A spatial-audio Barbershopera by Isabella Gellis

A tale of superstition and sacrifice rooted in English folklore

In November 2025, Shadwell Opera and Opera North joined forces to present the world première staging of Isabella Gellis’ folk opera, The Devil’s Den at the Howard Assembly Room, Leeds. Finnegan Downie Dear conducted Jack Furness’s production; a star- studded cast (including RPS winner Lotte Betts-Dean, Jennifer France and Ossian Huskinson) were joined by members of Sheffield City Morris, whose dancing is interwoven into the fabric of the piece itself. The Morris also led workshops for the audience as part of a day celebrating the British folk identity in collaboration with artist Ben Edge, whose painting of the same name was a key inspiration for the composer.