Norwich Theatre Royal and the Buxton International Festival

Right now, the charming spa town of Buxton is alive with music, conversation, and celebration.

The Buxton International Festival is in full swing: an annual highlight in the UK’s cultural calendar that transforms the heart of the Peak District into a hub of world-class opera, music, and literature.

It’s a place where audiences gather not just to be entertained, but to be moved, challenged, and inspired.

When driving from Norfolk, it can feel like one is travelling to Brigadoon rather than Buxton, but each summer Buxton’s hotels, B&Bs, and restaurants see a surge in bookings, with many visitors returning year after year.

Cultural tourism, driven by opera and exciting original work, brings millions to the region.

At Norwich Theatre, we’re proud to be part of that spirit.

We have an ongoing, values-driven and creative partnership with Buxton International Festival, built on a simple but ambitious shared mission: to provide world-class opera at an affordable price and available in the regions.

Opera has always thrived here in Norfolk.

Our survey, ‘Opera Voices’, published in November 2023, showed that audiences crave opera and that they want to see it nearby.

When Glyndebourne ceased its touring a few years ago, I was adamant that we do not let audiences and communities lose out on the range of production scale, diversity of creative vision, and breadth of repertoire they value.

We were also acutely aware of the financial benefit Glyndebourne had each autumn on the wider economy.

The survey also, however, highlighted a more disconcerting finding: that 39% of participants surveyed felt that opera was not for them – citing price, lack of ability to understand the storyline, and feeling out of place at the performances.

Our partnership with Buxton International Festival is intended to address those perceived barriers to feeling welcome and enjoying opera.

It began with The Land of Might-Have-Been, a co-production inspired by Vera Brittain and the music of Ivor Novello, which earned standing ovations and critical acclaim.

We followed it last year with Peter Brook’s adaptation of Bizet’s La tragédie de Carmen, a brutal, gritty tale of self-destruction set to some of opera’s most famous music.

And now, we’re proud to co-produce a powerful double bill: Leonard Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti and Francis Poulenc’s La voix humaine.

Two short operas, which explore the timeless themes of love, loneliness, and the human need for connection.

Trouble in Tahiti is a rarely performed gem by Bernstein, a jazz-infused critique of the American dream.

It’s witty, poignant, and surprisingly modern in its portrayal of a couple whose picture-perfect life masks deep emotional disconnect.

In contrast, La voix humaine is a hauntingly intimate one-woman opera that captures the raw vulnerability of a final phone call with a lost lover.

While many will know the Poulenc, the much less performed Bernstein might be a new discovery.

Together, they offer an evening of opera that is intimate, emotionally rich, and utterly unforgettable.

For opera lovers, this is a rare opportunity to experience two contrasting masterpieces in one evening.

For those new to the genre, it’s a perfect introduction: accessible, relatable, and deeply human.

With more than 30 orchestral players from the Buxton International Festival Orchestra in the pit and surtitles in English, it’s opera at its most immersive and immediate.

As Buxton buzzes with festival energy this week, we’re excited to bring a taste of that magic to Norwich in September.

Opera also plays a vital role in cultural tourism here too.

We are the biggest venue for opera in the area, and our audiences make plans around the performance: staying overnight, dining locally, and exploring the city’s rich heritage.

By hosting high-quality opera, we elevate Norwich’s cultural reputation and contribute significantly to the city’s economy.

Whether you’re a seasoned opera-goer or simply curious, I invite you to join us and experience the power of storytelling through music.

Trouble in Tahiti and La voix humaine will be performed at Norwich Theatre Royal from September 2–3.

You are very welcome.