LYNARTWORK

Ryedale Festival Community Opera

I have worked with the Ryedale Festival Community Opera since 1999. My role as a core team member and designer and arts co-ordinator means working closely with director Em Whitfield Brooks and musical director Tim Brooks on planning and preparation for all Community Opera events.

Opera in a Week is performed in July after one week’s rehearsing and making and it is the opening event of the Ryedale Festival. We have often had well over a hundred people participating in the performance, stage management, lighting, props and costume.

Through its outreach arts’ programme the Community Opera has built up links with diverse groups in Ryedale, enabling people to contribute to the Opera by designing and making artefacts. My job is to oversee these links and to make sure that all the contributors’ works are included and integral to the performances.

During the Opera in a Week enthusiastic volunteers also contribute to making costume accessories, props and set design.

Opera in a Day intensifies this experience and is a valuable platform for experimentation in all aspects – in 2009 Op in a Day was an exciting mixture of Hip Hop, Rap, Blues, medieval verse and a washing line with pans. Giant hats and flamboyant masks were made by artists at the Cauwood Day Centre, Malton and worn by performers and as part of the backdrop a banner was made by Ampleforth, Slingsby and Hutton le Hole Youth Club members with artist Andy Barton - also funded by CYC (Communicating Youth Culture).

Out of all this - Opera in a Week also evolves. Artist Lee Threadgold often runs workshops during the week in July to make large processional pieces for the opera and in 2009 – the Ryedale Community Opera’s 10th anniversary - the adaptation of the medieval play ‘Everyman’ by Em Whitfield Brooks with music by Tim Brooks was performed at St.Peter's Church, Norton to great reviews.

website: The Ryedale Festival