The Secret of the Black Spider

Judith Weir

26 & 27 September 2025

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Join the Opera North Youth Chorus and Youth Orchestra for a comedy thriller that will spook and delight the whole family.

Back in the 15th century, according to legend, a young woman Christina makes a deal with a mysterious green man in order to protect her village from an oppressive landlord. But she doesn’t hold up her end of the bargain and out crawls a spider from her hand to wreak havoc on the village. Fast-forward a few hundred years and there are reports of strange happenings after the tomb of a Polish King is excavated. What links the two tales?

Composer Judith Weir wrote this opera to be performed by school children and enjoyed by all. First heard in Kent in 1985, it has since travelled the world. This is the UK premiere of the 2008 ‘Hamburg’ version of the opera.

Suitable for ages 7+.

Price

£16 for adults, £10 for children (+£2.25 booking fee)

Venue
  • Leeds Grand Theatre

Running time
Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes

Language 
Sung in English

Buy your programme in advance
Digital (£4) or printed (£6 + £2.50 postage)

Audio flyer
▶ 
Listen to the audio flyer

Listen to the Opera North Youth Chorus

Cast & Creative

The Youth Chorus of Opera North singing together in a performance
Opera North Youth Chorus
Opera North Youth Orchestra
A woman with dark hair wearing a pearl necklace.
Pasquale Orchard

Christina

A black and white close-up headshot of Mark Nathan
Mark Nathan

Count Heinrich

Nicholas Shaw

Conductor

A photo of a woman looking at something
Rosie Kat

Director

A woman with grey wavy hair.
Zahra Mansouri

Designer

Jake Wiltshire

Lighting Designer

The Secret of The Black Spider
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