5 September, 2026 - 23 September, 2026

Cosi Fan Tutte

Experience a fresh take on Mozart and Da Ponte’s effervescent comedy.

Nature or nurture? Are women like that? Who is like what exactly? And why do the men behave so badly in this story? 

In Barefoot Opera’s new production, Don Alfonso is a scientist bent on testing his thesis: “All women are like that”. A human experiment is set up – but does Alfonso have the last laugh?

You can catch Barefoot’s new production of Cosi Fan Tutte at three locations as we move from summer into autumn:

Outdoor Opera at the Big Wood Estate

A unique opportunity to view this fabulous privately owned Tudor mansion and its estate.

5pm (doors open from 4pm), Saturday September 5th, Crowhurst Place, Lingfield RH7 6LY

General admission £38.62

Windsor Festival

Maidenhead Music Society present Cosi Fan Tutte in the intimate Courtyard Theatre at Norden Farm.

7.30pm, Wednesday September 23rd, Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Altwood Road, Maidenhead SL6 4PF

Tickets £30 (Maidenhead Music Society members £25)

Wooburn Festival

Returning once again to Wooburn Festival, Barefoot Opera promises an evening of wit, warmth and theatrical flair.

7.30pm, Saturday October 3rd, Bourne End Community Centre, Wakeman Rd, Wooburn Green, Bourne End SL8 5SX

Tickets £25 (adult), £12.50 (student)

“The singing is wonderfully fresh, the musical direction sparky and solid. Here’s a great chance to see up-close and classical some stars of tomorrow.”

Simon Jenner – View from the Gods

Synopsis:

Act I

Two young officers, Ferrando and Guglielmo, boast about how faithful their fiancées are. Their friend Don Alfonso thinks all women are flighty and proposes a bet to prove it. Their fiancées, two sisters, Fiordiligi and Dorabella, are waiting for their boyfriends to arrive when Don Alfonso appears, giving them the false information that their boyfriends have been called to war. The men say their farewells, and Don Alfonso and the heartbroken sisters sing the famous trio ‘Soave sia il vento’ as they watch the boat leave the dock. Meanwhile Despina, the sisters’ maid, complains about the put-upon life of a servant – interrupted by the girls who are in deep distress. Despina advises them to take the parting lightly. Don Alfonso arrives to bribe Despina – she is to introduce the ladies to “two strangers” . These are of course our young officers in exotic disguise. Despina doesn’t recognise the men – the sisters enter and are furious and the young men are left laughing at Don Alfonso, as they are sure they will win their bet. Ferrando sings ‘Un aura amorosa’ – a hymn to love. The Don prepares for another attack. He sends the men, still in disguise, to pretend to the women they have taken poison out of heartbreak, which tricks the women into feeling pity. However, an attempted kiss sends them into orbit once more.

Act 2

Despina works on the women, giving them tips on how to have a little fun without heartbreak. The sisters decide to take her advice and a meeting is set up. Slowly, the women give in to the flattery of the “new” men. Dorabella falls for the disguised Guglielmo, and Fiordiligi, after a prayer for forgiveness to her official fiancé (Per pietá), eventually falls for the disguised Ferrando. 

Don Alfonso wins his bet, declaring that “all women act like this”. The “war” ends, and the real men return. They drop their disguises and reveal the trick. All six characters are forced to confront the complicated truth about human nature and forgiveness.

Artists’ Biogs

Joel Robson – Don Alfonso

Joel is currently at the Royal Academy of Music Opera School, having recently appeared as Argante (Rinaldo) and Dancaïre (Carmen), and won the Blyth-Buesst Operatic Prize. His teacher is Mark Wildman, and his studies are supported by the Anatoly Mishin Award. Joel also holds a BA, MA, and an MPhil from King’s College, Cambridge, where he was also a Choral Scholar, and an MPerf from the Royal College of Music.

Katerina Oikonomou – Fiordiligi / Ensemble

Katerina Oikonomou is a coloratura soprano celebrated for her vivid stage presence and exceptional vocal agility. Recent roles include the Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte) and Konstanze (Die Entführung aus dem Serail). An international prizewinner, she has received First Prizes in New York, London, and the Vivaldi Competition, and was a laureate of the Mozart Competition in Vienna. She also collaborated with the Marina Abramović Institute and works as a screen actress.

Bartosz Thiede – Ferrando / Ensemble

Bart Thiede is a Polish-Irish award-winning composer, musical director and conductor based in Oxford. A University of Oxford graduate, he works across theatre, broadcasting, choral music and opera. He recently created Have You Met Stan?, which opened at London’s King’s Head Theatre after Brighton Fringe and OFFBEAT Festival runs. His commercial recordings include Mater Mundi (Chorum) and On Christmas Night (OxRecs), alongside original soundtracks for podcasts and short films. As an artistic director, he has produced large-scale concert series and festivals. Bart has also led music programmes in schools, cathedrals, and festivals, with a focus on accessible, cross-genre performance.

Oscar Castellino – Guglielmo / Ensemble

A graduate of the RCM and recipient of the Christopher Ball Welsh National Opera Scholarship, and ensemble singer at the Royal Opera, Oscar made his solo debut at Welsh National Opera as George Benton in Dead Man Walking. The Times UK described his performance as James Meredith in Kommiltonen1 as ‘a highlight’, while the Morning Star praised him as ‘mesmerising’. Oscar is a longtime associate of Barefoot Opera.

Isaac Conibear – Guglielmo / Ensemble

Isaac Conibear is a postgraduate baritone, studying under the tuition of Dr Robert Anderson at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Isaac holds the Drapers de Turkheim scholarship for the 2025-2026, after receiving the Kathleen Robert’s Vocal Scholarship for the previous year. Isaac competed in RCSheriff’s young musician of the year in 2019 having won the first prize, and also competed again in 2021 receiving the 2nd prize.

Mahtab Ghamsari – Dorabella / Ensemble

Mahtab Ghamsari is an Iranian-Canadian soprano currently completing a Master in Vocal Studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London. Mahtab sings both Iranian and Classical music and started training in Opera in 2018. Her performed roles include The dew fairy (Hansel & Gretel), Valencienne (The Merry Widow), Blue Fairy (Pinocchio) among others. She also works in music research and media technology, building software, electronic instruments, and research on live music.

Zara Donaldson – Despina / Ensemble

Zara is pursuing a Masters Degree at Trinity Laban studying with Patricia Rozario. Past performances include Giulietta in Bellini’s Capuletti e I Montecchi for the University of Redlands Conservatory California, soloist with Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir and Berlin Opera Academy as Dew Fairy in Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel.

Ruby Caddick Lawrence – Despina / Ensemble

Ruby is a soprano, vocalist and composer based in London. Having studied at Trinity Laban Conservatoire and Goldsmiths University, Ruby performs a variety of repertoire, with a passion for contemporary classical and experimental music, exploring non-traditional notation, improvisation and performance art.

Ilona Nastase – Dorabella / Ensemble

Versatile Mezzo-Soprano, talented in foreign languages, multitasking, and with a positive work ethic, Ilona has significant experience in chorus singing and solo performance. Ilona’s studies at Trinity Laban are supported by the Morag Noble Scholarship. With a vast knowledge of Arts & Humanities as a result of her studies in Musicology, she is a creative problem-solver with outstanding critical thinking abilities. Although still studying and constantly improving, her attention to detail is shown in her performance practice, while her focus on working collaboratively results in great professional reviews both on and off stage. 

Jenny Miller – Director

Jenny Miller sang for Glyndebourne, Glyndebourne Touring Opera, Scottish Opera, and the RBO, Brunnhilde, Tosca and Witch for Longborough Festival Opera, developing a parallel career as a director. Directing credits include L’Incoronazione Di Poppea, the four Da Ponte/Mozart operas, Die Zauberflote, Rinaldo, Xerxes, Alcina and Anna Bolena for LFO, directing touring versions of these productions. Jenny continues to research the link between classical voice training and current theatre practice.

Lesley Anne Sammons – Music Director / Keyboard / Arrangement

Lesley Anne Sammons is a conductor, répétiteur, arranger and vocal coach. As répétiteur and vocal coach she has held full-time positions at Scottish Opera, Teatro Massimo di Palermo and Glyndebourne Festival Opera. Lesley Anne is an Associate Lecturer at Chichester, nurturing young talent on the Triple Threat Course for Musical Theatre.

Amy Baldwin – Double Bass

Amy is a dynamic jazz soloist known for her vibrant stage presence and wide-ranging collaborations, performing with leading UK artists including Mark Lockheart, Simon Purcell, Joy Ellis and Liane Carroll. Her work spans theatre, session work and live performance, with a recent stint at the Menier Chocolate Factory in Gerry’s Girls. Current projects include Kayio sessions at Karamel N22, La Bouche Manouche and Tricity Vogue All Girl Swing Band.

Alexandra Baybutt – Movement Director

Alexandra Baybutt (PhD, RSME, CMA) works as a movement director and artist, educator and researcher in the UK and internationally since 2004. She has been working with Jenny Miller on the Barefoot embodied pedagogy along with Evelyn Miller and Penny Randall-Davis for over a decade. She lectures in performance practice and devising at UCL on the BA Creative Arts and Humanities amongst other freelance projects.

Wendy Olver – Costume Designer

New Zealand-born Wendy Olver is a multi-talented designer, costumier and stylist and her work has featured in everything from music videos, theatre and fashion shoots to window displays and advertising. She is a positive, hard-working professional with a wealth of experience in costume and prop design always able to think on her feet and work well under pressure, whilst maintaining a high level of work ethic.

Jack Hathaway – Lighting Designer

Previous credits include: After Miss Julie (Park); Da Vinci’s Laundry, FLUSH (Riverside Studios); Rapunzel (Theatre Royal Bury); The Poltergeist (Arcola Theatre); Far Away (Ambika P3); Shout! The Musical (UK Tour); The Watch (The Glitch) Super Model in the Caff, Moderation (Hope Theatre); Damien Nettles (Quay Arts); The Stone God (Bloomsbury Theatre); Empty But Solid (The Place); Peter Pan (Malthouse); I Really Do Think This Will Change Your Life (Mercury Theatre); Still Lives (Peckham Rye).

Eric Moll – Stage Manager

Eric Moll is a theatre practitioner from Anchorage, Alaska, who has been living in the UK since 2021. Selected directing credits include Into the Woods (Bangor University) and Dream & Variation (Bangor University; also co-writer and composer).

Boaz Johnson – Assistant to the Musical Director

Boaz is a pianist, teacher and music facilitator based in South-East London. He grew up in Cardiff, and attended the RWCMD Junior Conservatoire before studying Music at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he completed a dissertation on the performance of Western Art music, marginality and embodiment. He has worked extensively accompanying singing, and is currently working as an associate lecturer at Goldsmiths.

Maya Dagan – Assistant Movement Director

Maya Dagan is a movement director, performer, and theatre-maker trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Her work is rooted in honouring each actor’s unique movement heritage, celebrating individuality within the creative process. She works across a range of genres, including classical theatre, puppetry, physical theatre, and musicals, exploring how movement can deepen character, enrich storytelling, and shape each production’s unique theatrical language.

Penelope Randall Davis: Vocal consultant

A specialist in the dramatic coloratura repertoire, Penelope has appeared as the Queen of the Night with Teatro dell’ Opera di Roma, Opera La Fenice, New Zealand Opera, Opera Atelier and Tafelmusik in Toronto. In the U.K appearances include those with Welsh National Opera, English National Opera, Scottish Opera and Opera North. Penelope appeared as Alcina at London’s Arcola Theatre in the inaugural performances by Barefoot Opera of Peter Foggitt’s contemporary realization of Handel’s piece. She continues to teach privately and in collaboration with Barefoot Opera.

20 June, 2026

Summer Garden Party

Barefoot Opera’s unmissable fundraiser Summer Garden Party (previously Cinco de Mayo, now moved to the warmer month of June) takes place in the unique and historic setting of 6 The Uplands, Maze Hill.

Music in a beautiful garden and in our lovely secluded Music Room, a glass of bubbly and delicious canapés…. all on a Saturday summer’s day from 5-7pm.

Relax in the garden and listen to Zoe Ashdown’s delightful jazz vocals, and move indoors for an intimate recital of Schumann’s exquisite Dichterliebe performed by tenor Ogozhan Engin and pianist Satoshi Kubo.

Date: Saturday June 20th

Time: 5-7pm

Location: 6 The Uplands, Maze Hill, St Leonards-on-Sea, TN38 0HL

Tickets £22 including canapés and a glass of sparkling wine. There will also be a pay bar. Book early as tickets are strictly limited to 50.

11 June, 2026

La Giuditta by Alessandro Scarlatti

Talented young artist countertenor Ralph Thomas Williams approached us with a beautiful idea: to recreate an oratorio by Alessandro Scarlatti, La Giuditta, as a Barefoot Opera style physical theatre, movement based opera. 

Alongside Ralph, our fully staged version of the dramatic 1690 oratorio features two superb singers: Toshi Ogita and Ella Joy, with our great MD Laurence Panter at the keyboard. Laurence will be joined by bass clarinetist, Kathryn Titcomb.

The artist Jane Bruce, a long-standing collaborator with Barefoot Opera, will be creating magical visuals.

This production is supported by Hastings Jews for Justice. There will be a collection for Friends of Al Mawasi, Gaza, with which Hastings has a formal friendship link.

Thrillingly, in addition to a performance here in St Leonards, we will also be staging the opera at the  beautifully converted Theatre Basse-Passieres in Normandy.

8pm, Thursday June 11^th, at St Johns Church Hall, Brittany Road, St Leonards TN38 0RD

Tickets £25 – includes a glass of fizz

7pm, Saturday June 13^th, La Basse Passière, 61340 Perche en Nocé, France

Tickets €30

Artist Biogs

Ralph Thomas Williams 

Ralph is a British countertenor active in opera, concert and choral singing around the United Kingdom, having finished his Masters degree with first class honours at The Royal Northern College of Music. Recent roles include Cupid in Blow’s Venus and Adonis with HGO, premiering The Host in Amir Mayar Tafreshipour’s The Red Room for Tête à Tête festival, premiering Isaac/Caspar in Luke Styles/Britten’s Awakening Shadow for both The Cheltenham and Presteigne Festivals. Ralph has also performed as soloist in Cantatas by Bach with The Liverpool Bach Collective.

Ella Joy 

A soprano, Ella trained at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she was a Levenshulme Arts Scholar, resident artist with Opera North and recipient of awards from the Mbili and Kathleen Trusts. She has performed with Tête à Tête Opera, DEBUT Opera, UC Opera, KC Opera and the Conservatoire du 12ème in Paris, appearing at venues across London and Europe. A regular soloist with the Southend Bach Choir and Orchestra, she has also performed as an ensemble musician with the award-winning Lunar Consort and the Rodolfus Choir. 

Toshi Ogita

Originally from Japan, tenor Toshi Ogita has just graduated from the Royal Academy of Music. Previously, Toshi read MA History of Art & History of Music at the University of Edinburgh. During this time, he studied privately with Scott Johnson and was a choral scholar at Paisley Abbey. Subsequently, he sang for three years at Truro Cathedral. Toshi has performed the role of Malcolm in Verdi’s Macbeth for Duchy Opera and Tamino in a semi-staged performance of excerpts from Die Zauberflöte at Truro Cathedral. A keen recitalist, Toshi is particularly passionate about lieder. With pianist Tim Dean, Toshi has performed Schubert’s Schwanengesang and a selection from Schumann’s Myrthen.

Kathryn Titcomb 

Kathryn Titcomb is a clarinettist and bass clarinettist based in London having recently graduated from Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) with a Distinction in her Masters in Performance. There, she studied with Andrew Webster, Joy Farrall, Andrew Marriner and Robert Ault whilst supported by the David and Margaret Phillips Award. She has returned to GSMD this year as a Junior Fellow. Kathryn also holds a First-Class degree in Mathematics and Music from the University of Birmingham in 2021, where she studied clarinet with Jack McNeill.

Laurence Panter

A graduate of Cambridge and (post graduate) Trinity College London, Laurence has pursued a multi-faceted career as tenor, conductor, composer and arranger. Since 2022, Laurence has been MD, pianist and arranger for Barefoot Opera, leading successful tours of Rossini’s La Cenerentola (2022 and 2023) and Verdi’s La Traviata (2024). Previously, Laurence musically directed and/or accompanied a number of operatic productions from the piano, including Humperdick’s Hansel & Gretel (Opera in the Meantime – MD), Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti (Stage Left Project) and Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice (Grassroots Opera – MD).

Jane Bruce

Jane completed a BA in Textiles at Camberwell College of Art and a post-graduate course in theatre design at Croydon College of Art and has since worked across a wide range of media, television, documentary and feature films, arts projects and opera as a designer. Jane paints portraiture and has exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery as part of National Portrait Prize. Since 2001 she has worked with Radiator Arts, both as artist and project manager, creating large-scale theatrical performances that often take place in unusual sites. Jane has worked with Jenny Miller on a number of productions over a decade, including three of the Mozart/Da Ponte operas for Longborough Festival Opera, and Carmen for Barefoot Opera.

Background Information and Synopsis – La Giuditta

Alessandro Scarlatti

La Giuditta is a lesser-known score by Alessandro Scarlatti (1660–1725). This oratorio is written in the style of a passionate Italian Baroque opera. The Book of Judith from the Bible forms the basis for the libretto. Scarlatti’s music is both energetic and deeply moving. As a composer, he represents the missing link between 17th- and 18th-century repertoire, bridging the gap between Cavalli and Handel. The 1697 version of La Giuditta is known as the Cambridge Giuditta, as the manuscript is kept in the Music Library of King’s College, Cambridge. The librettist was Prince Antonio Ottoboni, father of Cardinal Ottoboni.

Can revenge bring comfort? A brief synopsis.

Judith is trapped in a city besieged by Holofernes. She has lost her husband in the conflict. When the male leaders of the city decide to surrender, all her grief, her frustrating powerlessness, and her sense of honour come to the surface. Encouraged by her nurse, she ventures into the camp of the decadent leader Holofernes. Judith seduces him. When he falls asleep on her chest, she seizes the opportunity and beheads him. Judith gets her revenge—but does it bring her comfort? A timely question in an age where the call for heads to roll is often heard.

In more detail…

• Judith is locked inside the city of Bethulia. The city groans under a siege by the Syrians, led by Holofernes. Judith has recently lost her husband and is weighed down by grief. To her nurse and companion, she voices her frustration over the incompetent male leadership, which is on the verge of surrendering the city. Her Nurse says it likely won’t make a difference, but if the struggle has any meaning, Judith might as well take it on herself. Judith proposes going to Holofernes. She will cast off her mourning veil and use her femininity against the enemy. The Nurse warns her of the risks, but Judith is determined. The Nurse agrees to follow her, whether blessed or cursed by the heavens, which she invokes for support.
  
• When she arrives at Holofernes’ camp, Judith pretends to be a fugitive. Holofernes is not easily fooled and claims to see through her game. He tells her to return to Bethulia. Judith says he might as well cut off her head, as both friend and foe now despise her. Holofernes finds it difficult to resist her presence. Though he orders her to leave, he ultimately gives in to her performance. It is Holofernes—not Judith—who retreats.
  
• The two women reflect on what has happened. Judith encourages herself, and the Nurse imagines what lies ahead. When Holofernes returns, the women are startled, and Judith begins her seductive game. Holofernes praises their efforts. Judith, he says, will be more worshipped in Bethulia after his victory than the city’s current gods. Judith asks for mercy for her people and expresses admiration for Holofernes. He tells her not to mock him and invites her to sit. Judith replies that a non-person like her has no place beside a conqueror like him. Now Holofernes begs her for mercy in love. Judith lets Holofernes lay his head on her bosom and asks the Nurse to tell a story. The Nurse recounts the tale of Samson and Delilah and sings a lullaby. When Holofernes falls asleep, Judith sees her chance. She severs his head—but only succeeds on the second blow.
  
• Immediately after the beheading, Judith pleads for strength and light in the darkness. Together with the Nurse, she returns to Bethulia, expressing their relief. She displays the severed head of Holofernes and watches the enemy flee. Heaven fights and triumphs through the severed head in a woman’s hand. She declares she now wishes only to be a woman and a widow again. Finally, she warns the people: you will share Bethulia’s fate if you trust in God, and Holofernes’ fate if you trust in deceitful desires. Trust in heaven—but fear heaven too.

27 February, 2026

Schubertiad

Book now for our Schubertiad on Friday Feb 27th.

Date – Friday 27th February 2026
Time – 19:00 (doors open at 18:30pm)
Venue – The Music Room, 6 The Uplands, Maze Hill, St Leonards, TN38 0HL
Tickets – £25

This Schubertiad is a fundraiser for the talented young artists involved in our Scarlatti Project and in our Barefoot Cosi fan Tutte. Only 40 tickets are on offer and we would be delighted to see you there.

4 September, 2025 - 5 October, 2025

Lucia Di Lammermoor

Barefoot Opera is creating a bold, emotionally charged production of Donizetti’s romantic tragedy – Lucia di Lammermoor, staged with the company’s inventive, collaborative spirit, for a 14-night tour from September 2025. The score will be reimagined for the Barefoot Band, who bring together classical music and gypsy jazz instrumentation, and several of the cast will be multi-tasking, seamlessly moving between playing an instrument and singing on stage.

For those new to opera, Lucia di Lammermoor offers a powerful introduction – an intense, emotionally charged work fusing Gothic romanticism with psychological unravelling. Composed by Gaetano Donizetti and based on Sir Walter Scott’s novel The Bride of Lammermoor, the opera tells the tragic story of Lucia, a young woman caught between forbidden love and family obligation. Her secret romance, forced betrothal, and eventual descent into madness unfold against a backdrop of hauntingly beautiful music.

At the heart of the opera is Lucia’s iconic “mad scene” – a virtuosic display of vocal brilliance and dramatic depth. In this moment of psychological collapse, a soprano stands alone onstage, covered in blood, spinning out ethereal, impossibly high notes that seem to float from another realm. It is one of opera’s most unforgettable scenes, where grief, betrayal, and fragile sanity are laid bare through music that is both otherworldly and deeply human.

Whether you’re an opera veteran or a curious newcomer, this Barefoot Opera production invites you to experience Lucia di Lammermoor as you never have before: not as a historic artifact, but as a living, breathing work of art with enormous contemporary relevance. It’s edgy, gripping, and urgently alive.

18 July, 2025

Summer Prom: Open Air Opera – 18th July 2025

We are delighted to be back at Findon Place this July with an evening of unforgettable arias at their Summer Prom, where the timeless beauty of opera comes to life. Set in the stunning surroundings of Findon Place, the singers and musicians from Barefoot Opera will enchant you with their performance. Come along and enjoy music from Puccini, Verdi, Bizet, and more.

Whether you’re an opera enthusiast or a newcomer, this is the perfect chance to experience world-class artistry in a breathtaking setting.

Picnics are encouraged, so bring along your favourite food and drink to enjoy while soaking up the music.
A bar will also be on-site to keep the drinks flowing.

13 July, 2025

Summer Prom: Opera Gala at The Abbot’s Hall

Join us in the sumptuous surroundings of Battle Abbey for an unforgettable evening of music and drama. In the historic Abbott’s Hall, with extracts from Puccini, Verdi, Bizet, and more.

With staged arias and scenes from some of the world’s most beloved operas, Barefoot Opera will enchant you from the first note to the rousing final chorus. Whether you’re an opera enthusiast or a newcomer, this is the perfect chance to experience world-class artistry in a breath-taking setting.

Picnics in the grounds are encouraged before the show and during the interval. Refreshments must be purchased from the on site bar.

18 May, 2025

Cinco de Mayo

Join us for a lively and vibrant evening at The Uplands! 

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style at this special Barefoot Opera fundraiser! Enjoy a range of live performances, creating a festive atmosphere throughout the garden and Music Room. With music, aperitivos, and a glass of wine or beer included in your ticket, it promises to be an unforgettable evening. 

Date: Sunday, 18th May  

Time: 17:00 – 19:00   

Location: The Uplands, Maze Hill, St Leonards-On-Sea, East Sussex, TN38 0HL   

Tickets are priced at £22.50 (or £20 for Friends Members) and include a glass of wine or a beer, tasty appetisers, and of course, exceptional live music.  

A pay-for bar will also be available, serving a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks. 

The Artists

Lucy Ashton, Royal College of Music graduate, is a rich lyric soprano of outstanding sensibility, who will sing Spanish themed arias from Mozart, Rossin and Bizet operas, as well as a ravishing and little performed set of Granados ‘Maja’ songs. She is accompanied by Satoshi Kubo, who is much in demand as a coach and repetiteur (including work for Covent Garden, Wild Arts, and other organisations across the country). Last year’s attendees of this unique Barefoot fundraiser will remember the charm and style of Zoe Ashdown‘s jazz favorites. 

Come for the music, stay for the party — ¡Olé! 

Tickets available now!  

26 January, 2025

Burns Night

Date – Sunday 26th January 2025
Time – 19:00
Carriages – 23:00
Venue – The Music Room, 6 The Uplands, Maze Hill, St Leonards, TN38 0HL
Tickets – £45

Book early to avoid disappointment!

Our annual Burns Night Barefoot fundraiser is by now an established tradition…

A splendid 4 course feast with traditional addresses and words, fantastic live music, burns poetry and more…

• Doors open from 7:00 pm when you will be greeted with a beaker of sherry
• Dinner in our beautiful Decimus Burton Music Room commences at 7:30pm  
• There is a wee dram of whisky with your meal and a reasonably priced bar

Dress code:
A touch of tartan of course!

10 November, 2024

CELEBRATING BAREFOOT OPERA’S PAST & FUTURE

Join us for stunning live opera performances, exclusive announcements and more!

Soaring arias from international singers;

Date: Sunday 10th November
Time: 17:00 – 19:00
Location: Barefoot Opera, 6 The Uplands, St. Leonards-on-Sea, TN38 0HL

21 June, 2024 - 3 October, 2024

Young Artists Tour 2024

BAREFOOT OPERA’s vibrant, energised new production pulls at the heart strings with a dynamic take on Verdi’s classic tale of love, loss and sacrifice in this years Young Artists Tour – La Traviata.

Living life on her own terms, glamorous Violetta falls in love with the young poet Alfredo. But their intoxicating romance takes a devastating turn when Violetta’s past life catches up with her, and she’s forced to sacrifice what may be her only chance of real love. And as Violetta battles a serious illness…will it be too late?

BAREFOOT OPERA’s ensemble-style production brings the story of La Traviata bang up to date, and demonstrates why it is one of the most popular operas of all time.

With young co-directors Michael Spenceley and Alfie Chesney at the helm, Verdi’s riveting tale of scandal, forbidden relationships and damaged reputations is brought to life with physical theatre, choreography and dynamic staging. An impressive, young international cast, with accompaniment from the BAREFOOT BAND (piano, clarinet, double bass and accordion) brings our signature twist to Verdi’s memorable, ravishing music. And with people from choirs and schools all over Kent, Sussex and London taking part on stage alongside the professionals, this is an opera for us all to enjoy!

Join us on our 12 night tour across the South East and London this summer!

This year’s Young Artist Tour of La Traviata is BAREFOOT OPERA’s biggest yet. Opening in St. Leonards-on-sea on June 21^st, we then move on to the spectacular Crowhurst Place for an outdoor performance following our sell-out show there last year, then onto Rye and Findon Place for the first time.

The tour resumes in September with dates in Lamberhurst and Maidenhead, four shows at the Arcola Theatre in London, as well as our first show in Brighton. We hope to see you there!

• St. John’s the Evangelist, St. Leonards-on-sea – Friday 21^st June (featuring Voiceworks choir and Bexhill College)
• Crowhurst Place, Lingfield – Saturday 22^nd June (outdoor performance featuring East Grinstead Choral Society and Imberhorne School)
• Rye Creative Centre, East Sussex – Saturday 29^th June (featuring the Marsh Choir)
• Findon Place, West Sussex – Friday 19^th July (outdoor performance)
• Down House, Lamberhurst – Saturday 14^th September (with Tunbridge Wells Choral Society)
• Norden Farm, Maidenhead Music Society, Maidenhead – Tuesday 17^th September
• St. Michael and All Angels, Brighton – Saturday 21^st September (with Brighton and Hove 6^th Form College TBC and choir TBC)
• Grimeborn Festival, Arcola Theatre, Dalston – 24th-28^th September (with Hackney Voices)
• Wooburn Festival, Bourne End – Saturday 5^th October

5 May, 2024

Cinco de Mayo Fundraiser 5 May

Zoe Ashdown will be singing latino influenced  jazz  music, and soprano Kristina Nikiforova with pianist Satoshi Kubo will offer a mixed programme including Spanish zarzuelas ( a kind of sexy spanish operetta) tocreate a party atmosphere in the garden and the Music Room at the Uplands. 

Tickets are £25, and include a cocktail or a beer, aperitivos and music.
     (There will also be a bar available) 
¡Olé! 

27 July, 2023 - 3 September, 2023

La Cenerentola (Cinderella)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘A delightful feast of vocal virtuosity and comic verve’ (The Stage)

In 2023 we went on tour with our sparkling production of Rossini’s La Cenerentola (Cinderella). Expect all the hallmarks of a Barefoot Opera show: a dynamic international cast of young singers, a small on-stage band delivering the score, and a contemporary take on a classic tale.

Directors: Jenny Miller and Michael Spenceley

Performed in italian with surtitles in english.

Rossini’s delicious and charmingly comic La Cenerentola, or Cinderella, is a more humanist than magic tale. 

The Prince of the fairytale realm, Ramiro, is seeking a woman “innocent and good”, and orders his court advisor, Alidoro, to disguise himself as a tramp and test out the ladies in Don Magnifico’s house.  Here we find that only Cinderella will help the poor beggar – her sisters and father are far too self centred, conceited and generally on the make to take time for a vagabond. 

It is this same Alidoro who will kit out Cinders in all the finery she needs for the ball, and help her escape before her family detect her.  She leaves behind a bracelet rather than the traditional shoe, and this bracelet will lead to her reunion with her Prince.  Meanwhile, the sisters and father have been further deceived; the Prince and his valet Dandini had swapped places, and they had spent the opera oleaginously making up to a mere servant.

In our version, we update the comedy. Cinderella’s sisters and their status-obsessed dad trash the earth’s resources, and generally exhibit callous indifference to their environment. The two sisters are heavily preoccupied with their roles as influencers on social media,  and their idiotic iPhone messages are exposed. 

9 June, 2023

Bathed in Gold

Friday, 9 June St John the Evangelist, St Leonards on Sea
Doors open 7:00pm
Bar available
Brahms songs and piano repertoire
Fundraising evening of music for St John the Evangelist

Jenny Miller and Francis Rayner have prepared an exquisite, golden evening of Brahm’s most loved and familiar piano intermezzi and songs, as well as a few fabulous rarities.This is a fundraiser for the St Johns, which has so generously supported Barefoot Opera activities, so do join us in both relishing great music, and supporting the work of St John the Evangelist in our local community.

Tickets: £15, free for under 15’s

20 May, 2023

Cinco de Mayo

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo on 20 May with a Barefoot Opera fundraiser
5-730pm
Aino Konkka will be singing De Falla, Bizet and Carmen, with Francis Rayner playing Spanish classical piano. Zoe Ashdown will be singing some latino influenced jazz to create a party atmosphere in the garden and the Music Room at the Uplands. 

Tickets are £20, and include a cocktail or a beer (and beer cocktails!), aperitivos and music.
     (There will also be a bar available) 
¡Olé! 

22 October, 2021 - 24 October, 2021

Bloom Britannia, a people’s opera

Our production of the new ‘people’s opera’ BLOOM BRITANNIA was staged for the first time in October 2021 at St. Mary in the Castle in Hastings.  An affectionate, comic opera, bringing together influences from folk, pop and jazz, this is an opera like no other, and is at the heart of our mission to engage new participants, as well as new audiences, in the experience of opera.

Composer: ORLANDO GOUGH
Librettist: STEPHEN PLAICE
Director: POLLY GRAHAM
Artistic Director: JENNY MILLER
Conductors: CHRISTOPHER STARK/MARK AUSTIN

The culmination of many years of development, with a leading creative team working with the communities of Hastings, St. Leonards and Bexhill – children, young people and adults – many of whom performed on stage alongside an outstanding professional cast and live band, BLOOM BRITANNIA is a hilarious, raucous, challenging, action-packed, thrilling production celebrating the joy of singing, music and creativity.  Read more about the development of the project HERE.

‘Barefoot Opera’s stupendous community opera BLOOM BRITANNIA had its last performance today. What a dazzling delight, a faultless production embodying the spirit of Hastings and St Leonards-on-Sea. I’m honestly overwhelmed by the professionalism of this opera but further moved by the community engagement. Quality always shines through and this production scores on every level...truly a triumph.’

Audience Feedback 2021

Participants and participating organisations

• A chorus of local people from Hastings, St. Leonards and Bexhill from across the generations.
• Singers from several community choirs including Hastings Philharmonic Choir, Sound Waves Community Choir, Opera South East, and vocal groups Acapella Bellas, Rattlebag, Now and Then
• Participants from Arts On Prescription and The Seaview Project
• Pupils from Dudley Infants School and The Hastings Academy
  

8 August, 2021 - 2 October, 2021

Orfeo ed Euridice / Zanetto

Barefoot opera, well known for its fresh and lively performances of opera classics, presents a unique evening, combining a well-loved opera favourite with an operatic rarity that share a common theme: our search for love and inspiration in a dangerous world. 

18 February, 2021

‘It takes a town to make an opera: Bloom Britannia’ SHORT FILM PREMIÈRE & Q&A

Join Isolation Station for the première of Barefoot Opera’s inspiring new short film, made with @RedKiteFilms, which documents the joy of taking part in the epic new ‘people’s opera’ Bloom Britannia.

Inspired by life in our seaside towns, the project involves many local musicians, singers and people of all ages. Thrown off course by the pandemic, the power of the music remains, and people look forward to the return of the project this year. Followed by a short Q & A with the Barefoot Opera team.

Thursday, 6pm either on Facebook via the link below, or via YouTube here!

19 November, 2020

Artists Session: Jenny Miller – Lockdown Schubert

8 pm Thursday 19th November
FREE

Schubert songs haunt a singer’s imagination.  

Barefoot Opera’s final online Emergency Arts funded concert: light the fire, pour out the red wine, and join Jenny Miller in her ghostly studio as she explores this quintessential song repertoire alone…with a lot of candles.

Barefoot Opera is partnering with Isolation Station to produce our Artists Sessions. The event will be streamed live on two Facebook pages:

• Barefoot Opera
• Isolation Station

25 October, 2020

Workshop: Singing and Dancing

4 pm Sunday 25th October
FREE
For all ages!

Join Barefoot Opera Artistic Director, Jenny Miller and Glastonbury Festival favourite, LEKIDDO – Lord of The Lobsters! for an all-singing, all-dancing workshop with joyous uplifting pop moves and catchy tunes. 

Lobsterliciously – Spreading the Lobster Love with LEKIDDO – Lord of The Lobsters! Pop music that brings uplifting joyous fun with The V&A’s Glastonbury Festivals People’s Playlist favourite, No.1 artist, LEKIDDO – Lord of The Lobsters! 

“Show Me Your Claws” Beautiful PinchyPinchykisskiss Peoples and we’ll have a Lobsterliciously happening time together Spreading the Lobster Love.

Barefoot Opera is partnering with Isolation Station to produce our Artists Sessions. The event will be streamed live on two Facebook pages:

• Barefoot Opera
• Isolation Station

21 October, 2020

Artists Session: Chiara Vinci – I Hate Music!

7 pm Wednesday 21st October
FREE

Classical soprano Chiara Vinci takes you on a journey through some colourful soprano repertoire. From curious child, in Bernstein’s cycle of five kids songs, to petulant and repulsive bride in Jonathan Dove’s The Enchanted Pig, and pioneering feminist in Poulenc’s Les Mamelles de Tirésias.

Chiara will also be singing a snippet of Barefoot Opera’s Bloom Britannia fresh off the page by composer Orlando Gough.

Barefoot Opera is partnering with Isolation Station to produce our Artists Sessions. The event will be streamed live on two Facebook pages:

• Barefoot Opera
• Isolation Station

Photo of Chiara by Lidia Crisafulli for Over The Pond Productions

17 October, 2020

Bloom Britannia Workshop

Saturday, October 17^th 
10 am – 12 pm

We are able to move ahead – with COVID care – to the most cherished workshop/rehearsal on our list.  We can invite 20 singers to St John the Evangelist Brittany Rd, Saint Leonards-on-sea TN38 0RD to workshop/rehearse a NEW chorus from the now completed score of Bloom Britannia.  

Barefoot Opera is partnering with Isolation Station to produce our Music Sessions. The event will be streamed live on our Facebook page:

• Barefoot Opera

Places are now full.
We plan to work on a first come first serve basis for each voice group.
Please register your interest via email to tell us your voice type.
Email: info@barefootopera.com

7 October, 2020

Artists Session: Frank Moon – Old, new, & spontaneous music for the Oud

8pm Wednesday 7th October
FREE

Multi-instrumentalist and composer Frank Moon weaves Arabic melodies, original compositions, and improvisations on the oud (Arabic lute). With musical references to the Middle East, Bulgaria, medieval Spain, blues and Saharan funk, new pieces, and ancient melodies are springboards for improvisation.

Barefoot Opera is partnering with Isolation Station to produce our Artists Sessions. The event will be streamed live on two Facebook pages:

• Barefoot Opera
• Isolation Station

27 September, 2020

Workshop: One-Stop Rhythm Shop, Laurence Panter

4 pm Sunday, 27th September
FREE

Feel the pulse with this interactive rhythmic workshop, where you can anchor your body’s beat and explore some more challenging patterns!

Laurence Panter is a singer/pianist/composer with an interest in education and performance. He was involved in 2019’s Bloom Britannia as both a singer and coach and has fingers firmly crossed for more to come.

Please register & you will receive the zoom link on the day of the event.
Tickets available until 24 hrs before the event.

19 September, 2020

Artists Session Live: Theatre Nation – Tree in Bloom

4 pm Saturday 19th September 
FREE
St Leonards

Hasting’s own Theatre Nation is run by Patrick Kealey. His company and Bloom Britannia are linked by the wonderfully versatile Patrick, who appears in our production as Apple Jonny, the down and out who crops up all over the place during the opera.

Before the madness happened, his Company was due to start a tour of Samuel Becket’s masterpiece, “Waiting For Godot”. Theatre Nation had commissioned the well-loved local sculptor, Leigh Dyer, to forge the iconic tree for the set of the play.  It is a thing of beauty. And it’s not been seen by anyone!

A short, COVID secure, socially distanced performance, featuring a small choir of Bloomers, a tree, and… a special guest. 

Tickets must be reserved in groups of no more than 6.
There will be a maximum audience of 30.

18 September, 2020 - 31 October, 2020

Virtual Cafe: Bloom Sharing

Every Friday 11am
FREE

Let’s stay in touch!
Come along every Friday to chat, share stories, poetry, and photos. Every week a new theme!

Please register & you will receive the zoom link on the day of the event.
Tickets available until 24 hrs before the event.

16 September, 2020

Artists Session: Ruby Colley – On Foot On Strings

8 pm Wednesday 16th September
FREE

A sound walk of East Sussex that’s guided by strings… the thread that weaves different parts of hastings together. Weaving in field recordings made during walks in lockdown, Ruby improvises folk-inspired melodies with electronics.

Barefoot Opera is partnering with Isolation Station to produce our Artists Sessions. The event will be streamed live on two Facebook pages:

• Barefoot Opera
• Isolation Station

14 September, 2020 - 26 October, 2020

Workshop: Breathe, Move, Sing

Arts on Prescription 

Every Monday 10 am

This is an open “Sing for pleasure and health” class that is run in partnership with Arts on Prescription and Jenny Miller.

Nb: There is no session on 28th Sept as Jenny is away.

Register via: info@artsonprescription.org

You can also find all their events on Facebook: Arts on Prescription

9 September, 2020

Artists Session Live: Jivin’ Miss Daisy

7 pm Wednesday 9th September
FREE

Simon Thorpe’s swing band Jivin’ Miss Daisy regularly appears at Ronnie Scott’s Club and is well known on the UK jazz scene.  

Simon and singer Liz Fletcher will perform songs by the greats, including Duke Ellington and Irving Berlin. Expect a variety of music and a special guest!

The performance will also be streamed live on two Facebook pages:
Barefoot Opera
Isolation Station Hastings

• The concert is ‘pay what you can by donation’
• Bring your picnic blanket/chairs
• There will be no facilities available
• Parking on the road

Barefoot Opera are offering another outdoor picnic music event; with great care and attention to social distancing and track and tracing.  We are going to limit numbers to 45 as an extra precautionary measure. 

19 August, 2020

Crazy Kids Cabaret: Bev Lee Harling

10am Wednesday 19th August
FREE

A Family-Friendly 30-minute show.
It’s August – it’s CRAZY!

Bev and her family create music using random household objects.  Join in with your own pots and pans and whatever hitty, shaky things you can find lying around for this fun, chaotic musical extravaganza.

Bev is a composer, performer, singer-songwriter and educator who revels in mixing up genres and everyday sounds into one big musical soup for the soul.

The performance will be streamed live on:
Isolation Station Hastings Facebook page

11 August, 2020

Artists Session Live: Gavin & Naomi – Violin/Cello Duo

SOLD OUT

7 pm Tuesday 11th August
FREE

Outstanding soloists Gavin Kibble and Naomi Burrell will play a selection of solos and duets live in a St Leonards garden.

Gavin Kibble played ‘cello in Barefoot Opera’s ‘Bloom Britannia’ extract last May.  He and his partner violinist Naomi Burrell perform regularly with ensembles including the English Concert, Academy of Ancient Music, and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and were both poised to start a long tour with English Touring Opera when lockdown struck.

Repertoire: Bach, Cassado, Corelli, and other tuneful surprises…

• The concert is ‘pay what you can by donation’
• Bring your picnic blanket/chairs
• There will be no facilities available
• Parking on the road

After the success of our pop-up live recording with Chiara Vinci and Tom Clarkson, Barefoot Opera are offering another outdoor picnic music event; with great care and attention to social distancing and track and tracing.  We are going to limit numbers to 40 as an extra precautionary measure. 

5 August, 2020

Crazy Kids Cabaret: 5th Aug

10 am Wednesday 5th August 
FREE

A Family-Friendly 30-minute show!
It’s August – it’s CRAZY!

Lobsterliciously – Spreading the Lobster Love with LEKIDDO – Lord of The Lobsters!
Pop music that brings uplifting joyous fun with The V&A’s Glastonbury Festivals People’s Playlist favourite, No.1 artist, LEKIDDO – Lord of The Lobsters! 

Join LEKIDDO – Lord of The Lobsters! in this fun half-hour with joyous uplifting pop moves and catchy tunes. “Show Me Your Claws” Beautiful PinchyPinchykisskiss Peoples and we’ll have a Lobsterliciously happening half-hour together Spreading the Lobster Love.

The event will be streamed live on our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/barefootopera 

26 July, 2020

Workshop: Let’s Make a Song! Lucy Mulgan

SOLD OUT
4 pm Sunday, July 26th 
FREE

As we are now allowed to meet outside – this event will be live and in person! (not via zoom)

For all ages, Lucy will lead this workshop incorporating improvisation and story-telling. Together we will create a new piece of music involving singing, body, and voice “percussion”. Come along with a big voice and a lot of energy! 

A regular with Barefoot Opera, Lucy Mulgan is a composer, bass player, and educator who works in many different styles – from opera to jazz and pop. 

Please register & you will receive details of this event which will be outside in St Leonards-on-Sea.
Tickets available until 24 hrs before the event.

22 July, 2020

Artists Session: Tom & Chiara – Songs for the Isolated

8pm Wednesday 22nd July
FREE

Join Tom and Chiara for a living room session of folk songs, vocal harmonies, and stories.

Multi-instrumentalist Tom Clarkson and soprano Chiara Vinci (aka Stage Left Project) share a personal selection of songs that have kept their spirits up during the Lockdown. Enjoy songs from Kurt Weill to Crosby Stills and Nash with midweek wine or summer sobriety. 

The link to watch live is here…
https://www.facebook.com/barefootopera/videos/209684953714326/

Barefoot Opera is partnering with Isolation Station to produce our Artists Sessions 

17 July, 2020

Music Quiz: Play that funky music for a while!

6.30pm Friday 17 July 
FREE

Back by popular demand, Multi-instrumentalist Tom Clarkson and soprano Chiara Vinci (aka Stage Left Project) present a Hastings-based music quiz with live music performances throughout. You don’t have to know everything, but if you do then you’ll probably win.

Prizes include pride, glory, and satisfaction. 

Please register & you will receive the zoom link on the day of the event.
Tickets available until 24 hrs before the event.

8 July, 2020

Artists Session: Alice Privett – Opera in my Pjs

8pm Wednesday 8th July 
FREE

As the rules relax, why shouldn’t you? Enjoy a mixture of classic opera favourites, Schubert Lieder and Folksong- all from the comfort of your own home. Don your PJs, get comfy, pour a glass of wine: treat yourself!

Soprano Alice Privett studied at the Guildhall and the Royal Academy and has since worked as a soloist with Holland Park, Opera, Garsington Opera, and Longborough Festival Opera. She particularly loves opportunities to perform contemporary music. 

The event will be streamed live here:
https://www.facebook.com/barefootopera/videos/2679874132288064/

Barefoot Opera is partnering with Isolation Station to produce our Artists Sessions.

1 July, 2020 - 30 September, 2020

Bulletin: Bloom This Summer

1st & 15th of each month
Posted on Barefoot Opera’s YouTube Channel.

Bloom’s twice-monthly video newsletter with Caf Fean & Lucy Mulgan sharing all things Bloom.

We want to hear from you!
Send us clips of you singing or reciting a poem or colourful photos of your lockdown garden… or anything Bloom related!

Email us! bloom@barefootopera.com

As well as clips and photos from you we will feature guest spots from our core team and community partners. Keep up to date with all the news, music and a lot of flowers! 

28 June, 2020

Workshop: Bloom by Zoom

Sunday 28th June
4 – 5 pm
FREE

We are kicking off our on-line Bloom activities with a Bloom by Zoom Workshop!

Jenny Miller, accompanied by Alice Privett, will first give you an energized fun blast of Barefoot Opera’s ‘Breath Movement and Sound’ and then lead you through two of the big numbers from Act One of Bloom Britannia.  A great chance to try out for yourself what the music is like, or a great chance to re-connect with participants from last year.  Jenny will ensure that you can follow as a first-timer. 

We will have a Makaton signer to make the session as accessible as possible.

Music:  Spirelighter and Ayde Jano are downloadable as either text only or music. Please visit the bloom download page below.

Please register & you will receive the zoom link on the day of the event.
Tickets available until 24 hrs before the event.

1 March, 2020 - 31 March, 2020

Red! A Children’s Opera

In 2018 Jenny commissioned Barefoot Opera’s Lucy Mulgan to compose a children’s opera; Red!

Jenny and Lucy decided she should adapt Little Red Riding Hood for today’s generation.

25 January, 2020

Burns Night

Saturday 25th January 2020
From 8 pm (Doors Open 7:30 pm)

The Music Room
6 The Uplands Maze Hill TN380HL

Book early to avoid disappointment!

Our annual Burns Night Barefoot fundraiser is by now an established tradition…

3 November, 2019

Chamber Music Recital

Sunday 3rd November @ 6 pm

Barefoot Opera welcomed the Chenovsky Piano Trio for a fundraising autumn recital. Come along for a very special programme.

26 September, 2019 - 27 October, 2019

The Barber of Seville

Barefoot Opera brought their inventive, exuberant ensemble style to Rossini’s comic masterpiece, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, (The Barber of Seville).

8 September, 2018 - 12 October, 2018

Carmen

Seville came to England with the story of Carmen and her tragic end at the hand of Don José.

Photo credit: Chris Parker

11 November, 2017

L’Incoronazione Di Poppea

Monteverdi’s dramatic tale of treachery and love was updated on a stage dominated by a giant bed, with a set design by Peter Fillingham.

8 September, 2017 - 14 October, 2017

La Bohème

Barefoot’s youthful singers brought fresh poignancy to this dramatic portrayal of Bohèmian Paris.

24 September, 2016

Clash!

For the 950^th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, Barefoot Opera staged a performance of specially commissioned pieces sung by local choirs.

5 September, 2015

L’Elisir D’Amore

Soprano Sophie Pullen sang her heart out as Adina in Barefoot’s staging of Donizetti’s masterpiece.