Noye's Fludde (Noah's Flood), a small-scale community opera by Benjamin Britten, is based on a 16th-century Chester Mystery Play. Britten wrote the work in 1957 specifically for performance in a church or large hall, rather than a theatre. The specially-convened Swaledale Festival Orchestra contains a mix of professional and amateur players; string quintet, recorders, piano, organ, percussion, bugles, handbells, and even some tuned teacups. The audience (referred to by the composer as the ‘congregation’) is also invited to join in the fun with some hymn singing.

In this ‘grand finale’ to the Swaledale Festival, former artistic director Justin Doyle is welcomed back to conduct the proceedings. Some outstanding vocal soloists will join the orchestra, together with a large cast of young ark-builders and even the odd local character in a riotous Swaledale community celebration.