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Do you love singing, music making or arts & crafts? Britten Pears Arts and Mahogany Opera are looking for people of all ages to be involved in A Christmas Miracle. We are building a community opera inspired by composer Benjamin Britten, and we’d love you to be involved. We’re looking for people of all ages, no experience required – just enthusiasm!

This new community opera is a compelling re-telling of the Christmas story for the 21^st century. The work builds on the fundamental principles established by Britten in Noye’s Fludde, and responds to today’s approaches to co-creation, accessibility and sustainability.

When & Where

Friday 8th May 5pm - 8pm Orford Town Hall

Saturday 9th May 10am - 1pm Kiln Studio Snape

What to expect

We will be introducing A Christmas Miracle, leading singing workshops and holding informal auditions for some roles on both days.

Friday 8th May

5pm Orford Town Hall: An invitation for 9-13 year olds keen on singing and performing to come along for an informal workshop.

6.15pm Orford Town Hall: Calling all members of the community - adults, children and young people to come and see a short sharing and find out more about the production, and how you can get involved onstage, backstage, making costumes and more.

Saturday 9th May

10am - 1pm Kiln Studio Snape: An invitation for singers 13+ & adults interested in performing

What exactly IS A Christmas Miracle?

A Christmas Miracle is inspired by composer Benjamin Britten’s early sketches to write five short operas based on the Christmas story. He planned the libretto, taking the text from The Chester Miracle plays, but the operas never came to fruition.

Until NOW.

Errollyn Wallen OBE, Master of the King’s Music, has taken Britten as inspiration for A Christmas Miracle. Like his Noye’s Fludde – a visionary community opera – this production will bring together a magical mix of professional & community singers, instrumentalists, creatives and technicians.

Accompanied by an orchestra of strings, pianos & percussion all the well-known Christmas characters from shepherds, magi, midwives and of course Mary & Joseph are here. It’s a dramatic story of peril & hope in a musical drama that transcends time and generations.

How can I get involved?

There are specific singing roles for all ages that we are casting from the community including Mary, Joseph, magis, shepherds, midwives, knights & animals. In addition, if you play an instrument we would love to hear from you. There are also lots of behind the scenes roles; helping make costumes, scenery & props as well as working on lighting, sound & stage management. Makers of all sorts - weavers, armours, mask makers, basket makers, felters or any other skills you can bring - can be involved in the months leading up to the performance.

What’s the time commitment for taking part?

For performers: Weekly rehearsals from September 2026, either slotting into the current weekly rehearsals of local groups you can join or ad hoc to accommodate availability.

13-21 November 2026 - Most late afternoons/evenings for production rehearsals and performances on 20 – 21 November

There will be lots of ways to get involved helping make costumes & props in the weeks running up to performances.

Performances 20th & 21st November.

Interested in finding out more?
To join us for one of these Introductory Sessions, click the button below to sign up!