'Another Opera Lover' comments on a post below:
"For those Londoners (like me) who don't fancy watching the Glyndebourne operas in the courtyard at Somerset House, did you know that you can see them in greater comfort at the David Lean Cinema in Croydon Clocktower? The Rake's Progress is on 21 August, Billy Budd on 24 August and Hansel & Gretel on 26 August, all at 6.15pm. Prices are from £15 to £11. You can book on the Croydon Clocktower website. No Daily Mail sponsorship either as far as I can see!"
I was surprised to find that Croydon is not as I feared halfway to Calais, but a very reasonable 15 minutes by train from Victoria to East Croydon station - which makes it, bizarrely, more accessible than Somerset House for some Londoners. Plus you don't have to take risks with the weather or braying picnic-munching drunks.
The operas are also being shown at other cinemas around the country on the same dates (thanks Manou for the tip). And don't forget Hansel & Gretel will be performed live at the Proms on 31 August.
Rake's Progress designer David Hockney pimps the Big Screen Experience ten times better than Glyndebourne themselves can:

