Grimeborn


Grimeborn is an annual East London musical theatre and opera festival which coincides with the world famous East Sussex Glyndebourne Opera Festival. Founded by Arcola Theatre’s artistic director Mehmet Ergen in 2007, the festival is held at Arcola Theatre in Dalston, East London. It takes place in and around August, and tends to showcase new and experimental works alongside radical productions of classic opera, using both the Arcola's performing stages.

History

The festival's name is a punning reference to Glyndebourne. The "grime" element refers to the "dirtier" backdrop of the Arcola Theatre, a converted textile factory in the congested bustle of Hackney as opposed to the scenic gardens of East Sussex.
Originally, Grimeborn was devised as a contemporary contribution to the Battersea Arts Centre's Opera Festival. The BAC Opera Festival's Artistic Director at the time, Tom Morris, asked Ergen, who was working at the BAC as an Associate Producer, to create something different from normal operatic preconceptions in a manner similar to Tête à Tête, who were also taking the stage at the BAC Opera Festival that year. Grimeborn became an opera and musical theatre festival in its own right, with the Arcola Theatre its exclusive host.

Past performances

2019

2018

List not complete: awaiting further additions
OperaComposerProduction CompanyConductor or Music DirectorDirectorDesigner
Greek Mark-Anthony TurnageArcola TheatreTim AndersonJonathan MooreBaśka Wesołowska
Lucia di LammermoorGaetano DonizettiFulham OperaBen WoodwardSarah HutchinsonAnna Yates
The Prometheus RevolutionKeith BursteinFulham OperaBen WoodwardSophie GilpinSunny Smith
The Boatswain's MateEthel SmythSpectra EnsembleJohn WarnerCecilia StintonChristianna Mason

2017

List not complete: awaiting further additions
OperaComposerProduction CompanyConductor or Music DirectorDirectorDesigner
ArmideJean-Baptiste LullyEnsemble OrQuestaMarcio da SilvaMarcio da Silva
Porgy and BessGeorge Gershwin
Samson and DelilahCamille Saint-SaënsArcola TheatreKelvin LimAylin BozokAylin Bozok
The Diary of One Who DisappearedLeos JanáčekShadwell OperaMatthew FletcherJack FurnessJack Furness

2015

List not complete: awaiting further additions
OperaComposerProduction CompanyConductor or Music DirectorDirectorDesigner
The Medium /The Wanton SublimePeter Maxwell Davies /Tarik O'ReganOpera Room ProductionsAndrew GriffithsRobert ShawGillian Argo
DaphneRichard StraussOpera at HomeJosé Manuel GandiaJosé Manuel Gandia
GalaErgo PhizmizErgo PhizmizLuis Carvajal

2014

List not complete: awaiting further additions
OperaComposerProduction CompanyConductor or Music DirectorDirectorDesigner
The Medium Gian Carlo MenottiOperaViewMaite AguirreNatalie KatsouMaria Kalamara
Madame XTim BenjaminRadiusAnthony BrannickLara Booth
WertherJules MassenetPhilip VoldmanAylin Bozok

2012

Curated by Mehmet Ergen and produced by Leyla Nazli
OperaComposerProduction CompanyConductor or Music DirectorDirectorDesigner
Il tabarro Giacomo PucciniPhilip VoldmanAylin Bozok
The Sound of a VoicePhilip GlassVolta TheatreTom KellyAndrea Ferran
Hansel and GretelEngelbert HumperdinckOpera at HomeJose Gandia
Bastien und BastienneWolfgang Amadeus MozartDavid EatonNina Brazier
Susanna's SecretErmanno Wolf-FerrariDavid EatonNina Brazier
Handel FuriosoGeorge Frideric HandelMax Hoehn
The Emperor of AtlantisViktor UllmannJulian BlackMax Hoehn
La voix humaineFrancis PoulencMotion ProductionsJean-Yves CornetIlan Reichel
TonseishaKim B. AstonSaltpeterGary Merry
UnleashedPhilip VenablesFourfortytwo and The Blackburn CompanyNick Blackburn
The Marriage of FigaroWolfgang Amadeus MozartHeritage OperaSarah Helsby Hughes
RigolettoGiuseppe VerdiHeritage OperaSarah Helsby Hughes
Thirteen Days - The MusicalAlexander S. Bermange, arr. Paul BatemanMatthew Gould

2011

2010

Curated by Andrew Steggall and produced by Leyla Nazli
OperaComposerProduction CompanyConductor or Music DirectorDirectorDesigner
The Rape of LucretiaBenjamin BrittenThomas BluntMax KeySarah Bacon
Spilt MilkTimothy Burke
Trouble in TahitiLeonard BernsteinTimothy BurkeNina BrazierPolly Webb-Wilson
The Prodigal Son /The HomecomingBenjamin Britten /Felix MendelssohnElizabeth BurgessJoe AustinSimon Kenny
ViceJools Scott
The RavenMatt RogersSinead O'NeillSarah Bacon
CrowMichael RoustonMark McInnes
Poison GardenLouis d'Heudieres Waistcoat CompanyLouis d'HeudieresDaisy EvansDaisy Evans
The Diaries of Adam and EveDavid Josiah MooreBen Gwalchmai
How I WonderDominique Le GendreIrene Brown
The Stone HeartAlexander Campkin
Cocteau in the UnderworldEd Hughes Heather Doole for Metta TheatreCarlos Del CuetoPoppy Burton-MorganWilliam Reynolds
Les Enfants TerriblesPhilip GlassAndrea FerranSarah Bacon

2009

Curated by Alex Sutton and produced by Leyla Nazli
Curated by Daniele Guerra and produced by Michael Harris and Leyla Nazli
Curated by Andrew Steggall and produced by Michael Harris and Leyla Nazli