A FLUDDE warning has been issued about two performances of a children’s opera in Harpenden next Friday and Saturday, June 28 and 29.

Local musicians Catherine Denley and Miles Golding with dramatic assistance from Bernadette Stewart have co-ordinated the production of Benjamin Britten’s opera Noye’s Fludde, which is being staged in the composer’s centenary year.

It is being performed at St Nicholas parish church in the town and involves local children and adults, some professional and others amateur.

The opera features a chorus of lions, monkeys, frogs, flamingoes, cats, mice, goats and other creatures along with Mr and Mrs Noah, their sons and daughters-in-law, a bunch of unruly gossips and the Voice of God.

The colourful score includes bugles, handbells as well as strings and recorders and an arsenal of percussion, including a wind-machine – built by Miles from materials recycled from a neighbour’s skip – six mugs slung from a frame (raindrops), sandpaper, Chinese blocks and a whip.

Both performances start at 7.30pm but the audience is asked to be seated at 7pm to rehearse the three well-known hymns that are incorporated in the opera.

Tickets are £10 each and more information can be found at www.noyesfluddeharpenden.org.uk or telephone 01582 461572.