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Opera without the distance. No dress code. No grand stage. No barrier. Just music, story, and people—up close.

27/10/2026

**WHAT IS YOURS — Reaching New Audiences in Oxford**

With just two days until our presentation at Summertown Arts, we're delighted that Philo has also been promoting *What Is Yours* through Meetup, helping introduce our new chamber opera to a wider Oxford audience.

On Thursday 29 October, Everyman Opera will present excerpts from *What Is Yours*, composed by Spyros Syrmos, with three singers and piano.

The evening offers an opportunity to hear the work in development and meet the creative team.

**Summertown Arts, Oxford**
**Thursday 29 October 2026**
**Free admission — no booking required**

Our Crowdfunder campaign supports the next stage of Everyman Opera's work, including the development of *Pawn Queen*.

Thank you to everyone helping us bring new opera to new audiences.

24/10/2026

**WHAT IS YOURS — POWER. FAMILY. CHOICE.**

Three figures. Three destinies. One question: what matters more — power or family?

**Princess Noor** — a daughter struggling to assert her independence.

**Al-ʻUzzā** — an ancient Arabian goddess, observing the choices and contradictions of mortals.

**Muhammad** — an ageing ruler whose determination to secure a male heir threatens the very family he seeks to preserve.

Between father and daughter stands Al-ʻUzzā, a witness to their struggle over authority, loyalty and freedom.

*What Is Yours* is a new chamber opera by librettist John Tatlow and composer Spyros Syrmos.

**Thursday 29 October 2026**
Summertown Arts, Oxford
Doors 6.30 pm | Performance 7.00 pm
**Free admission — no booking required.**

24/10/2026

**WHAT IS YOURS — FROM LIBRETTO TO LIVING OPERA**

There's something rather special about hearing words that began life on a page take shape through music and the human voice.

Last Wednesday, 21 October, we held our first rehearsal of *What Is Yours* at Summertown Arts in North Oxford. After many months of writing, composing, planning and preparation, the opera is finally beginning to find its feet.

Working with composer Spyros Syrmos in Athens, I've been developing this chamber opera around three characters whose lives become entangled in questions of power, family and choice.

Our Oxford performers are now bringing those characters to life:

**Flávio Lauria** — Muhammad
**Phoebe Edwards** — Al-ʻUzzā
**Mehreen Shah** — Princess Noor
**Maya Soltan** — Piano

Our second rehearsal takes place on Monday, 26 October, followed by the public presentation on Thursday evening.

This is not a fully staged opera, but an opportunity to share new chamber-opera excerpts with an audience, hear how the work communicates in performance and gather responses that will help shape its future development.

For me, it is also an important step towards establishing a way of presenting new opera on an intimate scale, bringing performers and audiences into closer contact without the expense and elaborate staging associated with larger productions.

**YOU ARE WARMLY INVITED**

📅 Thursday 29 October 2026
📍 Summertown Arts, 294A Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7ED
🕡 Doors 6.30 pm | Performance 7.00 pm
🎟️ **Free admission — no booking required**

Whether you're an opera enthusiast, curious about new music, or simply interested in seeing how a new work develops, we'd be delighted to welcome you.

**Power. Family. Choice.**

22/10/2026

Just to remind you all that there is a performance evening featuring 3 arias and trio ensemble from my opera work What Is Yours on the 29 October at Summertown Arts. Doors 6:30 pm; performance 7 pm. Free admission.

First rehearsals yesterday went well. To see the text and music come alive through pianist and singers was a wonder. Rehearsals truly mount and polish the rough-hewn stone. Full dress rehearsal on Monday 26th, then showtime.

Exciting times!

08/10/2026

Thank you to *The Oxford Post* for featuring our forthcoming presentation of *What Is Yours*.

On Thursday 29 October, three professional singers and pianist Maya Soltan will perform the opera’s principal arias and Final Trio at Summertown Arts, followed by an audience discussion.

Doors 6.30pm | Performance 7.00pm
Free admission—no booking required.

We look forward to welcoming you.

04/10/2026

WHAT IS YOURS

Live excerpts from a new English-language chamber opera exploring power, family and choice.

Flávio Lauria · Mehreen Shah · Phoebe Edwards
Pianist: Maya Soltan
Music: Spyros Syrmos
Libretto: John Frederick Tatlow

Thursday 29 October 2026
Doors 6.30 pm · Performance 7.00 pm
Summertown Arts, 294A Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7ED
FREE ADMISSION

Support Pawn Queen via the link in our bio.

05/05/2026

Have just completed the fifth, and final libretto (What Is Signed) in the Al-Uzza cycle. A couple of the more harrowing ones were based on true events. What I am sharing with audiences is exploring how systems exist before us—and how we make them real through participation. Each of these librettos has gone off to different opera companies for dramaturgial assessment. Here's hoping for some excellent news🫰Here is a pictorial depiction of the cycle, which may better capture the thesis that I am hoping to stage. So far, I have approached 7 opera companies that work in experimental productions such as these. I am intrigued as to whether any will contact me with development in mind 🎭

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Oxford

Website

https://soundcloud.com/john-f-tatlow

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