Glyndebourne Youth Opera Performance Projects
Enabling local young people to access world-class operatic experiences and performance opportunities.
Perform at Glyndebourne
Auditions are taking place to perform in Verdi’s comedy Falstaff this summer during Festival 2025. This opportunity is for children aged 9 years or over to play the non-singing roles of the ‘brownies’ and ‘Eton boys’.
Brownies: Aged 9 years or over, female or non-binary, under 5’2”
Eton Boys: Aged 9 years or over, male or non-binary, under 5’3”
We are looking for children who are strong actors with movement/dance skills, excellent focus and ability to take direction.
- Friday 28 March 2025
- 4.00pm – 5.00pm Eton Boys, 5.00pm – 6.00pm Brownies
- The audition will take place at Glyndebourne. Our address is Glyndebourne, New Road, Lewes, BN8 5UU
- Application extended deadline: Wednesday 26 March, 9am
- Audition: Friday 28 March
- Rehearsal period: June – July
- Performance dates: 13 July – 24 August, two shows per week. 5.00pm-9.00pm OR 4.00pm-8.00pm
- A full schedule of rehearsals and performances can be found here
- Aged 9 years or over on 2 June 2025
- Live within 25 miles of Glyndebourne
- Available for all of the rehearsal and performance dates
- Have taken part in a Glyndebourne Youth Opera workshop within the last 2 years
- Gained permission from school (see notes below)
There will be a six week production rehearsal period for the young performers with the cast and director. Once the young performers start to work with our director, they are very much part of the professional cast and are treated as such. Throughout the process they will be supervised and supported by a team of professional licenced chaperones at all times.
Production rehearsals take place during the daytime in the week, and young performers will need to miss school to attend these rehearsals, although schedules are carefully arranged to avoid too much disruption to school education. We will need a letter of permission from your child’s school headteacher in order to apply for a child performance licence, which is a legal requirement.
Young performers must be available for all shows – there is no option to miss a performance.
Being part of a Glyndebourne production is a big commitment but a really exciting opportunity!
Please note: Audition places are limited. We will aim to accommodate as many applicants as possible and will be in touch to confirm places by Thursday 27 March, following application reviews.
Glyndebourne Youth Opera (GYO) offers local young people the opportunity to perform on Glyndebourne’s world-famous stage in Festival productions, concerts, the Autumn Season and more.
Most recently, over 100 GYO performers and community chorus members came together to fill the stage for the premiere of Uprising. Previous productions that GYO participants have performed in include Carmen (2024), La bohème (2022) and The Cunning Little Vixen (2016), as well as joining the Glyndebourne chorus for the annual Glyndebourne Christmas Concerts.
“Extraordinary, amazing and a once in a life time experience” GYO La bohème performer
“ He has enjoyed it so much and made some brilliant friends…Not only has it coloured his childhood in the best possible way, but it has set him up with skills and a passion that will last him a lifetime.” Parent of GYO Carmen performer
“Rehearsing with the cast and the London Philharmonic Orchestra was the best experience of my life and the whole process is very welcoming and friendly.” GYO La bohème performer
Image credits: Richard Hubert Smith and Sarah Hickson
We strive to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. If there are ways we can support individuals to participate in the application and auditions process (e.g. sending schedules and timetables in advance), please get in touch with us at takepart@glyndebourne.com.
We promote equality, diversity and inclusion and actively encourage applications from those whose backgrounds are currently underrepresented in the world of opera.
If you would like to receive further details of GYO workshops and performance projects, you can join the GYO mailing list and receive updates throughout the year.
You can also get in contact with any questions by email to takepart@glyndebourne.com or by calling 01273 815 023.
Glyndebourne’s Learning & Engagement programme is made possible thanks to Arts Council England and generous donations through Glyndebourne’s New Generation Programme.
