About the project

One of the largest Glyndebourne education projects, Knight Crew was a large-scale community opera commissioned specifically for the main stage, involving every department at Glyndebourne. It was performed in March 2010 on the main stage at Glyndebourne.

Based on the book of the same name by Nicky Singer, Knight Crew is an urban story based on the King Arthur legend, brought to the stage by a collaboration including Glyndebourne’s first Composer-in-Residence, Julian Philips; librettist and award-winning author Nicky Singer; and director John Fulljames.

Under the umbrella title of the Round Table Project, this programme of participatory and work-related learning gave more young people than ever before the opportunity to take part in a Glyndebourne production. Glyndebourne initiated a programme of 20 skills workshops to provide support leading up to the auditions. The workshops reached more than 450 young people—largely from rural and urban schools and communities—with little previous experience of similar initiatives, who joined members of Glyndebourne Youth Opera at the final auditions. Additionally, the project supported the delivery of the new work-related qualification, the Creative and Media Diploma. This integrated education initiative explores creative and vocational learning and participation and is available to 14-18 year olds in Ringmer and Crawley. As well as ensuring the broadest number of local young people could participate, Knight Crew also involved parents, carers and other members of the local community in a ‘Mothers’ Chorus’.

The Chorus Leader for Knight Crew was Gareth Malone, and the project was featured in the BBC TV series Gareth Malone Goes to Glyndebourne.