Henny Penny: A Children’s Opera is a world-first live staging of new opera and song created for and with children, presented at the Playhouse as part of the Sheffield Chamber Music Festival.
The centrepiece is Henny Penny, a charming operatic retelling of the well-known folk tale in which a young chicken believes the sky is falling after an acorn lands on its head. The story is playful, imaginative, and perfectly pitched for younger audiences encountering opera for the first time.
Who created and performs the opera?
The opera is written by Julian Phillips, the acclaimed composer and Glyndebourne Opera’s first-ever Composer-in-Residence.
The performance features:
Claire Booth
Ensemble 360
A choir made up of children from Sheffield primary schools, performing alongside professional musicians
This collaborative approach places young voices at the heart of the production.
What else is included in the programme?
Alongside Henny Penny (20 minutes), the concert also includes an assorted song cycle (around 30 minutes), featuring original songs created by children as part of a Music in the Round composition project in Sheffield schools.
These songs receive their public premieres at this performance, making the event a genuine celebration of creativity by Sheffield’s youngest musicians.
Why is this event special?
This concert offers children and families a rare chance to experience opera in a way that is:
Accessible
Engaging
Made with young people, not just for them
Audience feedback from a previous children’s opera project described the experience as “really amazing, innovative and inspiring”, highlighting the emotional impact of seeing professionals and children perform together.
Who is this event for?
This event is ideal for:
Families with young children
Primary-school-age audiences
First-time opera-goers
Anyone looking for family-friendly things to do in Sheffield
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