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Click
here for Past Education Projects Spring/ Summer 09  One
Day, Two Dawns is a new full-length community opera being created with nearly
250 people in The
story is inspired by the coincidence between the sinking of Lyonesse into the
sea in 1099, and the full solar eclipse visible in The
professional creative team of composers, directors, writers, designers, players,
and singers come from both
 Jack & the Beanstalk  Photo Andrew Stepan Jack
& the Beanstalk is performed by three actor-singers and twelve players from
English Touring Opera in this fabulous retelling of the story. Designed for Key
Stage 1 pupils the piece is a perfect introduction to the instruments of the
orchestra. Surrounded by the players the children will meet young Jack as he
makes his dangerous journey up the beanstalk to the Giant’s castle. The
delightful music is by Tom Smail, the delicious words by Emma House. Catherine
Chapman designs. The children will be fully involved in every moment of the
story, joining in a song, and surrounded by the players, as the performers move
between them. The
performance lasts an hour, and includes at the beginning a demonstration of the
different instruments of the orchestra, including strings, woodwind and brass,
and also orchestral harp. There are a few participatory songs which will be
sent out in advance, along with the whole text. There will also be a bag of
beans for every school to grow! We
are performing in both school halls and small theatres across the
ETO
has worked extensively and creatively with people with special needs for many
years. This workshop addresses the needs of young people with more profound
difficulty, including children who are on the severe end of the autistic
spectrum. The workshop will be appropriate for individuals with very limited
speech or understanding. The
Magic Flute is the story of an extraordinary journey in pursuit of love, wisdom
and happiness, with stunning landscapes, magical creatures, and gloriously
evocative music.  Our
workshop is fully designed and costumed. An ETO team of 2 singers, 2 players
and director (all from the cast, orchestra and production team of the show)
will explore the magical world of The Magic Flute in delightful, multi-sensory
ways. Participants will be able to touch and see the scales of a giant snake;
will witness the beautiful recreation of fire and water from the opera’s
stunning trials, and be encouraged to interact with the sounds, smells, and
textures of an enchanted forest. The workshop will include different levels of
participation, depending on the needs of the students involved. This project has been made possible by the generous support of Mr and Mrs Joseph Karaviotis, and Equitable Charitable Trust
 Speakout!
is a brand new opera written by the students of Corbets
Tey is a school where students are valued for their gifts and for their
individuality. It embraces the belief that nothing is too good for these
children, and that education is not just about the classroom. The association
with ETO has proved that transformation is not the stuff of fantasy. ETO’s work
in the school has included every student and every teacher in a variety of
projects. What began as a Creative Partnerships pilot programme has developed
to become a major long-term creative collaboration. In
Speakout! singing, drama, dance and film – including animated film – will be
created to tell a story which will see young people breaking out from the
confinement that goes with being unheard and misunderstood. The story will be
based on the students’ own lives, and will be at times moving and touching, and
comic.
The
process of creative workshop sessions leading to performance has yielded some
amazing results. Headteacher Colin Arthey, speaking of one student: To see and
hear that child singing on their own, and on stage in front of an audience, was
quite extraordinary. This is a student who has barely spoken in class or in
social situations. Yet here she was singing on her own as if born to it. Alongside
fully professional performers, students from the Royal Academy of Music will
join us for this project. Director Helen Eastman, composer Russell Hepplewhite,
film animator Babis Alexiadis, and filmmaker Claudia Lee lead the creative
team. On the Rim of the World The
first ever community performance to take place on the stage at the Royal Opera
House, In
March 2009 ETO will bring 20 pupils with special needs from The
students aged 12 to 18 have been working creatively with ETO, a process that
will end in final rehearsals and performances in  Photo Heather Rigbye A
Picture in a Frame Turtle
song is an opportunity for people wth Alzheimer’s or dementia and their
companions (husbands / wives / carers) to sing and compose their own songs with
professional musicians. The group meets once a week over 10 weeks. The aims are
to enjoy singing together, to write a song cycle, to record the songs on CD and
to give the brain and the body a bit of stimulating exercise. The sessions will
be lead by director Tim Yealland and composer Rachel Leach, supported by 6 students
from the Royal College of Music. The
resulting work – A Picture in a Frame – will be performed at the Royal College
of Music on Tuesday 3rd March at 11.30. The story, which has been devised by
the group, is based on a meeting many years ago with Dorothy Ellen Gracia. Turtle
Song was piloted with the ‘Singing for the Brain’ group run by the West
Berkshire Alzheimer’s Society.
‘The
achievement of creating something entirely new was a thrill and a source pride
for the participants. It was a stimulating workout for the brain. The
continuous engagement of the group in novel work was delightful to see. The
opportunity to create and to give something to others is so enabling’. Chreanne
Montgomery-Smith, Support and Development Officer Alzheimer’s Society West
Berkshire  ETO is touring
Janacek’s opera, Katya Kabanova, during Spring 2009. We believe that the opera
is a superb opportunity to introduce students of secondary age to the richness
of music-theatre at its best. We have a strong
tradition at ETO of delivering day-long creative workshops for secondary
schools that explore imaginatively the world of an opera. Led by top musicians,
singers and directors, students create work leading to a performance at the end
of the day. Based on the classic Russian play The Storm this tragic tale of a
married woman who falls in love with an attractive young man is dominated by
the dark and threatening presence of the river ETO will bring a
team consisting of a composer, a director and a singer. The project will
last one or two full days, following the school timetable, and will culminate
in a short performance. We aim to work with a group of 30 pupils aged between
14 and 17. The curriculum subjects related to the project are English, History,
Music and Drama. It is not necessary for students to play instruments or to
have a special interest in singing. We will introduce
the music, the characters and the story of the opera in an interesting and
creative way, involving the students practically: the workshop will include
elements of singing, composition, and acting. The composer will devise work
with the students based upon the musical themes of the opera; the director will
bring the piece to life through drama and movement; and the singer will explore
Janacek’s vocal language, as well as introducing students to techniques of
classical singing. The workshop will
be tied to a performance of ‘Katya Kabanova’ at one of our tour venues. Tickets
are usually available, at a concessionary rate, to students and accompanying
adults. National Portrait
Gallery Primary School Music Workshops We are
collaborating with the National Portrait Gallery in the delivery of a series of
inspiring and creative workshops for key stage 2 children. Pictures in the
collection serve as starting-points for new composition. The children
(typically one primary school class at a time) arrive at the Gallery in the
morning, and are taken to one of the gallery spaces, where they will be
introduced to one (or more in the case of a group portrait) historical or
contemporary portrait. The image then becomes the starting-point for instant
music-theatre composition, the pupils working with professional musicians in a
workshop space. In the afternoon the children return to the portrait in the
main Gallery where they perform their composition in public. The workshop is
suitable for all key stage classes and lasts a full day. The cost of the day is
£400 + Vat. Available dates are 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 May 2009. There are also 5
days available in September 2009, dates to be confirmed. Winter 2009/2010 Horse Tales Horse Tales is the
third and final part of a trilogy of operas written for primary schools, and
based on classical mythology. Lasting just over an hour, and fully interactive,
the opera features a cast of multi-skilled singers, actors and players, and is
set inside the belly of the Trojan Horse. Stuck in the middle of The show is
supported with comprehensive materials for children and teachers, including
cartoon strips, teachers packs, songs (on CD and in sheet music form). Our
previous operas in the trilogy – Crossing the The show was inspirational
in all aspects of the arts – drama, music, dance. It captured the imagination
of the children and adults alike! Even our youngest children were mesmerised
from start to finish. The project was particularly helpful for our pupils
studying mythology and literacy-related work. Just Brilliant! Excellent! Alison
Williams year 4 teacher,  Part
One, Crossing the |
English Touring Opera gratefully acknowledges the financial support of Arts Council England.
