If Opera Festival | 07 - 17 August 2025
If Opera's 2025 season will present both tragedy and comedy in two of the most cherished operas in the repertoire, Rigoletto and Orpheus in the Underworld, alongside the popular Picnic Prom and, at the end of the season, two exciting and rare Baroque operas, Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda & Historia Jonae, in the historic setting of St Mary’s Church.
Booking Dates
Priority booking opens for patrons, sponsors and members from Monday 10 February 2025, 10am
Mon 10 Feb - Presidents
Wed 12 Feb - Founders / Progress syndicate
Fri 14 Feb - Accompanists
Mon 17 Feb - Benefactors
Wed 19 Feb - Advocates & Board
Wed 12 March - Gold
Fri 14 March - Silver / U35s / Discovery
Tue 18 March - Volunteers
General booking opens on Thursday 20 March 2025, 10am
Want to book ahead of the rest?
Take advantage of priority booking and member pricing*
Take advantage of priority booking and member pricing*
Welcome to Church Farm, Wingfield…
If Opera was created as a company that would perform in a variety of venues offering spectacular experiences in diverse and exciting spaces. In 2025, we are delighted to announce that we will be moving to a new, beautiful site while the gardens at Belcombe Court rest.
Come with us to a remarkable new space, secluded and peaceful, in the vale of the Westbury White Horse. With easy access via the A366, you’ll find Church Farm, the home of long-standing If Opera Patrons, David and Fiona Robinson, and our setting for the 2025 season.
There, the ancient farmhouse and tiny, fourteenth century gem of the little parish church of St Mary, are bonded in a timeless cluster of warm limestone buildings. Surrounded by a churchyard, garden, duckpond and sometime farmyard, there’s easy access, extensive lawns for picnicking and our Saddlespan Auditorium will be installed on fields overlooking the Westbury White Horse.
The Saddlespan Theatre
Please note: this is a bird’s eye image with the roof cut away is to show the new immersive stage layout.
The Saddlespan is fully covered for all performances.
o Block B, row A is on the floor with all rows behind it raked.
o Block A and C – rows A and B are on the floor with rows C and D raked.
St Mary's Church
The Baroque Double Bill will take place in St Mary's Church, within the grounds of Church Farm, Wingfield.
o All reserved seats within the Nave of the church are on pews.
o Tower seating is unreserved. Access is tricky via tiny spiral stairs. There is a good view and acoustic.
How to get to Church Farm
Church Farm, Wingfield, (A366 Wingfield Road), BA14 9LE is an eight minute drive from the centre of Bradford on Avon and parking will be available on-site.
There will be shuttle service available from Bradford on Avon and this can be booked with your tickets (further information to follow).
Address: Church Farm, Wingfield
A366 Wingfield Road
BA14 9LE
What3Words: riots.leaves.enjoy
By Car
o There will be free parking available onsite. Please consider sharing lifts with friends and family where possible.
o The parking will be managed by our team of stewards and crew and well lit.
o Please note, that you will be parking on a field so the ground will be uneven. If you, or any of your party are bringing a wheelchair, require accessible parking or have any mobility issues, please inform the box-office at the time of booking.
o There will be a drop off area by the path leading directly to the Saddlespan Auditorium for those with accessibility requirements.
By Taxi
o There is a taxi service, Bradford on Avon Taxis, located at the railway station. Please visit www.bradfordonavon-taxis.co.uk for further information and bookings.
o We recommend pre-booking your taxi with your preferred company, or Bradford on Avon Taxis (01225 862277), as it can be busy during our event season.
o If leaving by taxi, we suggest using the estimated end time on the specific event page as a guide for pick up time. Please note, performance run times are approximate times only.
By Train
o There will be a shuttle service available from Bradford on Avon train station direct to Church Farm.
o There are regular trains to Bradford on Avon from London (change at Bath), Bristol, Chippenham and Westbury. Please visit www.gwr.com for train timetables and services.
By Bus
o The D1 bus connects Bradford on Avon to Bath, Winsley, Trowbridge and Warminster and there will be a shuttle service available from Bradford on Avon to Church Farm.
o Please visit www.firstbus.co.uk for bus timetables and services.
Bustimes.org is a useful source of information for bus timetables and live service tracking
By Shuttle Bus
Information coming soon on this service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Weather
- The operas, Rigoletto and Orpheus in the Underworld, and the Picnic Prom will take place in the closed (fully covered) Saddlespan Auditorium.
- Events will go ahead in the rain, however if the weather is torrential, If Opera reserves the right to postpone or cancel the event. Bookers are asked to keep an eye on If Opera's website for relevant updates.
- The Baroque Double Bill will take place in the church at Church Farm.
Dress Code
- Informality is a feature of If Opera and eveningwear is not common. Most people dress smart/ casual but there is certainly no dress code.
- Evenings can get chilly once the sun goes down. The gardens may be uneven, and thought should be given to adequate footwear.
Toilets
Toilets are available, including accessible.
Parking
There is free parking at the venue with level access to the Saddlespan Auditorium.
o See Directions/How to get here section above for further information.
Limitations
- Children: Please see details for each event.
- Dogs: No dogs permitted except for assistance dogs.
- Candles & Flares: Guests are welcome to bring ENCLOSED lighting rather than open flares. Once the sun has gone down there are certain parts of the garden that are difficult to light, torches are advised.
- Recording: No photography, video or audio recording is permitted within the Saddlespan enclosure.
- Mobile Phones: To be switched off during performances.
- Guests must take all of their rubbish with them when they leave.
Age Guidance
Rigoletto
Children welcome age 12+
Under 18s free - offer applies automatically when Child/Young Adult ticket added with Full Price ticket.
Maximum 2 per Full Price ticket. Limited Availbility.
Orpheus in The Underworld
Children welcome age 12+
Under 18s free - offer applies automatically when Child/Young Adult ticket added with Full Price ticket.
Maximum 2 per Full Price ticket. Limited Availbility.
A Baroque Double Bill
Children welcome age 12+
Picnic Prom
Children welcome age 11+
Food & Drink
Picnics
Guests are welcome to bring tables and chairs or rugs to picnic within the grounds of Church Farm. Please note, there are limited sheltered areas if the weather is wet.
Pre-bookable undercover seating for picnics - information coming soon.
Please see individual event listings for 'gates open' times.
Bars
A pop-up bar serving a selection of drinks including specially created cocktails for the season alongside wine, beer and soft drinks will be available in the garden at all events.
The Cowshed by Homewood
The Cowshed by Homewood offers an exclusive, Mediterranean-inspired VIP dining experience where the art of cooking over fire takes centre stage. Here, feasting is more than a meal—it’s a celebration of flavour, craftsmanship, and the finest local ingredients.
The experience begins with generous sharing platters, brimming with hand-selected produce that showcases the best of Somerset. As the evening unfolds, the Somerset grill takes over, expertly flame-searing and smoking locally sourced meats to perfection, enhancing their rich, natural flavours.
Small plates take inspiration from Homewood’s very own No-Dig Kitchen Garden, bringing vibrant, homegrown ingredients to the table. To elevate every bite, a carefully curated selection of wines from distinguished partners offers the perfect pairing, ensuring a truly unforgettable dining experience under the open sky.
Tables in The Cowshed by Homewood will be available to book from Thursday 20 March via If Opera direcrly, please register your interest below and we will email you a link to find out more and reserve a table when booking opens:
Become a Member
As a member of If Opera you’ll get priority booking and member pricing* together with a range of benefits aimed at enriching your experience and giving you a unique insight into the creative process. You can explore our Membership schemes below.
*does not apply to all events
For 2025 season - member pricing applies to Rigoletto and Orpheus in the Underworld
If Opera Gold £250
Benefits include:
- Priority booking
- Member pricing for tickets
- Invitation to Pre-Season Launch and other exclusive Member events
- Access to Members Bar & complimentary drink
- Acknowledgement of support in programme book
- If Opera newsletters
If Opera Silver £85
Benefits include:
- Priority booking
- Member pricing
- Invitations to exclusive Member events
- Acknowledgement of support in programme book
- If Opera newsletters
Under 35s If Opera Club Free
No donation required
Open to those aged 18 - 35 only
Benefits include:
- Priority booking
- Member pricing for tickets bought for under 35s
- Invitations to exclusive Member events
- If Opera newsletters