The Chocolate Soldier

August 11th , 13th and 14th June 2026 7.30pm

If Opera Festival

Church Farm, Wingfield, (A366 Wingfield Road), BA14 9LE 

An eight minute drive from the centre of Bradford on Avon with free parking onsite.

what3words: riots.leaves.enjoy

Oscar Straus’s 1908 opéra bouffe is closely based on George Bernard Shaw’s classic anti-war play Arms and the Man. Shaw did not approve of his play being turned into an operetta and forbade any of his dialogue or his characters’ names being used. Now that Shaw’s work is out of copyright, Opera della Luna have created a new version of the show, restoring much of Shaw’s witty dialogue, and re-instating his original characters. 

Composer Oscar Straus

Conductor James Ham
Director Jeff Clarke
Set Designer  Elroy Ashmore
Lighting Designer Joe Price
Original Lighting Design Callum Macdonald

New English book and lyrics Jeff Clarke
based on George Bernard Shaw’s Arms and the Man New orchestral arrangement James Widden

With the Bristol Ensemble