A touring company aiming to broaden the appeal of opera is performing a double bill in Charlton Down on Sunday, July 1 at 7.30pm.

Pop-Up Opera will perform in the stunning Ballroom of Charlton Down’s Herrison Hall, near Dorchester.

The performance is a Mozart double bill: Bastien & Bastienne and The Impresario.

Sit back and enjoy two delicious one-act comedies in which a pair of actresses battle it out to be the prima donna, and a pair of lovers tease and test their feelings for each other.

These two lively and engaging stories showcase Mozart's gorgeous music and sense of playfulness and are directed by New British Music Theatre Award nominee, Anna Pool, critically acclaimed for her bold and fierily original directing style.

Pop-up Opera is an innovative touring opera company dedicated to making opera enjoyable and inviting, without losing the quality of musical performance. They aim to broaden the appeal of opera and to challenge the way it is performed, by taking it into unusual spaces and making it fun and fresh. The combination of engaging, comic productions performed in an intimate setting creates a greater connection between audiences, the singers and the music - something even seasoned opera-goers often miss.

The company's debut performance for Artsreach, Dorset’s touring arts charity, took place last summer and was an overwhelmingly popular addition to the already varied programme of events taking place in rural communities.

Yvonne Gallimore, Artsreach co-director said “The professional opera singers of this innovative company skilfully adapt their performances to each venue, making every show unique, while always maintaining the highest standards. Our programme exists to make the arts more accessible, and this is exactly what Pop Up Opera do for opera.”

Emily Salmon of Pop Up Opera said: “We love collaborating with Artsreach as they share our ethos of bringing great performances to less conventional venues. Our tour takes us everywhere and we especially love when they bring us to rural communities who would not otherwise be able to see brilliant operas - that is exactly why we began!”

Audiences can also enjoy refreshments from D’Urberville’s award-winning vineyard, and have the chance to win an overnight stay plus dinner and breakfast at La Fosse in Cranborne in a grand prize draw.

Tickets for Pop Up Opera are available for £18 from 01305 269512 or online at artsreach.co.uk