Snappy Operas [https://mahoganyopera.co.uk/snappy-operas] is an award-winning schools programme, making and performing new mini-operas with primary-aged children. A Snappy Opera is a ten-minute opera for young people aged 7-11. It introduces all the essential elements of opera singing, acting and making in fun, colourful and bite-size chunks. Mahogany Opera has commissioned 15 Snappy Operas, written by some of the UKs most exciting composers and writers in collaboration with children around the UK.

During this term, children from across West Cumbria have worked with a team of dedicated Snappy Operas delivery artists stage director, music director, repetiteur & stage manager and their class teachers to bring the stories of their own Snappy Operas to life: learning words, music, and staging while also creating props and costumes.

In this performance, children from St Begh's Catholic Junior School, Montreal Primary School, Beckstone Primary School and families from Rosehill Theatre's TENT club are thrilled to share what they have created with you, including The Neverbeast - a brand-new Snappy Opera created by composer Bethany Tennick and librettist Iona Ramsey with children from Kildrum Primary School in Scotland.

Programme:

Snappy Opera
Composer
Librettist
Performed By

Counting Sheep

Jamie Man

Stephen Plaice
Rosehill Theatre's TENT Club

Fox Pop

Kerry Andrew

Kerry Andrew

Montreal Primary School

The Neverbeast

Bethany Tennick

Iona Ramsey

St Begh's Catholic Junior School

The Lighthouse Wave

Errollyn Wallen

Errollyn Wallen

Beckstone Primary School

Peck!

Stephen Deazley

Matthew Harvey

Beckstone Primary School

This performance is one of many in the Snappy Operas Festival 2026, which will see around 1,000 children from both mainstream and SEND specialist schools in Hull, North East Lincolnshire, Cumbria, Durham & North Tyneside discover and embrace the joy of opera. The Snappy Operas Festival 2026 has been made possible through fantastic partnerships with Hull Music Service, North East Lincolnshire Music Hub, Rosehill Theatre, Durham Music Service, David Ross Education Trust & North Tyneside Music Education Hub.

We hope you enjoy the show!#MakeitSnappy