About Us
About Aquarian Opera
Aquarian Opera started in September 1998 as a platform for opera singers in the Edenbridge, Westerham and Oxted border country between Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Over time, Aquarian Opera turned into a charity to nurture, develop and instruct amateur performers and provide a launch platform for young professionals to play leading roles and progress onto greater stages. The joy of this process is that the chorus gets to perform alongside some extraordinary young professionals. The mix of enthusiastic, talented amateurs with amazing emerging professionals, under expert direction in beautiful theatres makes for glorious music.
The first performance in 1998 was Puccini's Suor Angelica in Westerham Village Hall. After 24 further productions mainly on the Kent-Surrey border, especially at the Barn Theatre Oxted, the company went into retirement in 2010.
The New Aquarian Opera Company was relaunched with a new creative team in 2019 just before Covid lockdown.
Aquarian Opera debuted Susan Ellerby's - Gilbert and Sulivan's Improbable New Musical - Less Miserable at the Barn Theatre Oxted in November 2021
The second production was Lehár's operetta, The Merry Widow in October 2022.
To celebrate King Charles ascent to the throne, we had a series of Coronation Concerts For A New King in Kenley, Lingfield and Limpsfield in May 2023
The third production was Mozart's four act comic masterpiece grand opera, The Marriage Of Figaro, fully staged with a chamber ensemble with English translation by Amanda Holden in November 2022 at the Barn Theatre Oxted.
Our The Marriage Of Figaro production was wonderfully supported by generous grant from The Humphrey Richardson Taylor Charitable Trust - see www.hrtaylortrust.org.uk
The fourth post-relaunch production was a Night at the Opera with Puccini's one act comic masterpiece, Gianni Schicchi, semi-staged, using Amanda Holden's English translation with a Chamber Orchestra at the Cecil Hepworth Playhouse, Walton-On-Thames on Friday 7th June 2024
The following evening, 8th June 2024, Aquarian Opera performed a Gala Evening for the Barn Theatre Oxted's Centenary Festival, again performing Puccini's Gianni Schicchi with a second half of Last Night Of The Proms favourites.
As 2024 marks the centenary of Puccini's death, the fifth production will be his most popular grand opera, the four act tragedy La Bohème, fully staged using Amanda Holden's English translation with a chamber orchestra at the Barn Theatre Oxted on 21st to 23rd November 2024 and the 27th November 2024 at the Cecil Hepworth Playhouse, Walton-On-Thames . Directed by Melanie Vinall and Musical Director Guy Middlemiss.
Aquarian Opera frequently performs concerts and recitals for private parties and events.
Team
Chairman of the Trustees
Andrew Claringbull
Oxted resident Andrew, was a driving force to relaunch The New Aquarian Opera Company after a break in the company’s productions of 11 years. Andrew has enjoyed performing in numerous musicals, pantomimes and plays at The Barn Theatre over the past 15 years . Previously performing with Aquarian in Carmen, Die Fledermaus, he played Arthur Sullivan in Less Miserable (2021), Petko Prichich in The Merry Widow (2022), sang in the series of Coronation Concerts in May - June 2023, Marriage of Figaro (Nov 2023) and Maestro Spinelloccio and Guccio in Gianni Schicchi (2024). As Chairman, Andrew looks after the membership and performers well-being.
Artistic Director and Trustee
Melanie Vinall
Oxted resident Melanie, began her musical training whilst at school, where she was chosen to take a lead role in a festival musical at The National Theatre. She later trained and performed as an operatic soprano. Her operatic stage experience includes Violetta (La Traviata), Micaela (Carmen), the Dew Fairy (Hansel and Gretel), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni) (Contessa) The Marriage of Figaro and Cio-Cio-San (Madame Butterfly).
Melanie has performed in Italy and the USA and regularly sang in Germany. Closer to home, Melanie has sung with LCO, Leitmotif Opera, Opera Piccola and Abbey Opera. She appeared in cabaret, was the guest soloist with the Croydon Male Voice Choir and has given recitals encompassing Opera, Lieder, French, Russian Song and Musical Theatre.
Melanie has provided the singing and speaking voices for radio and tv commercials and was the voice of the Opera Singer in Vodafone’s “It ain’t over ‘til the fat lady sings” campaign.
As a director, she and has worked with several companies including Guildford Opera Company, where she directed Offenbach’s operetta La Belle Helene, and Westerham Amateur Dramatics, where she directed their Panto Beauty and the Beast. She’s directed three shows at The Barn Theatre for Oxted Musical Theatre Company, The Pirates of Penzance, The Wizard of Oz and for the junior company, Curtain Up! Melanie directed Molesey Musical Theatre's April 2023 production of Me And My Girl. As Artistic Director and Trustee of The New Aquarian Opera Company, Melanie has produced and directed Gilbert & Sullivan's Improbable New Musical - Less Miserable in 2021, The Merry Widow in October 2022, a series of three Coronation Concerts in May 2023, Mozart's The Marriage Of Figaro in November 2023 and Gala concerts combined with Puccini's Gianni Schicchi in June 2024. Melanie is currently producing and directing La Bohème in November, both in Walton-On-Thames and Oxted.
Musical Director
Guy Middlemiss
Guy has been involved in musical theatre scene for the last 30 years. Gilbert and Sullivan was one of his first engagements, with the Imperial College
Operatic Society (London). He has subsequently been repetiteur, orchestral keyboard player and musical director for a number of companies in the London area, including SEDOS, BROS Theatre Company, Questors Theatre, Wallington Operatic & Dramatic Society, Younger
Generation Theatre Group, Oxted Musical Theatre Company (with Melanie Vinall for the 2014 The Pirates of Penzance show), Hashtag Opera, Harrow Opera, Brent Opera, Creative Minds Academy, Camberley Musical Society and Lost for Words Theatre Company. Guy was Musical Director for New Aquarian Opera's productions of Less Miserable, The Merry Widow, a series of three Coronation Concerts in May 2023, Mozart's Marriage Of Figaro in November 2023 and two Gala concerts combined with Puccini's Gianni Schicchi in June 2024. Guy also is MD for the events and parties Aquarian Opera perform privately and is currently rehearsing and directing the music for La Bohème in November, both in Walton-On-Thames and Oxted.
Treasurer and Trustee
James Vinall
Oxted resident James, is the non-performing/behind-the-scenes element of Aquarian Opera. James got involved back stage and Front of House at the Barn Theatre in 2013 and is now a Barn Trustee Director/Front Of House Manager. James looks after the practical aspects of set building, props and making it all happen to the wishes and design of the creative team. As Treasurer, James also looks after the finances, fund raising, sponsorship, patrons, advertising, publicity and digital media, just don't ask him sing, dance or act.