2025 marks a remarkable year of milestones for Opera Anywhere. Not only are founders Mike and Vanessa Woodward celebrating 25 years of opera performances, but it’s also a quarter-century since the original Sunningwell Music and Arts Festival—famously staged on the village pond—first brought the community together in spectacular style!
Back in 2000, Sunningwell Parish Council invited Mike and Vanessa to create a special event to celebrate the Millennium. The brief from the then-visionary parish clerk, the one and only Norman Baird, was simple: “Think outside the box and create something extraordinary.” The result? The birth of both the Sunningwell Festival and Opera Anywhere.
What began as a weekend event quickly grew into a full 10-day festival, featuring proms concerts, staged operas, folk and rock bands—and even a dog show! The road through the village was closed, the stage expanded, and crowds flocked in such numbers that traffic congestion became a challenge. The final straw came with a perfect storm of torrential weather, a mud-logged circus field, and an unexpected cameo from a herd of escaped cows—distracted, perhaps, by the sounds of opera drifting through the village!
One unforgettable highlight came in 2012 with The Mikado, creatively staged with imaginative use of the village pond. You can still find clips from that performance on YouTube!
After the pond-staged performances came to an end, Opera Anywhere found a new home in the beautiful amphitheatre at Waterperry Gardens, where a summer opera festival has run since 2012—alongside a growing year-round touring programme for Opera Anywhere.
In recent years, Mike and Vanessa have revived the spirit of the original Sunningwell Festival—this time in their own ‘amphitheatre’ at The Quarry. The 2025 festival promises to be the biggest and best yet, with a vibrant mix of visual art, folk music, staged opera, and even a lively opera-themed quiz night! A licensed bar and food stalls provided by Church Farm, will be on site during the three live performance days at The Quarry.
📅 Festival Essentials
- Dates: July 15 – August 1, 2025
- Venues: Sunningwell School of Art (OX13 6RD) & The Quarry (OX13 6RA)
- Info & Tickets: www.sunningwell.com
- Follow us: Facebook & X @OperaAnywhere
📞 For more information, contact:
Mike Woodward – 01865 735910
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