In Five Years' Time: A new opera at The Space, London on Tuesday 24th February 2026

Please note: This concert is in the past and has already taken place.

In Five Years' Time

A new opera

Part of the The Music Troupe: In Five Years' Time - 2026 Cycle

Add to my Calendar 24-02-2026 19:00 24-02-2026 21:00 36 In Five Years' Time In Five Years’ Time is a ‘drama in song’ based on an experimental play by Spain’s favourite poet, Federico García Lorca. This surreal work explores themes of love, identity and decay, yet does so in the manner of a fairy tale, clothed in fun and topsy-turviness. Lorca himself said it was impossible to stage, but The Music Troupe has put together a cast of 8 superb singers - playing 14 roles - to bring this operatic adaptation to life in the style of a cabaret. Displaying the group’s trademark lyricism, the music is stimulating and accessible while the drama and poetry are uniquely heart-rending. The main theme of the opera is the poet’s search for identity in its many forms while the non-linear narrative explores the nature of time and truth. All the characters seem to slide into disillusionment and decay: a troupe of circus clowns, by contrast, are happily immersed in their own theatricality.  At the start of the opera, its central character, the poet Federico, is betrothed to the voluptuous young Belisa. Since she is only 15, this gives him an excuse to postpone the wedding for five years. Impatient for sexual fulfilment, she takes a lover while her girl friends express frustration with Federico’s procrastination. Later in the opera, Belisa is ‘reincarnated’ as a deluded Italian countess whose inner life has evaporated, (hence, perhaps, Lorca’s description of her as a Mask).  Federico’s three male friends are cynical, ebullient and sensitive in turn, perhaps representing celibacy, promiscuity and homosexuality. They metamorphose into a trio of circus clowns who appear from time to time. Meanwhile, Federico spurned his secretary, Rosita, but when the girls tell him of Belisa’s infidelity, he resolves to seek Rosita out again. Although she once loved him, and perhaps does so still, she exacts revenge by telling him to wait five years. Disillusioned and in emotional turmoil, Federico meets a tragic end when assassinated by his friends who’ve embraced the Falangist cause.  In a sub-plot, a neighbour’s child has tragically died and youths have cruelly stoned a cat. The cat and child compare notes as they lie in the mortuary; they are apprehensive about the afterlife to where they eventually pass over at the end of the opera. Run time: about 1 hour 50 minutes (including an interval) The Space TheatreLondon E14 3RS Tuesday 24 February 2026 at 19:00Wednesday 25 February at 19:00Thursday 26 February at 19:00Friday 27 February at 19:00Saturday 28 February at 16:00 The Croft Hall, HungerfordRG17 0HYSunday 1 March 2026 at 16:30 The Space, London DD/MM/YYYY

Details

The Space
269 Westferry Road
Millwall, Isle of Dogs
London
E14 3RS
England

Tuesday 24th February 2026
7:00 PM

Programme

Edward Lambert – In Five Years' Time

Performers

Mae Heydorn – contralto
Rosalind Dobson – soprano
Fiona Hymns – soprano
Lucy Gibbs – mezzo-soprano
James Schouten – tenor
Jean-Max Lattemann – counter tenor
Chris Murphy – baritone
Thomas Stevenson – bass baritone
Alistair Burton – Conductor / piano
Jing Jia – accordion

The Music Troupe

Other concerts in this Series (+)

Programme Note

In Five Years’ Time is a ‘drama in song’ based on an experimental play by Spain’s favourite poet, Federico García Lorca. This surreal work explores themes of love, identity and decay, yet does so in the manner of a fairy tale, clothed in fun and topsy-turviness. Lorca himself said it was impossible to stage, but The Music Troupe has put together a cast of 8 superb singers - playing 14 roles - to bring this operatic adaptation to life in the style of a cabaret. Displaying the group’s trademark lyricism, the music is stimulating and accessible while the drama and poetry are uniquely heart-rending.

The main theme of the opera is the poet’s search for identity in its many forms while the non-linear narrative explores the nature of time and truth. All the characters seem to slide into disillusionment and decay: a troupe of circus clowns, by contrast, are happily immersed in their own theatricality.

At the start of the opera, its central character, the poet Federico, is betrothed to the voluptuous young Belisa. Since she is only 15, this gives him an excuse to postpone the wedding for five years. Impatient for sexual fulfilment, she takes a lover while her girl friends express frustration with Federico’s procrastination. Later in the opera, Belisa is ‘reincarnated’ as a deluded Italian countess whose inner life has evaporated, (hence, perhaps, Lorca’s description of her as a Mask).

Federico’s three male friends are cynical, ebullient and sensitive in turn, perhaps representing celibacy, promiscuity and homosexuality. They metamorphose into a trio of circus clowns who appear from time to time.

Meanwhile, Federico spurned his secretary, Rosita, but when the girls tell him of Belisa’s infidelity, he resolves to seek Rosita out again. Although she once loved him, and perhaps does so still, she exacts revenge by telling him to wait five years. Disillusioned and in emotional turmoil, Federico meets a tragic end when assassinated by his friends who’ve embraced the Falangist cause.

In a sub-plot, a neighbour’s child has tragically died and youths have cruelly stoned a cat. The cat and child compare notes as they lie in the mortuary; they are apprehensive about the afterlife to where they eventually pass over at the end of the opera.

Run time: about 1 hour 50 minutes (including an interval)

The Space Theatre
London E14 3RS

Tuesday 24 February 2026 at 19:00
Wednesday 25 February at 19:00
Thursday 26 February at 19:00
Friday 27 February at 19:00
Saturday 28 February at 16:00

The Croft Hall, Hungerford
RG17 0HY
Sunday 1 March 2026 at 16:30

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