Jubilee Opera was formed in 1987 as a result of a production of Britten’s ‘Noye’s Fludde’ in Aldeburgh Church, the first time it had been performed there. Such was the enthusiasm in the local community that it was decided to start an opera company for young aspiring performers to work with professionals on productions of the highest possible quality and standard.
The aim was to give children, with little opportunity elsewhere, the chance to discover their own abilities and to develop their musical and performance skills, thus engendering a lifelong love of the performance arts. This is what lies at the heart of Jubilee Opera’s ethos.
In response to growing demand, Jubilee Opera formed Jubilee Opera Chorus, which meets periodically throughout the year for training and coaching and from which the main productions are cast.
The Company is run by Artistic Director Jenni Wake-Walker and an experienced, dedicated team of volunteers. Skilled professionals, composers, conductors, directors, singers, instrumentalists and designers are brought in to work with the children and perform in the main productions.
Past performances include:
Noye’s Fludde – Benjamin Britten
The Little Sweep – Benjamin Britten
The Happy Prince – Malcolm Williamson
All the King’s Men – Richard Rodney Bennett
The Pied Piper of Hamelin – Jonathan Willcocks
Brundibár – Hans Krása
The Drummer Boy of Waterloo – David Stoll and Megg Nicol
Hip Hip! Horatio – Michael Hurd arr.Timothy Henty
A Time There Was – Benjamin Britten
The Tailor of Gloucester – Trad. arr Andrew Plant
The Winter Star – Malcolm Williamson
Saint Nicolas – Benjamin Britten
Jubilee Opera has performed a number of times at the Aldeburgh Festival and at the Young Norfolk Arts Festival, and has broadcast live on Radio 3. In 2013 five of the company’s trebles took part in Mahogany Opera’s tour of Britten’s Three Church Parables to St. Petersburg, Southwark Cathedral and Buxton Festival.
Artists who have performed with Jubilee Opera include:
Conductors:
Steuart Bedford and Nicholas Collon
Singers:
Alan Oke, Andrew Staples, Andrew Slater and Nuala Willis
Instrumentalists:
Kenneth Sillito and Gary Kettel; Aurora Orchestra and Southbank Sinfonia; directors Basil Coleman, Frederic Wake-Walker
Directors:
Basil Coleman, Frederic Wake-Walker, Denni Sayers and a host of others…
It all began with Noye's Fludde...
A 1987 performance, directed by Basil Coleman was the catalyst for the founding of Jubilee Opera.
And a later performance in Orford Church in 2008.
Sets & Costumes...
Productions are created by professional design teams, here Noye’s Fludde by Robin Don.
Battles make good Theatre...
The Siege of Gloucester in ‘All the King’s Men’
The Battle of Waterloo in ‘The Drummer Boy of Waterloo’ (first image)
The Battle of Trafalgar in ‘Hip Hip Horatio’ (second image)
Churches provide magical Venues for Performance...
Orford Church ‘Noye’s Fludde’
Aldeburgh Church ‘Saint Nicolas Cantata’
Southwold Church ‘The Winter Star’
Famous Writers have made it to the Stage...
Oscar Wilde ‘The Happy Prince’
Roald Dahl ‘James and the Giant Peach’
Lewis Carol ‘Alice’
Robert Browning ‘The Pied Piper of Hamelin’
The Brothers Grimm ‘Cinderella’
Beatrix Potter ‘The Tailor of Gloucester’
Collaborations... 
Rehearsing Britten’s Curlew River with Mahogany Opera Group in St Petersburg.
Our joint production of Krása’s Brundibár also with Mahogany Opera Group in the Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall.
Britten Centenary...
Benjamin Britten’s vision for children runs through all Jubilee Opera’s work, no more so than in 2013 with ‘A Time There Was’, a live broadcast of ‘Saint Nicolas’ and a Centenary Birthday Party in the Jubilee Hall.
Not the End...
“Great fun creating and developing character”
- Jubilee Opera member
“Hard work yet inspiring. You can’t succeed if you don’t put the effort in, always a joy to perform and great fun!”
- Jubilee Opera member
“We always try to see Jubilee Opera – imaginative, interesting and fun”
- Jubilee Opera Audience member
