Opera for children has long occupied a small but special place in Gwent and its surrounding area.

Either someone - usually Rhymney Valley composer Mervyn Burtch - writes an original piece for them or the kids have a go at an existing masterpiece.

The latter was the case at this year's Llantilio Crossenny Festival, where a London Opera Productions team under Eleanor Farncombe devised a truncated version of Mozart's The Magic Flute for pupils of nearby Cross Ash Primary School.

At workshops, the youngsters were guided in everything from performing to publicity and including costume and set design. They gave two fun-packed shows in the sturdy and ancient Treadam Barn, accompanied by local musicians Sam Ellis, Bethan Reed, Bronwen Davies (the ‘magic’ flautist) and Jeanette Massocchi. Festival conductor Robyn Sevastos was at the helm.

Their whittled adaptation had got rid of the story’s nasty or imperious characters, leaving professional singer Peter Grevatt to play Papageno, the only adult on stage with Tom Brice and Toby Lane (sharing the role of Tamino), Abbie Walker (Pamina), Atlanta Collins and Tesni Amos (sharing Papagena and Third Lady), Amara Smith (First Lady) and Zoe Phillips (Second Lady). Members of the school choir played the chorus of courtiers.

The audience were in on the act too, blowing edible slide-whistles at a signal from Ms Farncombe every time Papageno played the pipes in his I Am The Jolly Birdcatcher aria. A great wheeze.

All ended happily, not only in the opera but also in this young generation version of it. What will they be cooking up for next year, the festival’s 50th anniversary?