If you are searching for the perfect summertime treat for your family, look no further. Pack a picnic, grab your trainers and prepare for a magical evening of world-class opera unlike anything you’ve seen before… Look out for the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter and that extremely unpunctual White Rabbit, and don’t worry, cushions are provided!

This week I chatted with Sarah Crabtree, Associate Producer for the renowned Opera Holland Park, about the long-anticipated return of its operatic production Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, an open air promenade opera set in the enchanting gardens of Yucca Lawn in London’s Holland Park. After the sell-out success of the same performance last year, the company has decided to bring it back in all its glory. “The demand for tickets last summer was huge,” Crabtree explains. “We could have sold it out several times over which was lovely, but once we’d had some great reviews too it became clear that there’s an appetite for accessible family opera out there so we’ve brought Alice back, with even more performances!”

Opera Holland Park, established in 1996, stages an annual season of opera every summer in Holland Park, aiming to produce a balanced programme offering something for seasoned opera goers and newcomers alike, in an unpretentious and accessible fashion. Whilst adopting a successful combination of well-known classic tales and traditional librettos, it has been praised for its ambitious and diverse production policy. “We produce five or six operas per year which take place on our stage in front of Holland House. Whilst we think our theatre is pretty intimate, the Yucca Lawn takes that to a new level,” explains Crabtree. “Back in 2010 we produced our first family opera Fantastic Mr Fox, and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland grew from the success of that.”

Composer Will Todd has worked alongside resident orchestra the City of London Sinfonia and Director Martin Duncan to produce an hour of fun, music and magic for all, winding through the enchanting haven of Yucca Lawn… “Each child has their own favourite character and it’s not always Alice! Our scary Queen of Hearts often wins the boys over… For me, the best thing is hearing choruses of ‘Off With Their Heads’ from children, it’s wonderful and a testament to the music and storytelling.” All in all, expect picturesque surroundings, colourful costumes and vivid portrayals of the much-loved characters from both Lewis Carroll tales, the perfect opportunity for your family to enjoy the wonderful possibilities of opera.

Having not personally experienced opera until my twenties, I can relate to the question of whether it can appeal to younger generations, but how does Opera Holland Park challenge this? With classic Italian libretti and unintelligible verse to the untrained ear, the company had its work cut out when creating this production. “For a start, we’ve broken down the barriers inherent in a traditional theatre setting,” says Crabtree. “Adults and children sit on cushions, right up close at the feet of the performers and eleven musicians; they can run around as well, following the action from scene to scene, and the Yucca Lawn is a secure environment for children to explore.” So now you know the experience of meandering through Holland Park will be a magnificent one, but what about the actual content? “The music is lyrical and catchy, heavily influenced by jazz and blues. Will Todd employs a range of musical styles to capture a variety of tastes and the libretto suits the Mums and Dads on an entirely different level to their younger companions”.
A further potential hindrance is the common but inaccurate presumption that opera is an elitist pastime. With this enchanting alfresco setting, the childhood-reminiscent storyline, and vibrant costumes and set, this is hardly the stiff, formal and incomprehensible opera that seems so highbrow, right? I questioned Crabtree about this, and how Opera Holland Park addresses the problem: “By encouraging people to come and experience it for themselves! So often we hear that people don’t like opera but they’ve never had the opportunity to experience it live, but more often than not, once they’ve made it as far as the Yucca Lawn, they then experience the powerful effect the music and emotions of an opera can have and often come back for more.”

Something particularly interesting that Crabtree had to say was that these preconceptions belong solely to adults. “Children have a wonderful ability to accept what they are seeing at face value, they love the music and characters. To them, the fact that it is labelled an ‘opera’ is irrelevant.” What also needs to be mentioned is how reasonable their ticket pricing is, “tickets for Alice are £3.50 for children and £8.50 for adults, and with our free ticket scheme running alongside it, young people and families can afford to take a chance without breaking the bank.” So what are you waiting for? Gather your family and friends, and experience unconventional but absolutely enchanting opera. Don’t be late!

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland performance dates are July 19th, 21st, 25th, 26th, 29th, 30th and August 1st and 2nd, all at 3pm. For more information, visit Alice’s website.