Young artists create their own opera

Children aged 6-12, guided by a professional opera singer, composed and staged the performance from the ground up from Monday to Thursday (Aug 8).

Mark Bradbury, 41, of Horsham, director and workshop leader at Little Notes, said: “It couldn’t have gone any better.

“When we gathered together on Monday morning everybody was in the dark about the amazing work these young people would create.

“You could see the excitement in the children’s faces as they realised they really were building this from the ground up for themselves.”

He added: “As director of the project it made my day when the children sang out their ‘hungry song’ for the first time.

“It was spine-tinglingly beautiful.”

Sam Barber, 9, of Horsham, who played the lead role of ‘The Fox’, said ahead of the show on Thursday: “I’ve really enjoyed and really quite looking forward to it and am quite nervous as well.

“We’ve got some good props and I’m looking forward to my solo.”

Imogen Rimer, 9, of Horsham, who played ‘The Badger’, said: “I’ve really enjoyed this and want to do it again next year.

“It doesn’t ever get boring to me, it’s really really fun.”

The four-day project started from a collection of Benjamin Britten songs Mark and his composer, Chris Hussey, brought in for Britten Centenary, a celebration of 100 years since the famous opera composer’s birth.

For more information about Little Notes and other programmes they will be running in Horsham visit their website or call 01403 336454.