The Marriage of Figaro
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Thursday July 16th 2026
Award-winning opera company Wild Arts returns to Owlpen Manor for an evening of dazzling classic opera
Owlpen Manor is excited to announce to return of Wild Arts to our barn venue this summer.
The company
Directed by international opera star Danielle de Niese, with a phenomenal cast and 10-player orchestra, get ready for an evening full of sparkling tunes, tangled romances, and razor-sharp wit.
Orlando Jopling will conduct the company of stand-out talent this year, building on the success of pervious performances of The Magic Flute and The Elixir of Love here at Owlpen.
The performance will be sung in English.
Wild Arts is a charity dedicated to making music accessible, fresh, and enjoyable for everyone. They are passionate about innovating and reimagining opera to create vibrant, engaging productions that resonate with a wide audience.
The Story
On the morning of their wedding, Figaro and Susanna discover that their employer, the amorous Count Almaviva, has his sights set on the bride-to-be. What follows is one madcap day of disguises, misunderstandings, and ingenious plotting as servants outsmart masters and love triumphs against the odds. Bursting with glorious melodies — from the fizzing overture to the heart-stopping beauty of ‘Dove sono’ and the jubilant finale — The Marriage of Figaro is Mozart at his most brilliant. It’s an irresistible blend of comedy and chaos, set to music that’s simply impossible not to love.
The performance will take place in the Pole Barn, made using traditional roundwood timber framing techniques using larch from the Owlpen valley; a lovely, intimate space with perfect acoustics for live music.
There will be a long interval for picnics, which you can bring yourselves, or we can provide them for you. We’ll also be serving pizzas, pre-booked in advance.
Tickets will be strictly limited to 150, so do book early to secure your place.
There is a discount for groups of six guests.
Event Plan
You are welcome to arrive from 5pm to set up your picnic in the gardens, and bring food, drink, rugs, chairs, tables, friends, and candelabras.
The performance will start at 6pm, with a 90-minute picnic interval at approximately 7.15pm before Act II starts at 8.45pm.
Curtain down will be at approximately 10pm and you are welcome to stay after the show to enjoy a drink with the stars, under the stars.
If you would like to order a table in our marquee, or reserve drinks or pizzas for the interval, please contact the team on hello@owlpen.com.
CAST
Jack Sandison Figaro
Ellie Neate Susanna
Timothy Nelson Count Almaviva
Elinor Rolfe Johnson Countess Almaviva
Abbie Ward Cherubino
Olivia Ray Marcellina
Timothy Dawkins Bartolo / Antonio
William Searle Basilio / Don Curzio
Eleanor O’Driscoll Barbarina
Conductor Orlando Jopling
Director Danielle de Niese
Designer Laura Stanfield
Musical preparation Satoshi Kubo, Aleksandra Myslek,
David Eaton, Alice Farnham and Sergey Rubin
Associate director Emma Large
The Wild Arts Ensemble Leader Eleanor Corr
