Flooded

A night of theatre, opera and song like no other in the stunning setting of St Edmundsbury Cathedral

Next Event
15th November - All day
Following 1 Event

16/11/24 00:00

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16/11/24 00:00

About this event

Flooded is a night of theatre, opera and song combining The Fools’ Flood by Neil Clayton (a new play about an historic flood in Bury St Edmunds), and Benjamin Britten’s family opera, Noye’s Fludde.

The Fools’ Flood, written by Neil Clayton, tells the real story of 13th Century Bury St Edmunds, when monks at the Abbey decided to dam the Tayfen Brook which flooded the marshes to the northeast of the town. Enraged by this, town citizens try to violently tear down the dam with some rather nasty consequences.

Noye's Fludde is an operatic classic, written by Benjamin Britten and first performed in St Bartholomew's Church, Orford in 1958, during the Aldeburgh Festival. Written especially for a mixed company of professional and community players, the piece tells the famous story of Noah's Ark and the Great Flood sent by God to sweep the Earth.

The project brings together St Edmundsbury Cathedral, 15 local schools, Britten Pears Arts, Suffolk Music Service and multiple community groups.

The production is the largest arts project undertaken by the Cathedral in recent times and will involve over 200 locals and professional creatives.

As well as being full of beautiful music and fast paced action, Flooded! will allow us to reflect on our world today with the climate emergency and migration so often making headlines. With a set made almost entirely from recycled materials and with many costumes decorated by the children themselves, the production is a space for the community to come together, listen to, and create a wonderful evening of theatre and music together.

Flooded will be conducted by incoming cathedral Director of Music, Claudia Grinnell, directed by Anna Pool and designed by Stewart Charlesworth.

There will be three performances available, one on Friday 15 November at 6.00 pm and two on Saturday 16 November at 1.00 pm and 6.00 pm.

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