Grand Union is thrilled to announce the launch of ‘Open for Business’, a landmark operatic performance by Birmingham-based opera company Infinite Opera, launching on Sunday, 30 August 2026.
‘Open for Business’ explores the conditions of regeneration, its tensions, impacts, ecologies, communities and histories whilst also speculating on its future.
Infinite Opera’s work is hyper-immersive and subject-specific, presenting experiences that actively engage creative teams, local stakeholders, and audiences. Bringing operatic ambition to different forms of music and theatre, ranging from folk to experimental practices.
Unfolding on the city streets of Digbeth, Birmingham, ‘Open for Business’ follows the lives of four main characters, inspired by the imagined histories and speculative futures of the area’s artists, workers, and residents:
Dawn AikenheadOpen accordion
“I’ve been here for years. This is my place, my town, my land. An adult arcade. Here for a fun time not a long time. Getting chewed up and spat out is a ritual. Do that once, do that twice, you can always come back. We are always changing so we won’t remember.”
– Dawn Aikenhead, nightclub owner and entrepreneur.
Performed by Roxanne Korda.
Jenny Rogers (nee Johnson)Open accordion
“The streets are an open notebook, they make me real. My movements exist in the embedded layers of paint on chipboard and brick. If it gets knocked down or ripped up, I’m no better than the martyrs of history. We all of us who’ve had our names on walls will have them taken down one day.”
– Jenny Rogers (nee Johnson), grafitti artist and charity worker.
Performed by Dalma Sinka.
Jerry JohnsonOpen accordion
“The world is waiting to meet me. I am waiting to find adventure and love. My sister showed me the value in art, but it won’t pay. And I won’t wait for it to pay. This place isn’t really giving me what it promised. It’s dirty and noisy. But if I want anything it’s a promising future.”
– Jerry Johnson, hospitality worker with big dreams .
Performed by Clint Lesch.
Martin ClaytonOpen accordion
“I got my first job here, polishing floors. Making friends with the bands who passed through – big names they were! They knew this city and loved it. What would they think now? In come the big families and corporate names. Surfs on someone else’s turf. But here to stay – milled and made from these soils.”
– Martin Clayton, ex-metalworker turned developer.
Performed by HoWang Yuen.
Celebrating Digbeth’s rich cultural and industrial heritage through orchestral music performed by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), live song and theatrical performance, ‘Open for Business’ is free to attend.
There will be two full performances:
- 2-4pm
- 6-8pm
You will be provided a colour wristband at the start of the performance, linked to one of the characters. Please follow your character from venue to venue throughout the performance. There will be colour co-ordinated audience guides, matching your wristband, for your route. The guides are there to support you throughout the performance.
Please ensure you book tickets for the correct time, as places for each performance are limited and we may not be able to exchange your tickets.
Access InformationOpen accordion
Full performance routes and timings will be shared here in due course.
Please speak to Grand Union staff or your audience guide if you require access support during the performance. There is one fully level-access route (the red route with Jenny Rogers) through the performance with an accessible toilet along the way. There are also printed transcripts available at all venues, please ask a member of the team for a copy.
Most venues will have seating available and available toilets will be sign posted throughout the routes.
To discuss access further, please email info@grand-union.org.uk or call us on 0121 643 9079.
‘Open For Business’ has been created by Infinite Opera. Music by Daniel Blanco Albert and Libretto by Roxanne Korda.
Stoford Ltd. and Grand Union have commissioned ‘Open for Business’ to mark the redevelopment of the Tea Factory, Typhoo Wharf.
With support from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), Vaughan Williams Foundation, and Hinrichsen Foundation.
Infinite Opera’s ‘Open for Business’ operatic performance is generously supported by 9 venues across the Digbeth community: Birmingham Coach Station, EH Smith Design Centre, MJM Bespoke, Nortons, The Old Crown, Pan Pan, Suki10c, The Tea Factory, Typhoo Wharf, and Zellig.
Credits
CreativeOpen accordion
Composer: Daniel Blanco Albert
Libretto: Roxanne Korda
Director: Mahana Narimani
Choreographer: Jingya Peng Film: Lilia Field and Lucy Clacher
Houses: Lucy Clacher
Costume Design: Dean Wellings
Main CharactersOpen accordion
Jenny Johnson AKA Jenny Rogers: Dalma Sinka
Jerry Johnson: Clint Lesch
Dawn Aikenhead: Roxanne Korda
Martin Clayton: HoWang Yuen
Minor CharactersOpen accordion
The Coroner/Coach Station Customer/The Eccentric Philanthropist: Tina Fung
Oscar/Rob Johnson/Media Bro: Ed Harrisson
The Extremely Drunk Customer/Will the Carpenter: Teddy Woolgrove
The Boss/Minerva: Hannah Taylor
The Developer/Coach Station Customer/The TV Personality: Robert Edwards
Coach Station Customer: Damian Hursey
House/Bouncer/River and industry spirit/Notary: Mehdi Mashhadi Kazemi
ChorusOpen accordion
Alistair Notley, Sasha Wittenski, Magdalena Ardelli-Zawiasa, Ruben Paul Whitter, Fireseed, Connie Claudia, Debbie Victoria Southgate, Damian J. Hursey, Sam Ambreen, Jingya Peng, Lucy Clacher, Robert Edwards
EnsembleOpen accordion
Conductor:
Daniel Blanco Albert
Josephine Korda
Leo Jaffrey
Infinite Opera players:
Lottie Mahoney – Flute
Ricardo Brown – Violin
Jadie Carey – Cello
James Owsten – Double Bass
CBSO players:
Julia Åberg – Violin 1
Bryony Morrison – Violin 2
Adam Römer – Viola
Catherine Ardagh-Walter – Cello
Danni Vassallo – Double Bass/Bass Guitar
Jeremy Watt – Double Bass
Jernej Albrecht – Clarinet/Bass Clarinet
Nikolaj Henriques – Bassoon
Richard Watkin – Trombone
Toby Kearney – Percussion
Alex Henshaw – Percussion
Music SupportOpen accordion
Lead Music Copyist: Sara Galiana
Help with corrections: Carles Tamarit (trombone), Josep Ribera (strings)
Répétiteur: Melissa Morris
Mock up recordings: Ed Harrisson
Piano reductions (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s Composition Department students): Phœnix Archbold, Isabella Ennes, Mason Ma, Hayley Robinson
Film FootageOpen accordion
Friction Arts Archive, Vivid Projects
ProductionOpen accordion
Producers: Jo Capper, Beth Exley, Hannah Wallis
Venue Coordinators: Jo Capper, Harry Croxford, Amrita Dhallu, Beth Exley, Leah Hickey, Cheryl Jones, Sym Mendez, Hannah Wallis
Audience Guides: Jennie Bates, Cerys Capper, Jenny Escott, James Kennedy, George Millership, Bobbie Petford, Harmanpreet Randhawa, Tegan Rush
Orchestra Manager: Jean Attard
Graphic DesignOpen accordion
Keith Dodds
SupportersOpen accordion
‘Open for Business’ is generously supported by the venues it takes place across. Thanks to the Grand Union Team, Birmingham REP, Overbury, The Birmingham Balti Bowl Company, Andy Munro and The Pen Museum, Carl Chinn and Lyle Bignon for their contributions. Infinite Opera would also like to thank the people who live, work and spend time in Digbeth, who have contributed their voices to workshops and the opera.
