Opera Opened Up: Our Workshops

Our popular 1-hour workshops, Opera Blocks, Opera Hotpot, Opera Quest, and The History of Western Music Part I.   Originally commissioned from EPOC by English National Opera, Opera Blocks has been seen by over 100,000 people in over 300 schools, festivals, and theatres. Written originally for children but now loved by adults, all of our workshops are performed by two singers and a pianist, can be performed to up to 400 people at a time, and use excerpts from at least 25 operas. Pictured above is Opera Blocks performed at the Clore Ballroom at London Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall.

Opera in a Day

A deluxe workshop tailored to your school, Opera In A Day gives children the chance to act in an opera production, at their school, all put together in one day.

We provide two singers and a pianist, costumes, and blocking. The day usually begins with one of our Opera Opened Up 1-hour workshops, then goes on to music rehearsals and staging rehearsals, finishing with a costumed performance at the end of the school day. Parents are welcome to come see their children appear as characters and chorus from a well-loved opera of your choosing.

SingFest

The grand culmination of our workshops: SingFest is a full-scale production of the opera of choice, in a large-scale venue, with all of the schools of your school district performing together. These events occur after your school has heard our workshop, learned the selected music, and gathered together with other schools in costume, to perform the selected opera all together. These performances can feature hundreds of performers! Pictured below is the Singfest for Barnet Council, performing Romeo and Juliet at the Royal Albert Hall.

Training

We also offer teacher training, to learn how to present opera and music to your own pupils, including printable resource materials and audio files.

full opera productions

We are also an opera company in its own right, and put on full-scale productions featuring professional opera singers and orchestra. We have collaborated with universities, including Central Saint Martins, to give their design students an opportunity to work professionally with us.

Next Steps…

Please get in touch with us at info@englishpocketopera.com to find out how to book us for your school, business, or organisation.