The Opera Makers

04/05/2026

📣CASTING CALL: MURDER GAMES

This summer we are bringing a double bill of murder mystery operas to Grimeborn Opera Festival: Cupboard Love by Madeleine Dring and Three Sisters Who Are Not Sisters by Ned Rorem & Gertrude Stein.

We are looking for versatile and expressive singer-actors who excel at physical comedy. We would love to hear from performers with clowning experience and the confidence to lean into the farcical nature of these works.

We actively encourage applications from artists of all backgrounds, especially those historically overlooked in the opera industry.

To apply, please read the audition guidelines (available at the link in comments below) and fill in the application form linked therein.

You will need to provide:

✔️A recent headshot (or recent clear photo)

✔️A recent video recording of an aria or song (preferably 20th-century or contemporary repertoire in English).

✔️A short outline of why you are interested in the project and why you are a good fit.

We will not overlook applicants for not providing professional-grade video recordings - a video recorded on your phone is perfectly acceptable.

In a bid to help eradicate conscious and unconscious bias in the opera industry we do not accept CVs.

📅Rehearsals: July 2026 Performances: 29 July – 1 August 2026

🎭Auditions: Sunday 24th May 2026 - Venue TBC

🔗Link to apply in comments

❓If you have any questions please feel free to contact us!

06/03/2026

is taking on the beast of a role that is Mirko. You don't want to miss this!

05/03/2026

Our artistic director sings the 'good girl' Héléna

03/03/2026

with all the saucy goss!

01/03/2026

You should listen to Yamina, she's very persuasive (especially with handsome tenors)!

La Montagne Noire is just a week away and we couldn't be any more excited!

23/02/2026

Thank you Planet Hugill for the excellent preview!

One of the few operas by a woman produced at the Paris Opera in the 19th century. Augusta Holmès' La Montagne noire finally gets its UK premiere

20/02/2026

Augusta Holmès was so ahead of her times, in more ways than one. Not only did she break barriers and write epic, grand music at a time that it was considered unseemly for a woman (much like Ethel Smyth did), but she also defied societal expectations and led her life in her own terms, denying passing control of her assets to a man.

What a legend.

14/02/2026

Which Valentine do you relate to?

1. 'Meet-cute'
& - La Bohéme

2. 'It's complicated'yw & - La Bohéme

3. 'We're MEANT to be together!'
& - Mr Punch at the Opera (La serva padrona)

4. When you know it's over but you're still tryingsoprano & - Turandot

5. Love against all odds
& - Hopes and Fears (La damoiselle élue)

6. Familial love
& - Hopes and Fears (L' enfant prodigue)

With huge thanks to the for their long-standing friendship, trust and support, and - our photographer extraordinaire!

❤️

29/01/2026

Thank you Opera Magazine with Opera News for shedding a light on the awesome Augusta Holmès!

The French-Irish composer Augusta Holmès died in 1903. In 1895 her opera La Montagne Noire became the first work by a female composer to be staged at the .

26/01/2026

La Montagne Noire is on the papers!

With huge thanks to Dr Daniel Emlyn-Jones for the shout 🩷