Glyndebourne promises two fun-filled Family Open Days

Spokeswoman Eleanor Crawforth said: “Coinciding with the last weekend of the school summer holidays, they will offer people of all ages the chance to discover a taste of the creativity within this world-famous opera house and take part in a variety of hands-on activities.

“Inspired by the work of Glyndebourne Festival 2023 visual artist, Turner Prize-winning Lubaina Himid, the weekend is aimed at inspiring the curiosity and creativity of younger audiences. Activities and creative workshops will explore the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of opera and are suitable for all the family to enjoy.

“Children are invited to play, collaborate and perform in an immersive outdoor theatre experience led by innovative art collective Leap then Look, set against the spectacular backdrop of the South Downs.

“There will also be the opportunity to experiment with different sounds and rhythms in a sound garden created by Junk Orchestra, an organisation which re-invents recycled objects as musical instruments. Other activities include the chance to dress up in stage costumes, design a block-printed stage curtain, paint an object for our chorus of recycled bottles and create an artwork inspired by music. Visitors can also join Glyndebourne’s gardening team to explore the variety of textures, scents, colours and sounds found in our special gardens.

“Glyndebourne’s art and archive exhibitions will be on display during the open days including Lubaina Himid’s What Does Love Sound Like? and Staged Nature, a group exhibition which includes a previously unseen iPad animation by David Hockney. Visitors will also be able to picnic in the gardens or enjoy a light lunch or afternoon tea in Glyndebourne’s Mildmay restaurant. The Family Open Days are part of Glyndebourne’s autumn season, which offers events from September to December, including exceptional opera and concerts at affordable prices, and talent development work to support emerging singers and musicians.”

Tickets are £5 per child/concession and £10 per adult and can be booked via the Glyndebourne website.

“Glyndebourne, situated on the edge of the South Downs National Park, is recognised internationally as one of the great opera houses; a reputation that stems from a passion for artistic excellence encapsulated in founder John Christie’s insistence on doing ‘not the best we can do but the best that can be done anywhere’. John and his opera singer wife, Audrey Mildmay, founded the Glyndebourne Festival in 1934. Today the Festival runs from May to August with a programme of six operas in a 1,200-seat opera house. Glyndebourne also produces family open days, art and archive exhibitions, member events, and an autumn season of opera and concerts that puts rising stars centre stage.

“Glyndebourne has been a pioneer in reaching new opera audiences, through touring, recordings, and streaming, as well as offering subsidised ticket prices for schools, families, Under-30s and Under-40s.

"An award-winning learning and engagement programme is active year-round, staging new work and delivering projects to enhance the understanding and enjoyment of opera among a diverse and broad audience.

“Since its founding, Glyndebourne has remained financially independent and, whilst receiving valued Arts Council support for learning and engagement work, the Festival receives no public subsidy.”