DECEMBER 2026
Messiah
“I never want to hear Messiah any other way. The singers and players were exceptional."
Returning for a fifth year, our innovative dramatisation of Handel’s legendary oratorio has received critical acclaim and standing ovations across the country.
“Surely this is the only and best way to see the Messiah"
Priority Booking for Patrons and Friends from Monday 22 June.
General Booking opens on Monday 29 June.
Performing the entire piece from memory, the singers bring music and story to life, with staging devised by theatre and opera director Tom Morris (Breaking the Waves, Dr Semmelweis, War Horse).
The musicians of the Wild Arts Ensemble, playing period instruments, are directed by Wild Arts’ Artistic Director Orlando Jopling in this enthralling and moving production.
Edward Hawkins (all photos by Steve Gregson)
Dates and Venues
Saturday 28 November, 4pm
Malvern Festival Theatre
For the following dates:
Priority Booking for Patrons and Friends from Monday 22 June
General Booking opens on Monday 29 June
Sunday 29 November, 4pm
Layer Marney Tower, Essex
Friday 4 December, 7pm
Smith Square Hall, London
Monday 14 December, 7pm
Chichester Cathedral
Book Now
Tuesday 15 December, 7pm
Chelmsford Cathedral
Friday 18 December, 7pm
St Edmundsbury Cathedral
On sale from mid July
Thursday 17 December, 7.30pm
Trinity College, Cambridge
presented in association with Cambridge Early Music
Performers
Ellie Neate and Joanna Songi soprano
Catherine Backhouse and Martha Jones mezzo soprano
Guy Elliott and Sam Harries tenor
Timothy Nelson baritone
Michael Ronan bass
The Wild Arts Ensemble
Directed from the harpsichord by Orlando Jopling
"Scaled down to the minimum, with soloists doubling as their own chorus and a tiny orchestra led from a chamber organ by Orlando Jopling, [Wild Arts' Messiah] delivered a paradoxically massive punch – enlarged by elements of theatre that had been programmed in by stage director Tom Morris. I’ve seen many a Messiah in my time but few as powerfully engaging as this little show which held me in its grip from start to finish."
Michael White, Catholic Herald
"A compelling and wonderfully engaged performance with a vivid sense of drama. I was carried away. The dramatic narrative that the eight singers brought to the music, reacting to events, was palpable, with the instrumental ensemble as powerfully alert as the singers."
Robert Hugill, Planet Hugill
What our Audience says...
“You have collectively raised the bar so high on the Messiah performance that I can never go back to an ordinary concert version. It was outstanding. We loved it. The drama in telling the story, the musicianship and the singing was wonderful. A thoroughly enjoyable evening.”
"Remarkable. I have never heard a performance of Messiah where the specific emotion of each movement was expressed so clearly, let alone one with any sense of underlying feeling - this was more than just a stirring recital of holy texts. Brilliant!"
“I know you had a standing ovation last night, but even that couldn’t capture the extraordinary feeling the show generated. I had to write.”
“Surely this is the only and best way to see the Messiah – total genius staging. Loved it.”
“I never want to hear Messiah any other way. The singers and players were excep onal. It was moving, and it had wonderful momentum and pulse which enhanced the meaning.”
"I just had to say how fantastic the Messiah was last night.. It was intimate and beautifully sung. 6 stars out of 5! If you did two nights I would go to both."
"We just got home from your AMAZING performance of the Messiah. What a show - inclusive and uplifting. The musicians perfectly balanced; an unusual staging which was perfect and brilliant."
Messiah at the Art Workers' Guild, 2023
Wild Arts's Messiah (All photos by Lucy J Toms)
Wild Arts, charity no. 1158366
South Green Farmhouse, Fingringhoe, Colchester, CO5 7DP, United Kingdom
Copyright © 2026 Wild Arts - All Rights Reserved.
Wild Arts is an Advanced Certificate Theatre Green Book company.
Uncredited images by Lucy J Toms.