Opera - La Bohème

Now firmly established as a highlight of the Festival calendar, GAP Festival Opera returns to Streatley Farmhouse for three nights of glorious music in a wonderful setting.

Goring soprano Stephanie Bodsworth has assembled a cast of critically-acclaimed professional singers and musicians to perform Puccini’s enduringly popular masterpiece, La Bohème.

The opera, sung here in an English translation by Director Martin Lamb, follows a group of young, impoverished artists living in Paris’s Latin Quarter whose joys and heartbreaks culminate in the tragic love story between the poet Rodolfo and the seamstress Mimì.  The singers will be accompanied by a six piece professional ensemble conducted by music director Katrine Reimers.

The opera is staged in a magnificent 18th century barn transformed into an atmospheric theatre with a set designed by another Goring resident, international opera designer Ilka Weiss assisted by Lighting Designer Bruce Williams. 

Guests are invited to enjoy a picnic in the lovely gardens.  Local food-guru Caroline Pierrepont, founder of the Goring Grocer,  will be creating exclusive, freshly-cooked picnic hampers available for pre-order. These will be waiting for you when you arrive together with a reserved table and chairs in the garden for you and your guests.  Scroll down for the full menus including vegetarian and vegan options.  You can order a bottle (or two) of wine or fizz with your picnics, chilled as appropriate and including glasses.   See below for details of our curated selection and order in advance for a discount over prices available on the night. 

Alternatively, you can bring your own picnic.  For guests doing this, wines can also be pre-ordered at the same discounted rates and will come with glasses although reserved tables are only for guests pre-ordering opera picnic hampers. 

Gates open at 5pm for guests to arrive, pick your perfect spot around the grounds, enjoy a glass of something summery and perhaps make a start on your picnic before the curtain rises at 6.30pm. A long interval will provide time for relaxed dining.  

Two bars will be open serving a range of wines, beers and soft drinks before the opera and during the interval.  Tea and coffee will be available in the interval.

If the weather is unkind, there  is plenty of undercover space for picnicking so don't let the weather put you off coming early.  

There are three ticket prices: a small number of premium seats at £55, other uninterrupted view seats at £45 and seats with a slightly restricted view of some parts of the stage at £30 (rest assured these still afford guests a wonderful experience).

TICKETS: £55, £45, £30
BARS | PICNICS (PRE-ORDER OR BRING YOUR OWN)

EVENT INFORMATION
LOCATION: Streatley Farmhouse, Wallingford Road, Streatley RG8 9PT 
TIME: Gates open at 5pm for guests to arrive, pick their spot and enjoy a glass of fizz before the curtain rises at 6.30pm. A long interval will provide time for relaxed dining with plenty of undercover space in the event of inclement weather.  Gates will close 30 minutes after the end of the performance.
PARKING: There is ample parking on site for bicycles and cars. Taxi drop off point is just outside the main gate. ACCESS: Disabled toilets and blue badge parking with step free access thereafter are available.  Please contact the Festival ([email protected]) to arrange wheelchair seating or any other access requirements.  Stalls seats are recommended for those wanting step free access.
DRESS CODE: There is no dress code for the evening, though guests are very welcome to dress for the occasion.  The Opera Barn is unheated so you are strongly advised to bring a warm layer.
PICNICS Special GAP Festival Opera picnics at £39.95 each are available to pre-order via the online ticket site for collection on arrival. Goring resident Caroline Pierrepont has designed the menus, see below, with vegetarian and vegan options available.  A reserved table and chairs will also be waiting for you. In the event of inclement weather these tables will be set up in the Carpenters Barn.  Orders for these picnics will be closed about a week before the performances.  Guests are welcome to bring their own picnic and furniture although we ask that only rugs are used on the main lawn.   There are other lovely places to set up your own tables and chairs including under cover.
TICKETS are non-refundable.  There will be a waiting list for sold out performances.
FILMING AND PHOTOGRAPHY will likely take place at this event. This will be used to showcase the 2026 GAP Festival both online and in printed articles. Images and footage will also be used to help future Festival and opera at Streatley Farmhouse promotions. Please let the event marshals on the day know if you do not wish to be captured.  Please do not photograph or record the performance yourself.
PAYMENT: The Festival is cashless - only contactless card payments will be available for any refreshments.
CHILDREN: All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
DOGS: No dogs on site (except assistance dogs) 
SMOKING: No smoking or vaping in the grounds or any of the buildings. 

PICNIC MENUS
Allergens in brackets

Picnic Puccini
Overture
Spiced Cauliflower and Potato Filo (wheat)
Roasted Carrot Hummus (sesame)
Seedy buckwheat crackers 
Main Act
Saffron, roast red onion and orange flower roast chicken with hazelnut dukkah (nuts)
Mushroom, crème fraiche and herb galette (wheat, milk, soy, egg)
Herb and summer vegetable cous cous (wheat)
Celeriac remoulade  (celery, mustard)
Harissa roasted tomato 
Rosemary focaccia (wheat)
Finale
Date, rye and walnut treacle tart (nuts, wheat, milk, egg, sulphites)

Picnic Mimi - for vegetarians
Overture
Spiced Cauliflower and Potato Filo (wheat)
Roasted Carrot Hummus (sesame)
Seedy buckwheat crackers
Main Act
Saffron, roast red onion and orange flower roasted pumpkin with hazelnut dukhah (nuts)
Mushroom, crème fraiche and herb galette (wheat, milk, soy, egg)
Herb and summer vegetable cous cous (wheat)
Celeriac remoulade (celery, mustard)
Harissa roasted tomato
Rosemary focaccia (wheat)
Finale
Date, rye and walnut treacle tart (nuts, wheat, milk, egg, sulphites)

Picnic Rodolfo - for vegans
Overture
Spiced Cauliflower and Potato Filo (wheat)
Roasted Carrot Hummus (sesame)
Seedy buckwheat crackers
Main Act
Saffron, roast red onion and orange flower roasted pumpkin with hazelnut dukhah (nuts)
Mushroom, cashew cream and herb galette (nuts, wheat, soy)
Herb and summer vegetable cous cous (wheat)
Celeriac remoulade (vegan version) (celery, mustard)
Harissa roasted tomato
Rosemary focaccia (wheat)
Finale
Chia seed and miso brownie (soy, wheat)

WINES, FIZZ AND SPARKLING WATER
White Wines
Pinot Grigio, Ancora  £19
Sauvignon Blanc, Cloud Factory  £20
Viognier, Domaine de Vedilhan  £22

Rosé Wine
Pasquiers rosé £20

Red Wines
Cuvée Jean Paul Rouge Blend   £19
Malbec, Stones Throw  £20
Pinot Noir, Novas Gran Reserva  £22

Prosecco and Champagne
Prosecco, Martinotti DOC  £19
Champagne Gremillet, Brut Ambassadeur, Half Bottle  £27

Sparkling Water
San Pellegino 75cl  £3

Hampers come with recyclable cutlery, plates and napkins and will be ready for collection from the picnic desk in front of the main house on your arrival.   Wines, fizz and water are ready chilled if appropriate and come with glasses.  On the night there will be two bars serving a selection of wines, beers and soft drinks.  Tea and coffee will be available in the interval.

If you have any queries about the opera, please contact [email protected]