I am founder director of the Ryedale Festival Community Opera (RFCO). This is a pioneering Arts Council-funded mixed ability project where, with designer Lyn Wait and composer Tim Brooks, I have developed a successful modular approach, which allows for a large-scale spectacular to be brought together in just five days. I also conduct Outreach workshops for hard to reach groups, and offer ‘Lets Make an Opera in a Day’ projects for groups of all sizes, ages and abilities.
Past productions include:
For RFCO:
2011: A Pig’s Tale Book & Lyrics by Peter Spafford, music by Nick Williams, a reworking in the round of the piece we commissioned in 2006
2010: Odyssey adapted from Simon Armitage’s Homer’s Odyssey by Martin Vander Weyer, music by Tim Brooks, St Peter Church Norton
2009: Everyman Adapted from the medieval morality play by Em Whtifield Brooks, music by Tim Brooks. St Peter’s Church Norton.
2008: The Wedding Ghost by Barry Russell. Milton Rooms, Malton
2007: Voyage of The Maris Piper. Book & lyrics by Em Whitfield Brooks, music by Tim Brooks. Milton Rooms, Malton
2006: A Pig’s Tale. Book & lyrics by Peter Spafford, music by Nick Williams. Milton Rooms, Malton
2005: Maggio’s Magic. Book & lyrics by Peter Spafford, music by Tim Brooks. Kirk Theatre Pickering
2004: The Gypsy Queen. Book & lyrics by Em Whitfield Brooks, music by Tim Brooks. Kirk Theatre Pickering
2003: Voyage of The Maris Piper. Book & lyrics by Em Whitfield Brooks, music by Tim Brooks. Malton School Hall
2002: The Golden Drum. Book & lyrics by Em Whitfield Brooks, music by Tim Brooks. Kirkbymoorside Memorial Hall
2001: All the King’s Men by Richard Rodney Bennett at Pickering Memorial Hall
2000: Noye’s Fludde by Benjamin Britten. St Peter’s Church Norton
Other Community Opera Projects include:
Beached Libretto by Lee Hall, music by Harvey Brough, directed by Karen Gillingham, staged at The Spa Bridlington in July 2011, the culmination of Opera North’s two year project of schools and community singing Sing Up Bridlington! I led the Community Chorus and the Mencap group for this production, and worked with some of the young singers from Bay Primary School who also took part
The Fall of Creation Libretto by Em Whitfield Brooks, Music by Tim Brooks, performed by a cast of 230 in Durham Cathedral as part of the Durham Mysteries, May 2010 see www.durhammysteries.co.uk
2009: Castaway project working with the mixed ability Shipmates project in Goole, making an opera in two days
2009: Noye’s Fludde by Benjamin Britten for BBC Choir of the Year 2008 Scunthorpe Co-operative Junior Choir, directed by Susan Hollingworth