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.