The inside story of a Northern town!

The Batley Variations was a one-hour opera made with the people of Batley. Featuring a large cast of local performers, digital projections and live performance, it told stories collected from the people of Batley and premiered at St Mary’s Social Club in Batley from 23-25 November 2018.

Set in a spectacular cabaret environment, The Batley Variations covers 24 hours in the life of Batley and the people who live, work and play there – its local heroes and eccentrics, the unassuming and the extraordinary, iconic spaces and hidden secrets.

Directed by Alan Dix, written by Mike Kenny (known for his Olivier award-winning The Railway Children) and composed by Richard Taylor (winner of two UK Theatre awards),  The Batley Variations was commissioned by Batley Business Association and Creative Scene and followed the success of the very first Batley Does Opera, presented in partnership with Opera North in 2016.

“Amazing show by all. Such wonderful talent and spirit. A pleasure to watch!”

“Absolutely buzzing like a Jack Fultons freezer! We actually smashed it didn’t we?”