Oliver Leith - Garland

On 13 June 2026 at Bold Tendencies, London, composer Oliver Leith revives Garland, a large-scale work for orchestra and chorus that turns the car park into both instrument and stage. With words by Charlie Fox and costumes by Ellen Poppy Hill, Garland gathers around 130 performers into a processional weave of sound and song. Alongside the orchestral forces, Leith folds in bespoke handmade instruments: tuned corrugated plastic straws, whirly tubes, button whistles, planks of wood and ceramic shards, while shopping trolleys, bicycles, scaffolding poles and even a horse are written into the score.

Conceived as a total collaboration, Garland brings together a new generation of artists with professional and amateur voices. The original cast returns: soprano Patricia Auchterlonie, vocal ensemble EXAUDI, GBSR Duo, 12 Ensemble, percussionists Sam Wilson, Craig Apps and Jake Brown, plus MUSARC and the Bold Chorus. The performance is led by conductors Naomi Woo, Jack Sheen and Oli Kitching, with Tristan Weymes assisting.