Culminating with Orpheus’s Parade of Puppets 10am and Song for Orpheus 11am at the Phoenix Festival in the Abbey Grounds, Saturday 23rd August!
It’s been 200 years since the breathtakingly beautiful Orpheus Mosaic was unearthed at Barton Farm, right here in Cirencester. Now, two centuries later, we’re reigniting the magic of Orpheus — his music, his myth, and his deep connection to the natural world — as we celebrate the history and heritage of our beloved town.
Project Orpheus is a collaboration between three of Cirencester’s cultural cornerstones: The Barn Theatre, Corinium Museum, and New Brewery Arts. Thanks to generous support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and lottery players, these partners have brought a year of creative events and activities to life for all ages to enjoy.
From singing workshops at The Barn and an Orpheus themed LEGO® trail at the Corinium Museum, to puppet-making sessions at New Brewery Arts, the project has been a rich blend of discovery, imagination, and hands-on fun.
But why Orpheus?
In Greek mythology, Orpheus was a musician of unmatched talent, whose lyre could soothe wild beasts and sway the natural world. When his beloved wife Eurydice died, Orpheus descended into the Underworld to bring her back. His music softened the hearts of Hades and Persephone, who agreed to let Eurydice return — on one condition: Orpheus must not look back until they reached the living world. But just before they emerged, he turned — and lost her forever.
In this ancient tale, we found five themes that have guided our project: Nature, History, Community, Music, and Art. With these pillars, Project Orpheus aims to re-energise Cirencester with the enduring spirit of Orpheus — a celebration of our past, our creativity, and the collaborative strength of our community.
The grand culmination of the project takes place on Saturday 23rd August, starting at 10:00am, in partnership with the vibrant Phoenix Festival.
We begin with Orpheus’s Parade of Puppets in the Abbey Grounds — a magical procession brought to life by master puppeteer Russell Kirk and the fantastical talents of London-based Mandinga Arts. Their giant puppets will be accompanied by the driving rhythms of Stroud’s own Simbora samba drummers, transforming Cirencester into a living, breathing myth with music, colour, and movement.
If you’d like to take part, free puppet-making workshops will be held at New Brewery Arts on Saturday 16th and Wednesday 20th August (11am–4pm). All materials are provided and no booking is required — just drop in and create!
After the parade, the Phoenix Festival stage will host a very special performance of A Song for Orpheus — a powerful new piece by renowned composer Howard Goodall (creator of the theme tunes for Blackadder, The Vicar of Dibley, and Mr Bean), with lyrics by celebrated Irish poet Theo Dorgan.
This piece will be performed by the newly formed Orpheus Community Choir, created especially for this event. And best of all — the whole town is invited to sing along! Acclaimed conductor Stuart Overington will lead the crowd through a short section, creating a shared moment of harmony and connection.
To find out more about Orpheus Day and the full calendar of events, visit www.project-orpheus.com and get involved.
This year, we’ve come together — not just as three organisations, but as one united community — to celebrate Cirencester, its heritage, and the creative spirit that continues to define the Capital of the Cotswolds.
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