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JUDITH BINGHAM OBE
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COMPOSER
“Since its inception, JAM has fostered the most positive and supportive view of new music."
"So many composers, including myself, have had brilliant experiences with a wealth of the best musicians. Long may it prosper!"
A gripping new opera about identity and belonging.
Three performances · Wales, London & Kent · 11–19 September 2026
The Lost Boy tells the tragic love story between two teenagers set in a fictional 1980s fishing village, with a score that blends, 1980s synthesisers and contemporary classical music
Harrison is torn between his duty to his recently widowed mother, and his devotion to his childhood sweetheart, John. Harrison’s mother, Mary, grows suspicious of the boy’s relationship, stoked by fears of the emerging AIDS crisis and the whisperings of the villagers. Meanwhile, John yearns to escape to a life of perceived freedom in the city.
When John’s opportunity finally arrives in the form of a scholarship to a London conservatoire, Harrison is confronted with an impossible choice: love or duty? Driven by despair and poor mental health, Harrison chooses the only way out: to drive his boat into a storm and ‘free’ those he loves. This tragedy becomes the basis for an exploration of grief from John and Mary’s perspective: how can we ever let go and move on?
The libretto was written in residence on the south coast of Kent and inspired by the natural coastal environment as well as writers Derek Jarman and Caroline Bergvall. Expect to be immersed in this intimate tale of love and loss.
This production is a collaboration between JAM and North Wales International Music Festival, kindly supported by the Hinrichsen Foundation and Vaughan Williams Foundation.
Plan Your Visit
Wales
Tickets: Free
Presented as part of the North Wales International Music Festival fringe; see the festival site for full details.
By car: leave the A55 at junction 27; the pay-and-display car park on Lower Street is immediately beside the church. Regular buses stop on the High Street; the nearest station is Rhyl, where taxis are readily available. Easy-access toilets on site.
London
Tickets: General £25 · Students £5
The performance takes place in the historic Thames Tunnel shaft, reached by three flights of well-lit stairs with handrails; wheelchair users are warmly invited to watch from the Royal Box viewing platform at the top. Accessible toilet in the Engine House.
Rotherhithe station (Overground, Windrush line) is 100 yards from the door; Canada Water and Bermondsey (Jubilee line) are a 10-minute walk. Buses 381 and C10 stop at Rotherhithe. No visitor parking; public transport is strongly recommended.
Kent
Tickets: General £25 · U18s Free
Free parking beside the church, with additional parking across the street at the village hall car park. Nearest stations: Appledore (10 min by car) or Ashford International (25 min). We recommend booking a return taxi in advance.
Known as the 'Cathedral of Romney Marsh' for its remarkable scale, St George's is a vast 14th-century church raised by masons from Canterbury Cathedral. Bring a layer: medieval churches stay cool in the evening.
Access requirements or questions about getting there? Please contact: elliot@jamconcert.org
The Artists
Jago Thornton
Composer · Music Director
Jago’s music explores themes of environmentalism and one’s relationship with the natural world. Drawing on shimmering instrumental colours and Celtic-inspired melodies, the result is a musical style that is both original and highly approachable.
Anastasia Bruce-Jones
Librettist · Director
As an award-winning director, Anastasia's work examines lonely, messy and morally reckless characters, often by way of folklore, horror and magic realism. An experienced theatre director, their productions have received exclusively 4 and 5-star reviews to date.
Patricia Auchterlonie
Soprano · Mary
Patricia’s career is propelled by an interest in all things playful and unexpected. She has worked with leading names – the Zurich Opera House, Britten Sinfonia, LA Philharmonic – performing bold new works and reframing existing operatic roles from a fresh perspective.
Collin Shay
Countertenor · Harrison
With a vocal repertoire that spans from Buxtehude to Britten, Collin’s versatility and musicianship has brought them to renowned festivals and venues across the UK, including Opera North, Wigmore Hall, the Barbican and King’s Place.
Jonathan Eyers
Baritone · John
Described by Opera Today as a singer possessed of “beautiful lyrical direction and depth of expression”, Jonathan is an award-winning artist whose practice encompasses key operatic roles of the repertoire as well as brand new vocal works written specially for him.
Wallis Power
Cello
Equally at home as an orchestral musician, chamber player and soloist, Wallis enjoys a busy and varied performing career. Highlights include a performance of Errollyn Wallen’s Cello Concerto and engagements with The Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra and St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Olivia Jageurs
Harp
With a particular interest and expertise in new harp music, Olivia has recorded over 500 original compositions and worked with the UK’s leading contemporary music groups including the London Sinfonietta, Riot Ensemble and Explore Ensemble.
About JAM
26
Years
JAM has been commissioning and supporting the compositional landscape and arts in the UK.
46+
Commissions
15+ hours of music. From Bingham and Dove to Mealor, O’Regan and Turnage.
55+
Composer Videos
Video library of music and practical resources, free to access, with over 150,000 online views.
200
New Voices
JAM has premiered over 200+ works by early-career composers, shaping the future of British music.
What People Say
TARIK O'REGAN
/
Composer
“JAM’s 25th anniversary is a remarkable milestone of championing new music and fostering artistic innovation."
"Having received a commission from
JAM, I have experienced firsthand their dedication to supporting composers and
expanding the choral and orchestral repertoire. Their work continues to inspire and
elevate both artists and audiences."
SARAH MACDONALD
/
Selwyn College, Cambridge
“For 25 years JAM has been at the forefront of promoting the works of young composers, many of whom are now household names."
"My involvement with JAM since the very beginning, has shaped the Selwyn Chapel Choir’s reputation, and indeed my career, in countless ways."
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