barefoot opera
Welcome to Barefoot Opera!
For the past three years, we’ve been on a remarkable journey, staging a diverse array of operas that resonate with audiences across genres and communities. In 2022, our groundbreaking production, “Bloom Britannia,” captivated audiences with its innovative blend of professional and community singers, under the creative vision of composer Orlando Gough and librettist Stephen Plaice. Last year, our Young Artists Tour brought the timeless tale of “Cenerentola” to life, showcasing the talent of both emerging and established performers in venues across London, and the South East.
This year, we are thrilled to announce our latest production, La Traviata. Thanks to the continued support of the Arts Council, we’re bringing this classic opera with our twist to the stage with performances scheduled for June, July, September and October.
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OUR MISSION
Barefoot Opera challenges the notion that opera is elitist.
We produce high-quality, inclusive and accessible performances of opera,
re-working the classics, commissioning contemporary work, and engaging new audiences and participants.
Our work is guided by our aims, which are to:
*Rethink and Deconstruct: strip opera down to the basics of body, breath, movement, sound;
*Train: emerging young professionals and give them performance opportunities with BFO’s annual tours to venues in London and the South East;
*Make opera new: develop an energised, physical ensemble approach, which generates a unique way of experiencing opera;
*Reach out: widely into our local Hastings and wider regional community to bring people from different neighbourhoods, cultural groups and across generations, to sing together.
OUR VISION
Is to bring about ‘A Town That Sings’, utilising the power of music to inspire, empower and connect.
LEARN WITH US
Barefoot Opera challenges us to rethink methods of training the classical voice.
We begin by stripping our voices down to basics: body, breath, movement and sound. We reconnect with basic human responses.
This “responsive breath”, reaction and action, is the keystone of Barefoot’s training approach, refining and evolving into singing and the operatic tradition.
Alongside this responsive breath work our training incorporates physical theatre techniques and somatic movement practice.
