Cirencester is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the discovery of the Orpheus Mosaic, with a programme of celebrations across the town starting this April 2025.
The Orpheus Mosaic, which was discovered on Barton Farm just outside Cirencester and is now at the Corinium Museum, depicts the mythological character Orpheus with his lyre, surrounded by wild animals, birds and even rocks and stones listening to his song.
In the Greek myth, when his wife Eurydice dies shortly after their marriage, Orpheus uses his virtuoso musical and lyrical ability to charm his way into the Underworld to make a bargain with Hades to bring Eurydice back, only to lose her again after breaking one of Hades' conditions — not to look behind him until they'd reached the land of the living.
Paying tribute to this much-loved myth — and its mosaic — Project Orpheus sees the Corinium Museum, the Barn Theatre and New Brewery Arts come together for a programme of events which kicks off this April 2025.
Starting at the museum, Brickus Orpheus — a mythological trail made entirely from LEGO® — runs from Tuesday 15 April until Sunday 2 November 2025.
Orpheus community singing workshops and the Bring Life to your Garden competition — which invites Cirencester locals to be like Orpheus and tell the stories of how they've charmed wildlife into their gardens and allotments — both get underway in May.
New Brewery Arts hosts the Orpheus Exhibition, which celebrates Cirencester's connection with Orpheus through song and nature, as well as puppet making workshops, throughout July and August.
And the project culminates with Orpheus Day — a day of free entertainment at Cirencester Abbey Grounds on Monday 25 August 2025 — featuring a big puppet parade and a performance from Britain's Biggest Orpheus Choir, singing 'A Song for Orpheus', with music by award-winning composer Howard Goodall and lyrics from celebrated Irish poet Theo Dorgan.
CEO and artistic director at The Barn Theatre, Iwan Lewis, said: 'Cirencester has such a rich story to tell — rooted in history, buzzing with creativity and full of heart. Few towns can boast institutions like New Brewery Arts, the Corinium Museum and the Barn Theatre — and what an honour it is to bring these three Cotswold powerhouses together for Project Orpheus.
'This year marks a special moment for our town with the 200th anniversary of the discovery of the Orpheus Mosaic and we’re using it as a jumping-off point to celebrate everything that makes Cirencester so unique — through the lenses of nature, history, music, art and, most importantly, community.'
Project Orpheus producer, Stuart Matthew Price, added: 'Our mission at the Barn, alongside our incredible partners, is to create something truly remarkable here in Cirencester.
'We are thrilled Howard Goodall and Theo Dorgan have written us such a beautiful choral piece that is both contemporary and poetic – it is truly something special. We want to spread the message wide to ask for all singers, choirs and enthusiastic vocalists of all ages to come together and join in with our 'Song for Orpheus' as we try to build Britain’s Biggest Orpheus Choir.'
Singers and choirs from Gloucestershire and beyond interested in joining the Orpheus Choir can find full details on the Project Orpheus website.
