at Layer Marney Tower
Welcome to the only dedicated summer opera festival anywhere in East Anglia.
Our productions are immediate, fun, with compelling storytelling and exceptional musicianship that everyone can enjoy.
Wild Arts returns with a new production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, directed by James Hurley.
Prince Tamino falls in love with Pamina, the kidnapped daughter of the Queen of the Night, and must rescue her. His fantastical journey will transform his understanding of this dream-like world of darkness and light...
Director James Hurley | Designer Sophie Lincoln
7pm performance
Opening night; arrive from 5pm; free-to-attend Young Artist Recital at 5.30pm.
6pm performance
Arrive from 4pm; free-to-attend Young Artist Recital at 4.30pm; long supper interval for picnics in the gardens.
5pm performance
Arrive anytime from 1.30pm for a performance of The Mozart Clarinet Quintet; and from 3pm to enjoy the gardens; long supper interval for picnics.
3pm performance
Arrive from 10.30am for morning performances (Goldberg Variations and Young Artist Showcase); and from 1pm for picnic lunches prior to the show.
7pm, Wednesday 19 June | £20 / £35
The world premiere of this setting of the 2005 collection by Carol Ann Duffy.
Created in collaboration with the Essex Book Festival.
2pm, Saturday 22 June | £15
Jernej Albreht performs Mozart's astonishing 1789 work alongside Sijie Chen, Will McGahon, Christine Anderson, and Leo Popplewell of the Wild Arts Ensemble.
11am, Sunday 23 June | £15
Sijie Chen (Violin), Christine Anderson (Viola), and Leo Popplewell (Cello), perform Bach's exquisite 1741 aria and variations in the beautiful Layer Marney Church, with profits to the Friends of the church.
5.30pm, Tuesday 18 (Recital) | 4.30pm, Thursday 20 (Recital) |
12 noon, Sunday 23 (Showcase)
Recitals by our Young Artists will accompany our main shows on Tuesday 18 and Thursday 20, with an extended showcase on Sunday 23. Attendance to all of these performances is free of charge.
11am and 2pm, Friday 21 June
For the first time we are touring a reduced 45-minute version of our summer opera, The Magic Flute, alongside our main UK-tour. We are kicking off the show with two performances at the Essex Summer Opera Festival.
If you would be interested in volunteering (or volunteering a relative!), we are looking for a group of young people to act as our Front of House team for the week. Please get in touch via the link below.
Address:
Layer Marney Tower
Layer Marney,
Essex
C05 9US
What3Words: lawns.full.views
By car:
Layer Marney Tower is situated between Colchester and Tiptree, one mile off the B1022 Colchester-Maldon Road.
6 miles from Colchester and 9 miles from Maldon.
Parking is available for ticket holders.
By train:
If you are travelling from London, we recommend the train from Liverpool Street Station to Witham. The journey is around 45 minutes long.
Layer Marney Tower will be organising its a free shuttle bus transfer in a vintage London Routemaster that will take you straight from Witham station to Layer Marney Tower in less than 20 minutes.
Tuesday 18 June bus departs Witham 5pm and Layer Marney Carpark 10pm
Thursday 20 June bus departs Witham 4pm and Layer Marney 9.30pm
Saturday 22 June bus departs Witham 3pm and Layer Marney 9pm
Sunday 23 June bus departs Witham 1230pm and Layer Marney 6.30pm
There will be a free bus transfer back to Witham station after the performances.
We believe in quality, accessibility, and environmental sustainability in opera – in immediate, fun, and compelling storytelling, and in exceptional musicianship. With every ticket or piece of feedback you help to make that dream a reality. We want to create a festival that everyone can enjoy and that everyone feels involved with and connected to, and you can always email us via our website, send us a message on social media, or come and find us in person after the show.
A fine young cast excel, with engaging energy and superb singing.
★★★★ The Guardian
Musical Director Orlando Jopling
Director P Burton-Morgan
Translation Jeremy Sams
Designer Chantal Short
Cambridge University, 1972. Will bookish undergrads Ferrando and Guglielmo win their bet that their sweethearts will remain true?
This production shone, honouring all aspects of this miraculous score.
★★★★★ Opera Now Magazine
Musical Director Orlando Jopling
Director Guido Martin-Brandis
New translation Joseph Morris
Designer Sophie Lincoln
The Mediterranean seaside, 1950s. Film-star glamour upends village life, but will true love win out?
Wild Arts, charity no. 1158366
South Green Farmhouse, Fingringhoe, Colchester, CO5 7DP, United Kingdom
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