"Tower" opera Community Education Programme
A major community education programme funded largely by the Arts Council of Wales 'Arts for All' lottery scheme, which involved the performance participation of 17 schools and 5 choirs.

'Tower', a new opera by Alun Hoddinott, commissioned by Opera Box, was written specifically for community participation and includes choruses for Children and Male Voice Choir.




The project's integral community education programme was designed to introduce new opera to new audiences through schools workshops, performance participation, pre-performance talks, teachers inset days and community workshops throughout Wales. The Opera Box Education Team worked with groups of children aged 8 - 12 years, giving 17 full-day creative workshops in schools, leading to rehearsals for performance participation in the World Premiere and first performances of 'Tower' in theatres throughout Wales. The team also worked with 5 local amateur choirs and 4 community groups.

Eden Arts Residency
A two-week creative opera residency with schools, youth groups and the 'university of the third age' in Cumbria. The series of workshops, which included groups working with local storytellers, culminated in a community opera performance based on the theme of TIME. The residency was commissioned by Eden Arts and included 4 mini-performances in hospitals and residential care centres, plus a performance of The Marriage of Figaro.

Cranmer School and Liberty Middle School, Mitcham
Two 2-day creative opera residencies for the London Borough of Merton as part of the Cannizaro Park Festival. Children from a mixture of ethnic backgrounds produced no less than 6 pieces based on Carmen, including a one-woman opera! The children's pieces took on board the lawless elements of Carmen from which they developed stories involving anyone from bank robbers to vampires.Children from both schools take part in Carmen at the Cannizaro Park Festival

Children from both schools also took part in the Opera School Wales production of Carmen, singing and marching on stage.

Arts Theatre, Cambridge
Theatre-based 3-day residency using The Tales of Hoffmann as a starting point for creative ideas, culminating in a performance on stage, prior to the Opera Box performance. Aimed at 8-12 year olds, the residency introduced the children to the full range of skills associated with opera, including music, drama, vocal technique, creative development, costume, staging, lighting and notation for staged performance. The children had a wonderful time and achieved a great deal.

Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds
Theatre-based workshop involving 130 Year 5 children (aged 9 - 10) experiencing opera for the first time. Using the 'doll' scene from Tales of Hoffmann as a basis, the education team communicated the meaning of the opera by outlining the story, discussing the characters, the period, and in addition demonstrated the lighting effects, described the costumes, and finished off with a theatre tour in 'conga' fashion.

Hillcross Middle School, Morden
Two-day residency involving 30 Year 5 children, who produced 3 short operas based on their classroom work on the solar system. Members of staff were able to progress the ideas introduced in the workshop for future development work.

Prince William School, Oundle
Working with 60 members of the school's production of Die Fledermaus, developing lead role characters and chorus work.

Cilfynydd and Craig-y-wion Primary Schools, Pontypridd
Half-day introductory opera workshops with pupils from two primary schools, using songs and stories which the children knew.

Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds
A creative workshop on-stage, with a BTEC Performing Arts Group; and a half-day discussion workshop with a group of retired theatre-lovers.

Oakley Grange Day Centre, Corby
Creative singing and movement workshop with adults with severe learning difficulties.

Putney High School for Girls, London
Choral work and rehearsals prior to the girls being invited to participate in the Opera Box performances of The Flying Dutchman at the Richmond Theatre. 20 girls sang off stage, and 6 were on-stage in costume, providing them with a unique and long-remembered experience.

De Beauvoire Primary School, Hackney
An unforgettable introduction to opera for these children who took part in Tosca, the first ever opera production to be staged at the Hackney Empire.

Aylestone School, Hereford
Workshops and rehearsals with year 9 and 10 pupils prior to their participation in performances at the school's theatre.

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