QUEST 2025 was a spectacular fantasy adventure, a double bill starting with our own version of Wagners’ Rhinegold, with new choral parts which I drew from Wagner’s tapestry of interwoven motifs and arranged for North Shields Opera Chorus.

This was followed by The Flower of Delight, a 25-minute opera written in collaboration with poet Bob Beagrie, composed and performed by students at Kings Priory School, John Spence School and Percy Main Primary School. They were joined by students from Whitehouse Primary, North Shields Opera Chorus, violinist Bradley Creswick OBE, pianist Emily Murray and tenor Austin Gunn.