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OperaGlass Works

“It’s not unheard for leading cultural practitioners to take their art form by the scruff of the neck and shake it into a modern context, but it’s rare. More often, groups of actors / singers / writers / dancers / musicians will gather in a pub, complain about their lot, vow to change, and in the cold light of day prefer to stick with job security. OperaGlass Works, however, is very likely to change the way we appreciate opera forever, with a philosophy that might well adapt to theatre and other performance. And it has been created not by a group of callow hopefuls, but a team of senior practitioners in the midst of successful careers.”

Arts Industry

Our Story


Selina Cadell and Eliza Thompson are the founders of OperaGlass Works.

We first met on a production of The Way of the World at Wilton’s Music Hall. This production was entirely generated by actors, designers, musicians and friends. We had no money, it worked from the ground up, with everyone putting their hands back in the paint pot. Looking back, this collaborative project was the template for OGW.

Years later, Selina worked on scenes from The Rake’s Progress with Rob Murray in a workshop at the National Theatre Studio. Selina and Eliza then worked together on another play and discussed the idea of an opera. Could we create an environment to produce excellent opera for less money? Soon afterwards, we worked with Laurence Cummings who thought it sounded like a great idea and somehow one thing led to another.

The progress of OperaGlass Works had begun.


Selina Cadell and Eliza ThompsonPhotograph by Patrick Cadell

Selina Cadell


Selina Cadell is an actor and director and trainer and was Head of Drama at the National Opera Studio for over 20 years. She also works in the corporate sector teaching public speaking and communication skills. Her acting credits include, for TV: Doc Martin, Midsomer Murders, Poirot. For theatre: The Tempest, Humble Boy, A Monster Calls. Her directing credits include: Love for Love (RSC) The Double Dealer (Orange Tree) and Hamlet and Great Expectations, Eddie Izzard (London, New York, Chicago).



Eliza Thompson


Eliza Thompson is a composer, director and music consultant working in various aspects of film, TV and theatre. Music Supervisor film credits include: The Madness of King George, The Crucible, Dangerous Liaisons, Shadowlands. Music Consultant credits include: Othello, The Importance of Being Earnest, An Ideal Husband, St Trinian's 1 and 2. As composer, Eliza has written music for TV and radio and for Selina’s productions including Love for Love (RSC), The Double Dealer (Orange Tree) and Izzard’s Hamlet and Great Expectations.

The Turn of the Screw

Illustration by Georgina von Etzdorf

The Rake's Progress

Illustration by Georgina von Etzdorf