Constella OperaBallet brings Darley Abbey heritage to life in SPIN A TALE

Constella OperaBallet have announced a new partnership with Darley Abbey in Derbyshire with a mission of bringing the village’s amazing heritage to life through a series of seven short films with newly commissioned dance, music and drama entitled Spin A Tale. 

All of the films bring together the amazing talent of Constella’s multidisciplinary team alongside the local community: residents, primary schools and choirs, the University of Derby, and the Déda Youth Company are also involved – that’s several hundred people all coming together to celebrate the arts and the history of their home. 

Spin A Tale will include homages to the mill workers (Darley Abbey is home to the most complete surviving 18th Century Mill complex in the world!), the village’s architecture, the community and the River Derwent.

The films have all been brought to life by a renowned team of young creatives including choreographer Sarah-Louise Kristiansen, writer and director Ruth Mariner, costumier Sebastian Freeburn and designer Holly Piggot, alongside Constella’s own Artistic Director and composer Leo Geyer. 

Geyer says: “Spin a Tale has been two years in the making and has undergone many twists and turns as we’ve navigated through the pandemic. I am therefore exceptionally proud of Constella’s artistic team, the Darley Abbey community and partner organisations for their unrelenting creative energy.

Together, we have found ingenious ways to collaborate and bring together several hundred people in an ambitious, interdisciplinary celebration of Darley Abbey.”

Spin A Tale premieres at 11am online on Saturday 8 May: Darley Abbey Day 2021!

For further details and to book, please click here.