Description

Cosi Fan Tutte: Advanced Performance Course Tuesday April 7 – Tuesday April 14 2026 with additional performance dates

A unique opportunity for advanced singers to learn a significant repertoire role, to develop freedom of movement, sound and conviction as performers, and to perform in an established London venue.

Over six days we will create a Cosi Fan Tutte course in which two casts play the opera together, alternating and sharing in taking solo scenes in physical theatre style. Both casts are on-stage to combine to create the crazy world of identity crisis that is at the heart of Da Ponte and Mozart’s problem piece. We keep the emphasis on All people are like that, and create a shifting landscape where each performer can be a table leg, an interloper or a named character at any given moment, and swop a top hat for a blonde wig, or a moustache for a garter belt. On the seventh day the fully-staged performance will be performed for a small paying audience, sung in Italian and condensed into two 50 minute halves.

The course includes:

Daily Barefoot Opera group ‘body voice and movement’ work, and rehearsals to develop the production.

Individual coachings throughout the week on arias, voice and movement.

Based in South London within walking distance from Brockley station, the course is directed by Jenny Miller, with experienced opera coach and conductor Lesley-Anne Sammons as Musical Director.

The course includes:

• Daily Barefoot Opera Body Voice and Movement sessions
• Individual coaching with our outstanding Barefoot team coaches
• Small group movement classes with Alexandra Baybutt
• Individual voice work with Penelope Randall Davis and Jenny Miller
• Simple vegetarian lunch including soup, salads, sandwiches

There will be additional performances at:

• Battle Festival: Sunday July 12^th : four days’ revival rehearsals in St Leonards Tues July 8^th –  Saturday July 11 at no extra cost to participants. See below.
• Grimeborne Festival, Arcola Theatre, London :  July 20-25 get-in Monday, four performances Tues July 21, Wed July 22, Friday July 24 ,Sat July 25)
• A venue in St Leonards (Saturday Sept 26th), and Wooburn Arts Festival Bourne End Saturday Oct 3^rd). The company  will organise a day’s revival rehearsal in London. Travel to and from London to these out-of-London venues will be organised and met by the company

Course fee: £675

Includes: a simple lunch, and all tuition in London.

Cost of return travel London-St Leonards, accommodation and meals for the July rehearsals for Battle, and the September St Leonard’s performance.

Audition: by video clip latest date: December 31^st 2025

Sign up and submit your audition here > https://forms.gle/HsGBJ1aYE1eJ4qSh8

Final auditions: live in South East London Sunday Jan 11^th 2pm -6pm

Casting confirmed Wednesday January 15^th 2026.

Please read this information carefully:

1. On successful audition, performers must confirm participation within one week, and then pay the full amount on the Barefoot Opera website. (If this is financially difficult please contact info@barefootopera and we can discuss other possible arrangements. )

2. The fee is non refundable, and performers wishing to withdraw will be required to find an acceptable replacement. (Barefoot Opera management will do their best to help).
3. The successful candidates must undertake to completely memorise and prepare their role in advance of Tuesday April 7^th 2026