An opera about the history of women and beer will play for three nights at Signature Brew Blackhorse Road next week, writes Rana Rastegari

A thrilling opera about the history of women and beer will make its debut at Signature Brew on Blackhorse Road from the 24th to the 26th of July.

For three nights, Infinite Opera will show Besse: Water, Rye and Hops at the craft brewery house.

The opera takes audiences through a journey of fighting the patriarchy via fermentation. 

Besse is a story about the forgotten history of women and beer; as a woman named Besse who lives in mediaeval England falls in love with beer and the independence it offers her. 

Conducted by Daniel Blanco Albert, the opera follows Besse as she is tortured by activations of witchcraft and navigates her uncertain future to practice the art of beer making as the brewing goddesses and brewsters from the Sumerian civilisation did. 

The eight piece cast and six piece ensemble are all alumni of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and have been regularly performing this piece since its debut at Digbrew Co. in 2019. This time they will be joined by the Peking Opera specialist, dancer, and choreographer Jingya Peng, and the Iranian dramaturg Mahana Narimani.

A spokesperson from Infinite Opera said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Signature Brew on this three day run of the epic and tragic story of Besse, a stout brewster caught in the nexus of a society of extremes. 

“This is an IPActful opera as you have never experienced it, infused with delicious craft beer from the audience to the stage – sometimes merrily crispy, sometimes dramatically sour, and sometimes bitterly sweet. These are definitely two hours of refreshingly zingy and hoppy music for all.”

Signature Brew said: “We’re extremely passionate about fresh beer, great music and incredible experiences, so we’re of course excited to welcome the very first beer opera to grace our brewery this summer. Working with exciting and experienced people like Infinite Opera allows us to provide beer and music lovers alike with a sonically unique and beer-fuelled experience.”

Tickets are available here and there is a 10% discount offered with the code WALTHAMFOREST10

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