Buxton International Festival
Since late 2022 I’ve been dipping my toes into the wonderful world of opera and all things classical. We produce main-scale and studio operas in Buxton for a July festival extravaganza. The scale of what we do is astounding, and if you haven’t been I encourage you to join us. Nominated for International Opera Award 2024. Nominated for UK Theatre Award 2024.
I’m really proud to be producing this epic programme:
Shorts: Four innovative new operas by award-winning artists
Part sector development, part talent development project, part audience development strategy – Shorts is a pilot project aiming to inject new life into the opera sector by commissioning artists used to making works in range of artforms. I’m working with the brilliant artists: Martin Green, Zodwa Nyoni and hothouse jazzer Thandanani Gumede, Jasper Dommet and Jessica Walker plus my old pal from Hull Josh Overton with Carmel Smickersgill. We will create four 20 minute ‘shorts’ to premiere July 2025.
Oldham Coliseum Theatre
I couldn’t be happier to be back in action supporting theatre makers HIPI-style in Oldham. Making new connections with artists in the wonderful and inspiring borough, developing connections and commissioning new work once again to develop place-based artistic networks. Watch this space for Oldham artists to launch further and make theatre tidal waves.
Manchester Jazz Festival
The work continues with the brilliant mjf, as we continue our mission to support new jazz work, from the north and change the scope of who’s making it. Soundcheck is an annual programme inviting musicians who haven’t necessarily improvised before, to try it out. It’s always an emotional rollercoaster for everyone involved, including me!
2025 will also see me producing an ambitious new jazz commission P E A C E, spearheaded by hothouse alumni Verity Watts. PRS Foundation’s New Music Biennial is a critically acclaimed free festival presenting 20 pieces of new music across two festival weekends, at Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture (6th – 8th June 2025) and London’s Southbank Centre (4th-6th July 2025), broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and available for download from NMC Recordings.
Khora Productions 