and Research (BICAR), Beirut Art Center, Beirut, June 2023
SCREENING/PREMIERE Open Systems, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore, May 2023
Full Credits:
Original story/research/libretto/post-production: Bahar Noorizadeh
Visual and concept design and animation: Rudá Babau
Adaptation and dramaturgy: Klara Kofen
Composition: James Oldham & Anna Palmer
Mixing & Mastering: Daniel Ehrlich
Performers
Milton Friedman: Anna Palmer
Philip Tose: Themba Mvula
Agata Thryste: Agata Thryste
Clint: James Oldham
Voice Over: John Chow
Violin: Chihiro Ono
Percussion: Cameron Graham
Chorus: Waste Paper Opera Chorus
Special thanks to Anat Ben David and Isabella Furness.
activity
UPCOMING EVENTS [composition] [performance] [workshop]
2026
15 July
[radio show]
The Clint Show on Resonance FM, with Howard Skempton. 8pm BST on 104.4fm or via resonancefm.com
17 July
[solo performance]
A performance of solo comedy and music material for ‘Hope So’: a fundraiser for Lebanese Red Cross at The Ivy House, London
22 July
[radio show]
The Clint Show on Resonance FM, with Neil Luck. 8pm BST on 104.4fm or via resonancefm.com
2 August
[Reading]
Readings About Laughing
Readings About… is a new literary event in which writers respond to a theme. This time, it’s LAUGHING.
🤣😜😆🤭😝😹😂🤣😜😆🤭😝😹😂🤣😜😆🤭😝😹😂🤣😜😆🤭😝😹😂
🗓️ Sunday 2nd August
📍 Joyce, 294 Brockley Road
⏱️ From 6 PM
Readers: Holly Pester, Asprey Liu, Fintan Calpin, James Oldham, Husna Rizvi, Aea Varfis-van Warmelo. Hosted by Amelia Horgan.
RECENT PAST EVENTS [composition] [performance] [workshop]
2026
7 - 12 March
[UK & Ireland tour]
At a Safe Distance tour 2026 with Ellie Westbrook, Natacha Diels and guest artists in each location. Ellie and I will be performing the Human Scene from Waste Paper Opera’s 2020 production Syrup Tracing; or on the significance of rising and/or falling. We will also perform new work and sequences alongside a new set by Natacha Diels, which comprises At a Safe Distance. Dublin, Cork, Oxford, Hastings, London
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27 January
[chorus session]
I’ll be leading the first Waste Paper Opera Chorus session of the year, featuring projects and exercises from Milo Thesger-Meacham, Collette Sheddick, Dan Rhys Wakefield, and WPO directors Klara Kofen and myself. From 6:30-9pm at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Peckham, London
[UK & Ireland tour]
At a Safe Distance tour 2026 with Ellie Westbrook, Natacha Diels and guest artists in each location. Ellie and I will be performing the Human Scene from Waste Paper Opera’s 2020 production Syrup Tracing; or on the significance of rising and/or falling. We will also perform new work and sequences alongside a new set by Natacha Diels, which comprises At a Safe Distance. Dublin, Cork, Oxford, Hastings, London
27 January
[chorus session]
I’ll be leading the first Waste Paper Opera Chorus session of the year, featuring projects and exercises from Milo Thesger-Meacham, Collette Sheddick, Dan Rhys Wakefield, and WPO directors Klara Kofen and myself. From 6:30-9pm at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Peckham, London
4 February
[radio show/hosting]
The Clint Show is a brand new radio series on Resonance FM. Weekly episodes on Wednesdays at 8pm and repeated on Thursdays at 10am.
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[radio show/hosting]
The Clint Show is a brand new radio series on Resonance FM. Weekly episodes on Wednesdays at 8pm and repeated on Thursdays at 10am.
2 February
[performance]
Leo Elia – Scarecrows of SASKAN: Live Action Remake, Playbill Prologue, Golden Pudel Club, Hamburg
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[performance]
Leo Elia – Scarecrows of SASKAN: Live Action Remake, Playbill Prologue, Golden Pudel Club, Hamburg
2025
29 March
[performance]
Appearance with Anat Ben-David on the Hello Goodbye Show with deXter Bentley on Resonance FM talking about our process and performing live on air
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[performance]
Appearance with Anat Ben-David on the Hello Goodbye Show with deXter Bentley on Resonance FM talking about our process and performing live on air
10 March
[writing]
I am making an experimental 5-part radio series with Neil Luck and Milo Thesiger-Meacham, which will be launched in 2026. The ‘writers’ room’ session at upstairs at The Kings’ Arms in Borough was a drinking and writing session with invited writers to create a radio episode where the writing is a texture of the broadcast, London
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[writing]
I am making an experimental 5-part radio series with Neil Luck and Milo Thesiger-Meacham, which will be launched in 2026. The ‘writers’ room’ session at upstairs at The Kings’ Arms in Borough was a drinking and writing session with invited writers to create a radio episode where the writing is a texture of the broadcast, London
22 February
[curation/hosting]
I programmed and hosted an experimental performance event called Radio Killed the Video Star bringing together music, comedy, performance art, video and DJs. This was a fundraiser event for Resonance FM produced collaboratively with Milo Thesiger-Meacham and Spike Silverton at Spanners Club, London
21 February – 11 May
[composition/screening]
Free to Choose screening with new installation by Bahar Noorizadeh at FACT, Liverpool
2024
19 December[performance]
A set of songs written with Anat Ben-David, performed at Signature Dish, a Resonance FM fundraiser event at All is Joy, London
17 October – 14 December
[installation/composition]
Dead Cat Bounce installation by Gary Zhexi Zhang and Waste Paper Opera at Soft Ground, Sheffield
20 November
[chorus]
Waste Paper Opera chorus session R&Ding new works by Steve Potter, George Ridgway and João Ruivo. 6-9pm – all with an interest in singing are welcome. The session took place at The Old Nunshead pub, London
31 October
[performance]
Performance of Robert Ashley’s The Wolfman at Music We’d Like to Fear, London
12 October
[composition/performance]
Dead Cat Bounce performance with Waste Paper Opera at Soft Ground, Sheffield
25 July
[composition/performance]
Dead Cat Bounce performance with Waste Paper Opera at Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham
4 July
[composition/performance]
New Waste Paper Opera show abstracts, with love at Nuffield Theatre, Lancaster
21 June
[composition/performance]
All the Whistlers performance with Aliaskar Abarkas at CAPC, Bordeaux
19 April
[composition/performance]
Dead Cat Bounce performance with Waste Paper Opera at Eastside Projects, Birmingham
7 April
[composition/performance]
Performance of songs and comedy at The Piper, St. Leonards
11 March
[composition/performance]
Performance of Jeremiah + Assassins scenes from Dead Cat Bounce for Resonance FM takeover at Cafe OTO, London
9 February
[composition/performance]
Free to Choose at Open Lab #03 at Matadero, Madrid
18 November 2023 – 24 March 2024
[composition/screening]
Free to Choose at Taipei Biennial, Taiwan
11 January
[composition/performance]
Live performance of Free to Choose at Iklectik
2023
3 December[composition/performance]
New devised work with Waste Paper Opera Chorus wearing Moina Moin’s sculptures at Lewisham Arthouse, London
22 November
[performance]
Performing Anytime Return by Milo Thesiger-Meacham at Iklectik, London
29 September
[original music]
Premiere of The Tourist by Gary Zhexi Zhang at Art Gallery of York University (AGyu), Toronto
15 August
[composition/performance]
Performance of new improvised set with Martin Thomlinson at Somers Gallery for the opening of Anna Suwalowska’s exhibition Psychogical Landscapes Journey Within as part of Camden Inspire, London
28 July
[composition]
Performance of 10 Songs of Limited Context by Paul Zaba at AMOK, Artefact, Birmingham
19 July
[composition/screening]
Screening of Free to Choose by Bahar Noorizadeh at Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
4 July
[performance]
Performance of Somewhere Beautiful by Natacha Diels with Plus Minus Ensemble at Cafe Oto, London
26 June
[composition]
Performance of 10 Songs of Limited Context by Paul Zaba at Depot 48, Dehli
23 June
[composition/screening]
Screening of Free to Choose by Bahar Noorizadeh at Beirut Art Center, Beirut
21 June
[composition]
Performance of 10 Songs of Limited Context by Paul Zaba at Bangalore International Centre, Dehli
5-27 May
[performance]
Performances of HOUSECONCERT with Object Collection at The Brick Theater, New York
23 May
[composition/performance]
Performance of solo routine for Salon at Brick Aux, New York
4 May
[composition/screening]
Screening of Free to Choose by Bahar Noorizadeh at Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
14-15 April
[performance]
Performances of HOUSECONCERT with Object Collection at Indexical, Santa Cruz
13 April
[performance]
Performances of HOUSECONCERT with Object Collection at Stanford University, California
30 March
[performance]
Launch of Anat Ben-David’s Conversations EP, London
16-17 March
[performance]
Performances of HOUSECONCERT with Object Collection at Cafe Oto, London
9 March
[workshop]
Waste Paper Opera workshop Create the World at Central Saint Martins, London
1 March
[workshop]
Waste Paper Opera workshop series Approaches to New Music Theatre: time, space, movement – Session 4: Bodies, budgets and things on stage in opera at London Performance Studios, London
22 February
[workshop]
Waste Paper Opera workshop series Approaches to New Music Theatre: time, space, movement – Session 3: Continuity and Discontinuity: History and Musical Timing at London Performance Studios, London
17 February
[composition/performance]
New work at AMOK at Artefact Projects, Birmingham
15 February
[workshop]
Waste Paper Opera workshop series Approaches to New Music Theatre: time, space, movement – Session 2: Immovable Dramaturgical Objects: working with physical and ephemeral structures at London Performance Studios, London
8 February
[workshop]
Waste Paper Opera workshop series Approaches to New Music Theatre: time, space, movement – Session 1: Language and Music on Stage at London Performance Studios, London
29 January
[composition/performance]
Radio performance of extracts of Dead Cat Bounce and new material on Resonance Extra, live from Resonance Extra project space, London
2022
12 December
[performance/clown]
Live performance of Good Soup with Ensmeble Molière at NCEM, York
13 October
[performance]
Video performance in Neil Luck’s Whatever Weighs You Down, peformed live at Cafe OTO, London
[performance]
Video performance in Neil Luck’s Whatever Weighs You Down, peformed live at Cafe OTO, London
6 October
[screening/composition]
Online screening of Dead Cat Bounce on As We Leave The Window Open, Basel
29 September
[screening/composotion]
Open Rehearsal with Anat Ben-David and Sean Ashton. Sharing film of our recent collaborative work Backwater. At Somerset House, London
16 September
[performance/composition]
New solo bit at cabaret night Seen Any Monsters Lately? at Anzengruberin, Berlin
11 September
[Performance]
Neil Luck’s Whatever Weighs You Down at Guadeamus Musikweek, Utrecht
16 August
[performance/composition]
New solo bit at art-comedy night SEAMONSTERS - NEW CAR SMELL EDITION, London
29 July
[performance]
Good Soup with Ensemble Moliere at Sands Films, London
14 July
[performance/composition]
Dead Cat Bounce with Waste Paper Opera at Somerset House, London
3 July
[perfomance]
Clint solo set, alongside Lisa and the F.I.X. and Judy Brush at Fox and Firkin, London
[screening/composition]
Online screening of Dead Cat Bounce on As We Leave The Window Open, Basel
29 September
[screening/composotion]
Open Rehearsal with Anat Ben-David and Sean Ashton. Sharing film of our recent collaborative work Backwater. At Somerset House, London
16 September
[performance/composition]
New solo bit at cabaret night Seen Any Monsters Lately? at Anzengruberin, Berlin
11 September
[Performance]
Neil Luck’s Whatever Weighs You Down at Guadeamus Musikweek, Utrecht
16 August
[performance/composition]
New solo bit at art-comedy night SEAMONSTERS - NEW CAR SMELL EDITION, London
29 July
[performance]
Good Soup with Ensemble Moliere at Sands Films, London
14 July
[performance/composition]
Dead Cat Bounce with Waste Paper Opera at Somerset House, London
3 July
[perfomance]
Clint solo set, alongside Lisa and the F.I.X. and Judy Brush at Fox and Firkin, London
19 June
[performance/talk/online]
Eratic Objects: a lecture-performance on musical interruptions at Music Since 1900 conference, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham
[performance/talk/online]
Eratic Objects: a lecture-performance on musical interruptions at Music Since 1900 conference, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham
17-26 June
[performance]
Performances of Look Out Shithead, Episode 3 with Object Collection at La MaMa, New York
[performance]
Performances of Look Out Shithead, Episode 3 with Object Collection at La MaMa, New York
6 May
[installation/performance/composition]
Dead Cat Bounce installation with 8.2 surround sound at Open Lab, Matadero, Madrid
[installation/performance/composition]
Dead Cat Bounce installation with 8.2 surround sound at Open Lab, Matadero, Madrid