Welcome...
...to the Essex Summer Opera Festival.
There is only one dedicated summer opera festival anywhere in East Anglia, and we are so happy to be here, bringing annual performances to the Tudor Palace Layer Marney Tower.
We bring quality, accessibility, and environmental sustainability to opera. Our productions are immediate, fun, with compelling storytelling and exceptional musicianship.
We want to create a festival that everyone can enjoy and that everyone feels involved with and connected to. With every ticket or piece of feedback you help to make that dream a reality.
Così fan Tutte 2022
The Elixir of Love 2023
The Elixir of Love 2023
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?
The Elixir of Love 2023
The Elixir of Love 2023
The Elixir of Love 2023
Polished, sophisticated, engaging, and delightfully inventive. Robert Hugill
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?
The Magic Flute 2024
The Elixir of Love 2023
The Magic Flute 2024
A million thank yous for the amazing performance last night. It was a highlight in the house’s 110 year of existence. Roll on 2024! Host, 2023
Musical Director Orlando Jopling
Translation Jeremy Sams
Other creative team to be announced soon
How will naive hero Tamino and his friend the bird-obsessed hippy Papageno negotiate today's tricky world?
Festival Details
How to reach Layer Marney!
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.
There will be a free bus transfer back to Witham station after the performances.
