The Turn of the Screw

This production of The Turn of the Screw opens in complete darkness, without surtitles for the Prologue.

It is a curious story. I have it written in
faded ink - a woman’s hand, governess
to two children - long ago.
Untried, innocent, she had gone first to
see their guardian in London; a young
man, bold, offhand and gay, the
children’s only relative.
The children were in the country with
an old housekeeper. There had been a
governess, but she had gone. The boy,
of course, was at school, but there was
the girl, and the holidays, now begun.
This then would be her task. But there
was one condition: he was so much
engaged; affairs, travel, friends, visits,
always something, no time at all for
the poor little things
She was to do everything, be responsible
for everything, not to worry him at all,
no, not to write, but to be silent, and
do her best. She was full of doubts. But
she was carried away: that he, so gallant
and handsome, so deep in the busy
world, should need her help.
At last “I will”, she said.

© Copyright 1955 by Hawkes & Son (London) Ltd. Reproduced by permission of Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd. Solely for the use by the Royal Opera House.

A narrator introduces the story of a young Governess who has been employed by the uncle of two orphaned children. She is to look after the children at Bly, their uncle’s country home. On the train journey there, the Governess anticipates her new role and reflects on the guardian’s strict instructions never to contact him.

Upon arrival, the Governess is greeted by the housekeeper, Mrs Grose, and is delighted to meet her charming new charges, Miles and Flora, who are excited to get to know her. Soon after the Governess has settled in, a letter arrives informing them that Miles has been expelled from school.

One evening the Governess is enjoying the beauty of the surroundings when she sees a strange figure outside. When she describes the vision to the housekeeper, Mrs Grose tells her it must be Peter Quint – the former valet to the children’s guardian and lover to Miss Jessel, their previous Governess. Both Quint and Miss Jessel are now dead.

In lessons, Miles and Flora show off their mastery of Latin to the Governess. During Flora’s outdoor geography lesson by the water, she sings a lullaby to her dolly. At night, the Governess sleeps fitfully, her thoughts drifting towards the strange connections within the house.

After she dreams of an acrimonious, recriminatory conversation between Quint and Miss Jessel, the Governess wakes feeling overwhelmed by what she is beginning to understand. At church, she confides in Mrs Grose that she is troubled by the children’s behaviour. Following an unsettling exchange with Miles, the Governess feels he is challenging her to contact his uncle about his conduct – she resolves to write a letter of resignation. In Miles’s bedroom, the Governess tells him of her letter and asks what happened at school and at Bly before she arrived.

Miles experiences Quint urging him to steal the Governess’s letter, which he does. Miles distracts the Governess and Mrs Grose with his piano playing so that Flora can slip out to the lake. The Governess and Mrs Grose search for Flora. When the Governess finds Flora at the lake she asks her about Miss Jessel. Flora denies any connection and accuses the Governess of being cruel. Mrs Grose takes Flora to her uncle in London. Alone with Miles, the Governess asks Miles if he took the letter and entreats him to open up to her.