Flotsam - a new opera for young children
Bringing the arts to underserved communities on a school-tour
This year, for the Big Give Christmas Challenge (2-9 Dec), we’re raising funds to support the development of Flotsam the opera, which will tour schools across the Isle of Wight and Solent region. Giving young children, teachers and their families exposure to the arts in underserved areas. Through Flotsam, the opera, they will experience of songs, surf and starfish –a magical musical adventure under and over the sea.
BIG GIVE CHRISTMAS
CHALLENGE 2025
What is Flotsam, the opera?
A new opera for young children by Kerry Andrew
Building on our reputation for creating “spell-binding, magical, inventive theatre for children and their parents” (A View from Behind the Arras), Flotsam will bring David Wiesner’s much-loved picture book to life in words and music. To do that we need your support during the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2025 (2-9 Dec) to raise much-needed funds that will enable us to tour schools across the Isle of Wight and Solent region.
What can audiences expect?
Kerry Andrew’s luminous new score and text blends music, movement, and storytelling to explore curiosity, connection, and the boundless power of imagination — a spellbinding adventure for audiences of all ages.
When a curious child discovers a mysterious camera washed up on the beach, the photos inside reveal a chain of children linked across time and space and an extraordinary underwater world. Turtles carry cities, starfish dance, octopi read by lamplight - but who took the pictures, and where will the camera travel next?
Riding on the musical coat-tails of OperaUpClose productions for children, Sammy and the Beanstalk and Peace at Last, help us captivate children and families with the amazing seaside and underwater adventures of Flotsam, the opera.
We’d love your support
Last year you helped us raise essential funds for Flotsam the opera workshops, and now it’s time to transform those wonderful discoveries into a touring production for schools and theatres.
During the Big Give Christmas challenge every single donation is doubled. Here’s how you can help:
Save the link to donate: the most powerful way to help us is to donate during that period on the Big Give campaign page
Follow us on social media: every single follow, like, share and comment will increase exposure for our campaign to reach more people. You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Share this page with friends, colleagues and family: let them know what we’re doing and send them here to sign up to our email list,.
We are forever grateful for the ongoing support we get from the community locally here in Southampton and across the UK on tour. We can’t wait to keep you in the loop on the campaign and we will update this page with further exclusive content and updates along the way.
